Arsenal tops AFC Bournemouth on PKs in preseason game in Carson
Arsenal scores in the first half and AFC Bournemouth equalizes in the second, before Arsenal prevails in the shootout, 5-4, at Dignity Health Sports Park.
CARSON — Even with Arsenal holding a one-goal lead into the 70th minute, Wednesday night’s game against AFC Bournemouth still ended with a penalty shootout.
AFC Bournemouth scored in the 72nd minute to make the shootout somewhat meaningful.
In the sixth round of kicks, Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior converted his attempt, for a 5-4 shootout win.
“We had a different contest today, with so many young players,” Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said. “It was pleased to see them have so much energy. It was a competitive match, which we expected against Bournemouth.”
The match was tied, 1-1, at the end of regulation.
In the shootout, Arsenal converted its first three attempts then Leandro Trossard hit the post in the fourth round. Bournemouth’s Daniel Jebbison tied the shootout at 4-4, but teammates Ryan Christie missed his attempt in the sixth round, setting up Kiwior’s eventual winner.
Bournemouth tied the score in regulation when Antoine Semenyo’s shot was deflected off of a defender and beyond Arsenal goalkeeper Karl Hein’s arm.
Just moments earlier, Hein had come up big, stuffing a shot by Dango Ouattara to preserve Arsenal’s 1-0 lead at the time.
“I’m very happy for him,” Arteta said. “He had to be patient to wait for his opportunity. He came into camp and he knew he had big games ahead of him.”
The game opened up in the second half as Arsenal brought on familiar faces like Gabriel Jesus, Martin Odegaard and Trossard.
Arsenal took a 1-0 lead into halftime thanks to Fabio Vieira’s 19th-minute goal.
Vieira’s goal came on a first-time volley, sending the ball past a diving Bournemouth goalkeeper.
Bournemouth nearly had the equalizer in the 32nd minute, but Dominic Solanke’s shot from just inside the 18-yard box hit the crossbar. Hein was able to get a hand on the shot, redirecting it toward the crossbar.
“I think it was a good game to prepare us,” Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola said. “I think it was a good game to prove ourselves.”
This is the second consecutive year Arsenal is holding its preseason in L.A. Last July, the club faced Barcelona at SoFi Stadium in front of a crowd of 70,223.
Bournemouth kicked off its U.S. tour with a 1-1 draw against Wrexham AFC last week in Santa Barbara. This is the first time since 2016 that the Cherries have held preseason camp in the U.S.
“For us, I think it is something that is very important for the club,” Iraola said. “A lot of people came today and maybe they didn’t know us, now maybe they will be looking at Bournemouth.”
Both Arsenal and Bournemouth have reasons to be excited heading into a new English Premier League season. For Arsenal, the club has finished second behind Manchester City in each of the previous two seasons, including by just two points last season.
Bournemouth finished in 12th place but recorded 48 points, a franchise best in Premier League play. This upcoming season will be the club’s third straight in the EPL after earning promotion ahead of the 2022-23 season.
The new season kicks off Aug. 17. Arsenal hosts Wolverhampton, while Bournemouth visits Nottingham Forest.
Arsenal won both regular-season meetings with Bournemouth last season by a combined score of 7-0.
Arsenal continues its L.A. tour on Saturday when it faces Manchester United at SoFi Stadium.
More to come on this story.