
Spoelstra: No need to penalize Ball any further
Erik Spoelstra supports no further penalties for LaMelo Ball after flagrant foul.
Bournemouth's Alex Scott expressed his hope for Manchester City to defeat Arsenal after his team’s 2-1 victory over Arsenal, which he contributed to with a goal. This win significantly impacts the Premier League title race, narrowing the gap between Arsenal and Manchester City to six points.
“I’m hoping for Antoine” – Bournemouth’s Alex Scott makes title race wish after Arsenal win
Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott has revealed he is backing ex-teammate Antoine Semenyo and Manchester City in the Premier League title race.
Scott scored in Bournemouth‘s 2-1 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, a result that handed Manchester City a significant boost in the title race and cut the gap between the two clubs to six points ahead of Sunday’s huge clash in Manchester.
The 22-year-old revealed in a post-match interview that he had been in contact with former Cherries teammate Antoine Semenyo following the final whistle, making no attempt to hide where his loyalties lie when it comes to the destination of the Premier League title.
Match Report & Player Ratings: Chelsea 0-3 Manchester City (Premier League)
“I texted (Antoine) Semenyo afterwards, he was happy with us (Bournemouth) winning,” Scott said. “Obviously they’re top of the league, both are tough places to come, Man City away is always a really hard game, whoever wins it wins it.
“Antoine’s now at City so I’m hoping for Antoine but Arsenal have been brilliant all year – so whoever wins it, they will thoroughly deserve it.”
Scott’s intervention at the Emirates Stadium gave Pep Guardiola‘s side the platform they needed to take full advantage on Sunday, with City sweeping Chelsea aside 3-0 at Stamford Bridge to close the gap to Arsenal and set up what promises to be one of the most dramatic Premier League title showdowns in recent memory.
Semenyo has been a key contributor to City’s recent run of form since his January arrival, firing a warning to Arsenal after the club’s 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final rout of Liverpool and establishing himself as an important option for Guardiola on the right flank in the final weeks of the season.
Smith and Semenyo clearly retain a close bond from their time together on the south coast, with Scott’s comments adding a warm and personal sub-plot to a title race that has taken on new intensity following Arsenal’s recent struggles.
City’s players will no doubt have appreciated the support. Jeremy Doku has already declared that the race is on and that City will be “well prepared” for Sunday’s showdown, while Marc Guehi has sent his own title warning to Arsenal in the aftermath of the Chelsea victory. Now, it seems, they can count Bournemouth’s dressing room among those cheering them on.
Marc Guehi sends title warning to Arsenal as Manchester City sweep Chelsea apart
The significance of Bournemouth’s win at the Emirates Stadium cannot be overstated in the context of the title race. Arsenal’s poor run of form has coincided with Pep Guardiola’s men finding their usual business-end-of-the-season rhythm, precisely at the wrong moment for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
Guardiola had spoken candidly before the Chelsea game about the enormity of what lay ahead, insisting the title race would effectively be over without a win at Stamford Bridge.
City delivered emphatically and Arsenal’s stumble the day before means the Etihad Stadium showdown on Sunday now carries title implications that would have seemed unthinkable even a fortnight ago.
For City, the message from across the dressing room and now from the Bournemouth camp too is the same: believe.
Bournemouth defeated Arsenal 2-1.
Alex Scott scored one of the goals in Bournemouth's 2-1 victory.
Alex Scott expressed his hope for Manchester City to beat Arsenal in their upcoming match.
The gap between Arsenal and Manchester City is now six points.

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