JORDON IBE netted the first goal of his 18-month Bournemouth stint as Arsenal opened their post-Sanchez era with an embarrassing defeat on the south coast.
Arsene Wenger left Alexis Sanchez out of the squad as the Chilean prepares to make a move to Manchester – with United now strong favourites to beat City to his signature.
And Sanchez is leaving behind a side sadly lacking in star quality and now five points off the Champions League places after taking just two points from the last available nine.
Hector Bellerin had fired the Gunners in front early in the second half but a disastrous five-minute period for the visitors saw Callum Wilson equalise and Ibe drill a shot through Petr Cech’s legs for his first goal in 46 Premier League games for the Cherries.
After last weekend’s FA Cup defeat at Nottingham Forest, Wenger’s team are now back in familiar crisis mode – with Sanchez surely glad to be deserting this sinking ship.
Arsenal had been lucky not to concede a first-half penalty for handball against Alex Iwobi.
Yet Jack Wilshere, who spent last season on loan here at Dean Court, ran the midfield for the opening hour.
Ashley Maitland-Niles crashed an early shot against the Bournemouth bar and Iwobi forced a smart save from Asmir Begovic but Cech also had to be sharp to deny Ryan Fraser with his feet.
But soon after half-time Iwobi released wing-back Bellerin, whose shot cannoned in off the on-rushing Begovic.
Yet Arsenal’s lead lasted only 18 minutes as sub Lys Mousset released Fraser down the right and Wilson snuck in between Cech and Shkodran Mustafi to poke the equaliser.
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And then came the moment Ibe has waited an age to celebrate, since his then club-record £15million transfer from Liverpool in the summer of 2016.
Adam Smith’s pass found Wilson, who was played onside and laid it off for Ibe to drill through a red-faced Cech.
Wenger, up in the Main Stand as he serves a touchline ban, was praying for a comeback to rival Arsenal escape from 3-0 down to earn a point here last season but the Gunners could only fire blanks.
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