Arsenal recovered from the second-fastest goal conceded in Premier League history as Reiss Nelson’s stoppage-time strike gave the Premier League leaders a 3-2 win over Bournemouth after title rivals Manchester City beat Newcastle 2-0 on Saturday.
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Mikel Arteta’s side were two goals behind with just half an hour left.
But the Gunners showed they can handle the pressure of the title race with a remarkable comeback that took them five points clear of second-placed City.
“I am very happy. It’s just crazy. It was a special victory and it took until the last second to get it,” Arteta said.
Arsenal hadn’t even touched the ball when Philip Billing gave Bournemouth the bottom line after just 9.11 seconds with a clinical finish from inside the Gunners area.
The fastest goal in Premier League history was scored by Shane Long after 7.69 seconds for Southampton against Watford in 2019.
Arsenal fell behind in the 57th minute as Marcos Senesi got past Thomas Partey to glance a header past Aaron Ramsdale from a corner.
Partey rectified his mistake to mark five minutes later when he reduced the deficit by finishing close range from Emile Smith-Rowe’s header.
Desperate to win their first title since 2004, Arsenal seized the momentum and equalized through Ben White’s powerful finish from Nelson’s cross in the 70th minute.
Nelson completed Arsenal’s remarkable comeback in the seventh minute of stoppage-time when the substitute produced a superb finish from 20 yards to spark scenes of wild celebration around the Emirates Stadium.
“He never gave up. We want to stay there (at the top) for a long time,” said Arteta.
Earlier on Saturday, City rode their luck with a 2-0 win over Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium.
Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva scored for the champions, who were held back by some mishaps from the visitors.
Sean Longstaff, Callum Wilson and Joelinton were all guilty of not even forcing Ederson into a save as fifth-placed Newcastle suffered another blow to their hopes of a top-four finish.
“It was a very good result for us because it was a difficult game,” said City boss Pep Guardiola.
– Potter gets a break –
Wesley Fofana eased the pressure on Chelsea boss Graham Potter in the France defender’s 1-0 win over Leeds at Stamford Bridge.
Fofana put Chelsea in front with his first league goal for the club seven minutes after half-time, the former Leicester centre-back stepping up to head home Ben Chilwell’s corner.
It was Chelsea’s first goal in 396 minutes and only their second in seven games in all competitions.
The 10th ranked Blues held on for just their third win in their last 16 games in all competitions.
Ending a three-match losing streak will give Potter a little breathing room ahead of Chelsea’s bid to overturn a 1-0 deficit in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Borussia Dortmund.
“We have to suffer. It’s a challenging time. We are a team that has to lose so the good character of the players. It gives us something to build on,” said Potter.
Fourth-placed Tottenham’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League were dashed by a 1-0 defeat at Wolves.
Just days after losing 1-0 to second-tier Sheffield United in the fifth round of the FA Cup, the north Londoners were hit again when Adama Traore scored in the 82nd minute, driving the rebound over the bar after Raul Jimenez’s effort was saved.
Brighton kept West Ham in relegation trouble with a 4-0 victory at the Amex Stadium.
Aston Villa beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at Villa Park, with Eagles defender Andersen scoring an own goal in the 27th minute before Palace’s Cheick Doucoure was sent off for two second-half bookings.