Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth LIVE RESULT: Cherries fight back as Gunners STUNNED before crucial PSG clash – updates
BOURNEMOUTH fought back from a goal down to stun Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates.
The Gunners preparations for the huge Champions League second leg against PSG on Wednesday were hit by an almighty blow after Evanilson and Dean Huijsen scored in quick succession.
Mikel Arteta picked a strong team for the match with Thomas Partey returning after his suspension in the first leg against PSG last week.
- Kick off time: 5.30pm BST
- TV channel/ live stream: Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League
- Arsenal starting line-up: Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Martinelli, Trossard
- Bournemouth starting line-up: Arrizabalaga; Araujo, Huijsen, Zabarnyi, Kerkez; Cook, Adams, Kluivert; Tavernier, Ouattara. Evanilson
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Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
73. This is still on a knife edge.
Unai Emery has chucked on Digne and Malen for Maatsen and Watkins to freshen things up, but still Fulham keep on coming.
Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
70. Adama Traore and Timothy Castagne are also on for the Cottagers now as the game enters its pivotal final stage.
You think there's another goal in this, but who knows what end it will be scored at.
Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
66. Tielemans takes a tumble with Bassey in pursuit.
The Fulham defender is already on a yellow, and so the home fans are bellowing to see red.
However, there was little in the challenge, and referee Rob Jones is right not to cave to the pressure.
Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
64. Another decent chance for Fulham.
Bassey overlaps on the left and lifts up a cross for Wilson, but the Welshman heads weakly at Martinez.
Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
61. Villa have made a couple of changes of their own for the final half hour.
Amadou Onana and Jacob Ramsey are on with John McGinn and Marco Asensio taking a breather.
From Graeme Bryce at Villa Park
Everybody has woken up now, thankfully!
Referee Rob Jones led the way, spotting a handball from Ryan Sessegnon as he tried to tame Antonee Robinson's lay-off.
Sessegnon initially took the ball down on his chest but the ball brushed his hand before he lashed a screamer beyond Martinez and into the far corner.
However VAR agreed with the ref that a handball in the run-up to a goal is a no, no and Fulham curse their luck.
Meanwhile Unai Emery has just gone bonkers at Ezri Konsa for losing the ball in midfield, leading to another Fulham chance which Harry Wilson just fails to take.
Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
57. Sessegnon has looked one of Fulham's sharpest performers so it's odd to see him come off here.
Emile Smith Rowe is on his place, hoping to have the same kind of impact as he did from the bench at St Mary's last weekend.
Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
55. An incredible pass from Iwobi, sent around a retreating Aston Villa defence, is perfect for the run through the middle of Wilson.
The Welshman spots Martinez off his line, and tries to take the lob on first time but doesn't get enough lift on the connection and the relieved Villa keeper is able to claim.
Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
53. Kenny Tete goes into the book as his duel with John McGinn continues.
It's the ongoing battle the Premier League didn't realise it needed.
Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
51. Ryan Sessegnon has the ball in the net...
...but after a nervous glance around, Rob Jones rules it out for the handball.
It's unfortunate for the Fulham man, but ultimately right decision as the ball grazes his hand just as he was preparing to shoot.
It's a cracking finish though, and a reminder of just what a livewire Sessegnon is in and around the box.
Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
48. And now it's Fulham's turn to threaten.
Jimenez finds room to bring the ball down in the box and cues up Lukic, whose shot is blocked.
The danger is still there though, and the ball almost spins into the path of Sessegnon.
Kick-off - Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
46. We're back underway...
...and Villa should be two up!!
Straight from kick-off, the home side get down the right, from where a cross is perfect for the unmarked Ollie Watkins in the middle.
The only problem is the striker lifts his foot and the ball disappears underneath it and away for a throw.
From Graeme Bryce at Villa Park
It's all a bit Meh, here at Villa Park where the early start appears to be affecting both teams.
Fulham haven't carried much of a threat and Emi Maetinez's first save came on the stroke of half-time when he plucked Alex Iwobi's netbound effort out of the air.
The best player on the park though is Youri Tielemans who is running the show from Villa.
Not only did he grab the breakthrough goal, he was set to score a screamer of a second until Bernd Leno got his fingertips to prevent the ball finding the top bin!
However none of the dozy officials spotted his brilliant save to prove it's not only the players who seem a bit sleepy here!
First half facts and figures
Not much to report at Villa Park, where the hosts lead courtesy of their 15th set-piece goal this season.
Half-time - Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
Unai Emery's side lead at the break courtesy of Youri Tielemans, who thumped a header home after meeting John McGinn's corner.
Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
44. Bernd Leno launches himself across goal to flick a Youri Tielemans long ranger around the post.
It's a great save but there will be no record of it as referee Rob Jones awards a goalkick.
The Fulham goalkeeper laughs as he prepares to take it, although the home fans don't see the same funny side.
Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
42. Unai Emery has won all six of his games against Fulham as a manager.
And despite the Cottagers being the comeback kings, I'd be amazed if that record isn't extended today.
Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
38. A game that started off quite well has gone to pieces.
In fact, there's more rubbish being played here than there is in the rest of the city due to the Birmingham bin strikes.
Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
35. John McGinn special move.
The Villa captain uses his backside to fend off Kenny Tete, who is then furious to be penalised for pulling the Scot over.
Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
33. Watkins goes down cheaply inside the area after a coming together with Robinson.
The home fans scream for a penalty, but there's nothing doing there.
Shortly afterwards, Jimenez goes over in the opposite box after running beyond Cash, but that's even less of a penalty.
From Graeme Bryce at Villa Park
Villa have taken a stranglehold on the game after grabbing a deserved lead after 12 minutes through Youri Tielemans.
But Fulham will be kicking themselves at the ease with which the Belgian scored.
John McGinn flighted in a corner from the right and Tielemans timed his run to perfection to burst between Kenny Tete and Harry Wilson and head beyond Bernd Leno.
It was the midfielder's fifth goal of the season in his 52nd start for Villa - the first player to clock up that many starts for the club since Earl Barrett and Kevin Richardson in 1994!
Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
30. Ryan Sessegnon needlessly pulls back Maatsen, after being turned by the left-back, and it earns the Fulham man the game's first yellow card.
That won't please the FPL purists.
Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
26. A terrific challenge by Bassey on Rogers stops a dangerous home attack, and has the Villa star considering his life choices.
Those choices probably include not showing too much of the ball to one of the most fearsome looking defenders in the Premier League.
Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
23. As it stands, Villa have moved level on 60 points with Chelsea and Nottingham Forest above them.
The battle for that fifth Champions League spot is hotting up.
Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
20. The visitors make inroads on the right with Sessegnon again escaping behind Maatsen.
He then checks back, and feeds Wilson with a neat pass, only for the Welshman's shot to be blocked behind for a corner.