Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, on the verge of a £65m transfer to Manchester City, delivered two assists and conceded a penalty during a turbulent 2-2 result at Stamford Bridge. The 25-year-old, who is close to completing his move to the Etihad, still featured for Andoni Iraola’s side and produced two long throw-ins that led to goals from David Brooks and Justin Kluivert.
His early involvement set the tone. In the sixth minute, his booming throw led to Brooks striking from a few yards out. Chelsea turned the scoreline around within 20 minutes, though, after Semenyo clipped Estevao Willian inside the area. Following a consultation with VAR on the touchline, referee Sam Barrott pointed to the spot.
Cole Palmer sent Djordje Petrovic the wrong way for the equaliser before Enzo Fernandez rifled into the top corner to put the home team ahead. But Bournemouth responded just four minutes later as Kluivert reacted quickest to another Semenyo throw to level again.
Chelsea kept pushing, and Bournemouth created a stream of opportunities in response. The visitors ended the opening half with 14 shots, repeatedly testing Robert Sanchez. Despite Chelsea’s dominance late on, neither team could find a decisive breakthrough, leaving home supporters restless at full-time.
Maresca faces more questions amid poor league run
Enzo Maresca’s side finished December with only one league victory in seven attempts. From being just six points off the Premier League summit after holding Arsenal with 10 men in late November, they now sit closer to Bournemouth in 15th than to Aston Villa in third. Their collapse from winning positions has become a defining issue, with a league-high 15 points dropped after taking the lead.
Booing greeted the decision to replace Palmer with Joao Pedro in the second half, as Chelsea fans voiced their frustration with substitutions and momentum slipping away. Fernandez spurned a promising chance in the 77th minute, while Petrovic denied Estevao with a full-stretch save earlier in the half.
Defensive nerves and wastefulness remain recurring themes, and their position in the home form standings illustrates the scale of the decline. The upcoming trip to Manchester City offers no respite, especially with Moises Caicedo unavailable after picking up a suspension.
Chelsea’s expectations still revolve around pushing for Champions League football, but their current trajectory places them in a crowded mid-table battle. With pressure increasing and patience thinning, the new year must bring an immediate shift.
Semenyo impresses despite looming exit
Semenyo’s display served as a reminder of why multiple leading clubs have monitored him over the last year. He glided past Josh Acheampong and Estevao just moments after kickoff, created danger from wide areas, and repeatedly gave Bournemouth attacking outlets in transition. His stamina, aggression, and ball-carrying helped relieve pressure and initiate counters.
The Ghana international’s commitment was evident even as his transfer nears completion. Rather than avoid contact or minimise risks, he threw himself into defensive situations, winning headers and clearing deliveries into the penalty area in the latter stages. When Bournemouth attempted to resist Chelsea’s late surge, he remained a target for long clearances and direct passes.
After the match, Iraola suggested Semenyo could still feature in the upcoming fixture against table-topping Arsenal. The manager confirmed that while no guarantee exists, the forward is expected to remain involved and recover in time.
With his professionalism intact until the final moment, Semenyo exits — if the move is finalised — having shown precisely why Manchester City are prepared to invest heavily and why several other Premier League sides have monitored his rise.
