Mikel Arteta’s team has scored late winners against Manchester United and Aston Villa this season, however Reiss Nelson’s 97th-minute strike to beat Bournemouth was something else.
The Arsenal bench cleared as every substitute and member of staff either rushed to the pitch to celebrate with Nelson or danced down the touchline in jubilation.
The explosion of noise, relief and celebration from the fans at Emirates Stadium was at a volume rarely heard since Arsenal first moved in. In the Match of the Day green room, ex-Gunners striker Ian Wright jumped and screamed in delight.
It feels as if, should Arteta’s side win their first Premier League title in 19 years, this is the game that will be remembered.
“I think we’ve seen a team worthy of winning the Premier League,” BBC Sport pundit Ashley Williams said.
“We keep questioning them because of recent history and they keep answering us. Days like this win you the title. If they win it, they’ve deserved it.”
Arsenal had appeared set to cede not only points to Manchester City, who won the early game against Newcastle 2-0 but momentum too.
Against a Bournemouth side in the bottom three, Arsenal had fallen behind after just 9.11 seconds – Philip Billing scoring the second-quickest goal in Premier League history. When Marco Senesi headed home from a 57th-minute corner, it began to look as if the Gunners would finish the day with a five-point morning lead cut to two.
After Thomas Partey volleyed Arsenal back to 2-1, the winger – making just his third league appearance of the season – provided the cross for Ben White to level the game, before his stunning winner.
After conceding the second fastest Premier League goal ever, Arsenal won the game with their second latest goal in the top-flight since 2006-07.
