Arsenal topped Premier League champions after Man Metropolis draw with Bournemouth

ANDONI IRAOLA won’t ever have to purchase a drink once more within the crimson aspect of north London or within the beachside bars of Bournemouth following a seismic evening on the Vitality Stadium that noticed Arsenal topped Premier League champions.

Junior Kroupi’s gorgeous first-half strike ended Manchester Metropolis’s hopes of a seventh title in 10 years below Pep Guardiola and ensured the Gunners end high of the pile for the primary time in 22 years.

A late Erling Haaland purpose was a late comfort for Metropolis, who wanted three factors to make sure the result of the season went to the ultimate sport of the season.

With Guardiola set to stroll away from the Etihad Stadium after Sunday’s season finale towards Aston Villa following a decade of dominance that has seen him win 20 main trophies, Metropolis should begin life with out the mighty Catalan on the lookout for a primary title in three years.

Iraola may even depart after the Cherries face Nottingham Forest and can go away the membership, who 17 years in the past solely simply survived relegation to the Nationwide League, taking part in European soccer for the primary time of their historical past subsequent season.

It was the proper leaving current from the Basque who has served the membership so brilliantly for 3 years – and there may be additionally an outdoor probability of Champions League soccer subsequent season if Villa win the Europa League and different outcomes go of their favour.

It might be a mighty achievement for a crew with a stadium that holds simply over 11,000 to be eating on the high desk of Europe’s elite subsequent season – however there isn’t a doubt it could be completely deserved on the again of this magnificent show.

A high-quality opening 45 minutes noticed possibilities at each ends of the pitch within the early exchanges with Bournemouth’s energetic assault asking loads of questions of the Metropolis defence.

Ex-Cherry Antoine Semenyo, who was given a rapturous reception from the house followers on his return to the membership for the primary time since his £60 million transfer in January, had the ball behind the web after 10 minutes solely to be adjudged narrowly offside as he latched on to Erling Halland’s go.

“Yet another yr Guardiola” chanted the Metropolis followers following that probability, however the visiting followers have been silenced when Evanilson in some way chipped over the bar from shut vary after being teed up by Marcus Tavernier.

With the tireless Alex Scott and the energetic Adrien Truffert inflicting havoc down the Metropolis proper, it was no shock when Kroupi opened the scoring simply earlier than half-time with a luxurious end.

The 19-year-old turned probably the most prolific teenager within the Premier League period along with his thirteenth purpose of the season after bending the ball into the highest nook following a free-flowing transfer that noticed Truffert select the unmarked Frenchman.

Bournemouth have misplaced 16 of their 17 Premier League video games towards Manchester Metropolis, however now boast a 17-game unbeaten run – the longest of any membership in Europe’s main leagues.

They continued to push exhausting within the second interval with Gianluigi Donnarumma utilizing each inch of his enormous body to push away a goalbound Evanilson effort earlier than Kroupi shot carelessly over following one other swashbuckling transfer from the Cherries. Teenage Brazilian Rayan shot hit the skin of the publish after Metropolis didn’t clear a nook whereas substitute David Brooks additionally struck the bottom of the woodwork after being put clear by Scott.

Metropolis, second-best for a lot of the sport struck deep into damage time to little question add to the jitters felt from Arsenal followers, when Haaland lashed dwelling deep into stoppage time however it was too little too late and no extra panic of the streets of north London.

BOURNEMOUTH (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Truffert, Senesi, Hill, Smith; Adams, Scott; Tavernier, Rayan (Brooks 83), Kroupi (Kluivert 76); Evanilson (Unai 90)

MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Kovacic (Foden 55), Rodri; Silva (Cherki 55), Semenyo (Savinho 55) , Doku (Marmoush 75), Haaland.