Bournemouth take shock lead at Arsenal after 9 SECONDS with ‘kick-off glitch’ and they did exactly the same last season
ARSENAL were left STUNNED after Bournemouth scored just NINE SECONDS into their clash at the Emirates.
The Gunners lined up after Manchester City reduced the gap at the top to two points with a 2-0 win over Newcastle.
And Mikel Arteta‘s side endured a horrid start as Gary O’Neil’s men incredibly netted just moments into the game.
Launching the ball forward from kick-off, the Cherries found space on the right-hand side to deliver into the box.
It was crossed and found its way to Sam Billing who tucked home to score the second fastest goal in Premier League history.
The nine-second finish now sits behind only Shane Long – who bagged for Southampton against Watford in 7.69 seconds in April 2019.
But this is not the first time Bournemouth have scored with their “kick-off glitch”.
Last season, Dominic Solanke scored SIX SECONDS into the second half against Fulham as the south-coast side struck from kick-off in a Championship clash.
Billling fed through the Bournemouth striker who slotted home to give them a remarkably swift lead.
But the goal at the Emirates was perhaps even more shocking given it came against the Premier League leaders.
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Bournemouth came into the clash with just one win in 11 games in all competitions.
By contrast, Arsenal had secured three successive wins following their 3-1 defeat to Man City in mid-February.
The defeat to the champions was their first home Premier League loss of the season.
And things were made even tougher for Arsenal on Saturday afternoon when Leandro Trossard was forced off with an injury.