‘Days like this are how you win the title’ – Arsenal’s stunning victory after ‘madness from the start’

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Match of the day: Ian Wright’s reaction to Arsenal’s late winner

It’s not how you start, it’s how you end – and Arsenal have a habit of finishing champions.

The Arsenal bench was cleared as all the substitutes and staff either rushed onto the pitch to celebrate with Nelson or danced down the touchline in celebration.

Should Arteta’s side win their first Premier League title in 19 years, this looks to be the game to remember.

“I think we’ve seen a team worthy of winning the Premier League,” said ` Sport pundit Ashley Williams.

“We keep asking them about the recent story and they keep replying to us. On days like this you win the title. If they win it, they deserve it.”

Arsenal appeared ready to cede not only points to Manchester City, who won the early game against Newcastle 2-0, but momentum as well.

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Arsenal restored their five-point lead in the Premier League with a late win over Bournemouth

Against a Bournemouth side in the bottom three, Arsenal fell behind by just 9.11 seconds – Philip Billing scoring the second-fastest goal in Premier League history. When Marco Senesi headed home from a corner in the 57th minute, it looked like the Gunners would end the day with a five-point lead slashed to two in the morning.

Step forward, Nelson. After Thomas Partey had balled back Arsenal to make it 2-1, the winger – making only his third league appearance this season – delivered the cross for Ben White to level the game before his impressive winner.

After conceding the second-fastest goal ever in the Premier League, Arsenal won the game with their second-last goal in the top flight since 2006/07.

Nelson’s winner clocked 96 minutes and 57 seconds. In 17 seasons, only Alexis Sanchez’s penalty came later against Burnley in January 2017 when the score was 97-14.

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Arteta on ‘incredible’ Arsenal comeback

“It was madness from the first second,” Arteta said after the Match of the Day game. “We kept trying and dominating the game. We had to climb a mountain and we conquered it bit by bit.

“I will remember this day for a few things. I loved the initiative, the courage, their personality and the way they made things happen.

“When it’s ugly and when it’s difficult, big teams do it. We have to make it easier for ourselves. But that’s the Premier League.”

“I’m buzzing, really happy”

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Reiss Nelson has scored or assisted every 17 minutes in the Premier League this season

This was quite a turning point for Nelson.

The winger has struggled for game time this season due to persistent hamstring problems. He counted how little time he had on the pitch this season.

In just 85 minutes of Premier League play in 2022/23, he has scored three goals – two against Nottingham Forest last October and now against Bournemouth – and provided two assists.

“When the ball came to me, I thought, ‘Please give me a chance,'” he said of the game of the day. “I’m buzzing, really happy. I controlled it with my right foot and it came to my left.

“We need moments like this if we want to go all the way. We’re not looking at any other team right now. We’re focusing on ourselves. We’re going to keep going day by day, game by game.” As an Arsenal fan, I’m just delighted with the result.”

While Bukayo Saka has risen to superstardom, homegrown winger Nelson has lagged behind but his pride in wearing his boyhood club’s shirt remains undiminished.

“It’s amazing. When the ball came out to me, I eyed it,” he said. “Everyone went crazy when it came in. It’s a great moment for me. I’ve been here my whole life and it means a lot to me. I’m just happy. I’m thrilled.”

Only three teams have picked up 60 points or more from their first 25 Premier League games and not won the title. Arsenal are part of this trio in 2007-08.

The class of 2022-23 will need to stamp out the mistakes against Bournemouth to avoid a similar fate – the icy start that allowed Billing to score the opener, the non-existent mark that allowed Senesi to make it 2-0 score, the mischief performance by Takahiro Tomiyasu that caused him to get hooked at half-time.

However, with such a morale-boosting victory recently won, all momentum remains with Arsenal.

“I’m incredibly happy. It was just crazy,” said Arteta. “Those feelings of happiness and joy. It was a very special kind and it took me until the last second to earn it. I’m really proud of her.”