Mikel Arteta admits his side were “overwhelmed” by their emotions after their dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Bournemouth on Saturday.

Arteta’s team fell behind by two goals against a bad team like Bournemouth, but they came back and won in a thrilling game, keeping them five points ahead of second-place Manchester City.

It’s the first time in more than 10 years that the Gunners have come back from being down by two goals to win a league game.

Thomas Partey and Ben White scored to make it 2-2, and then Reiss Nelson scored deep into extra time as a substitute.

“Everybody is overwhelmed. It was madness from the first seconds with that routine and we defended so poorly,” Arteta said.

“Then we had to climb a mountain against 10 men behind the ball. We tried in every single way, we didn’t score and suddenly we are 2-0 down from a set play.”

Philip Billing gave Bournemouth the lead when he turned and scored with 9.11 seconds on the clock. This was the second-fastest goal in Premier League history.

After halftime, Marcos Senesi doubled the lead at the Emirates Stadium, but Arsenal played like champions to get a win that could be a turning point in the race for the title.

Nelson, who is 23 years old, is out of contract this summer. He came off the bench to play for the first time since November 12; he had been out with a thigh injury.

“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,” Nelson told Sky Sports News.

“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.”

Nelson set up White’s equalizer, and then he scored a great winner from 20 yards out with the last kick that mattered. Arteta said that he now has a hard time choosing who to play.

“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,” Arteta 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.”