Football: Most emotional moment, says Arteta after Arsenal comeback win

Arsenal's Reiss Nelson celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates. PHOTO: REUTERS

LONDON – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted he lost all sense of control when Reiss Nelson’s piledriver bulged the net in the seventh minute of stoppage time to seal a thrilling 3-2 Premier League victory over Bournemouth on Saturday.

As home fans in the Emirates Stadium went berserk, Arsenal’s substitutes streamed onto the pitch, Nelson karate-kicked the corner flag and Arteta was overcome with euphoria.

No wonder, because victory from a 2-0 deficit kept the Gunners five points clear of Manchester City (58) at the top of the table with both sides having 12 games left.

Arteta conceded it was the most emotional moment he had experienced since returning to the club as manager.

“Everybody is overwhelmed. It was probably the loudest and most emotional moment we have lived together,” the Spaniard said.

“The journey that we’ve been on together and how the supporters and team are together, adding the important moment we had today, it was very special.

“(When the winner went in) you lose sight of where you are. I started to run and I didn’t really know where I was running to! But just looking in the faces of everybody, the staff, the players, our fans with that joy in their eyes, it’s great to live. It was an extraordinary day, a beautiful experience.”

It was the first time in over a decade that the Gunners have recovered from a two-goal deficit to win a league game.

It was also the kind of result that can often be pivotal in title races and the mood among fans leaving at the end was that Arsenal are in sight of their first title since 2004.

The way they responded after conceding a goal inside the opening 10 seconds to Philip Billing and then going 2-0 down before the hour mark when Marcos Senesi headed in was magnificent.

Thomas Partey and substitute Ben White evened it up before Nelson, who also came off the bench, fired home with what was almost the last kick of the game.

“It’s been a rough couple of months for me, just coming back from injury and when that goal went in it was a great moment for me,” the winger told Sky Sports.

“I have been here all my life. It means a lot to me. It was a great strike. I’m delighted with the goal and hope it is the first of many.”

Arteta also revealed that he now has a selection headache.

“I always saw the potential (of Nelson). The talent and the desire for him to do it, but he’s at a different level right now. I think emotionally, the experiences that he had helped him,” he said.

“Football-wise, it was my decision in the last two games not to play him because we had other options.

“But he was knocking on the door. He’s been training really good and it’s a good lesson for me and for the coaches that we need him and that he can be really important for the team.”

Paul Merson, who was part of the Gunners’ league-winning sides in 1989 and 1991, said Nelson’s last-gasp winner will be a massive moment in the title race.

“I think they (will) win the league,” he told Sky Sports. “They just keep on going and don’t know when they’re beaten.

“It’s four (EPL wins) on the trot and you’ve got to remember the roll they were on before they started winning those games. They went 1-0 down at Villa after 10 minutes... had just been well-beaten by Man City and they bounced back (to win 4-2 in stoppage time).”

Arsenal’s next three league games are against Fulham, Crystal Palace and Leeds United before a trip to Liverpool. REUTERS, AFP

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