Arsenal strengthened their grip on the Premier League title race with a hard-earned 3–2 victory away at Bournemouth, with Declan Rice producing a decisive second-half brace to pull his side clear at the top.
The result moves Arsenal six points ahead of their nearest challengers, though the margin of victory did not reflect the tension of a contest that tested their resilience from start to finish on the south coast.
Rice’s influence was all the more striking given doubts over his availability. Nursing a swollen knee in the build-up, the midfielder was only given the green light shortly before kick-off — a decision that paid off emphatically as he struck twice from close range after the interval.
Arsenal’s afternoon began shakily. A loose pass across the face of goal from Gabriel gifted Bournemouth an early opener, allowing Evanilson the simplest of finishes after just 10 minutes. The home side sensed vulnerability and almost capitalised again, with Justin Kluivert going close as Arsenal struggled to find rhythm.
However, Gabriel atoned for his error midway through the first half. After a driving run from Noni Madueke unsettled the Bournemouth defence, the centre-back arrived in the box to steer home the equaliser and steady the visitors.
Despite the leveller, Bournemouth continued to cause problems before the break, underlining why they had troubled Arsenal so effectively last season. But the pattern shifted after half-time.
Nine minutes into the second period, Martin Ødegaard threaded a clever pass into Rice on the edge of the area, and the England international finished with authority to put Arsenal ahead. Moments later, the same trio combined again — Ødegaard releasing Bukayo Saka down the right, whose low cross was turned in by Rice to make it 3–1.
To Bournemouth’s credit, they refused to fold. Substitute Junior Kroupi reignited belief with a superb curling strike from distance, setting up a nervous finale in which Arsenal were forced to dig deep.
Tempers flared late on when referee Chris Kavanagh brought proceedings to a close as Bournemouth prepared to deliver a promising cross, sparking anger among players and supporters alike. Arsenal, though, held firm to secure another statement win.
The victory extends Bournemouth’s winless run to 11 matches, leaving AFC Bournemouth looking anxiously over their shoulders. Arsenal, meanwhile, continue to show a growing ability to navigate difficult moments — a quality increasingly associated with champions.
After the match, Mikel Arteta highlighted his side’s character, singling out both Gabriel’s response to his early mistake and Rice’s determination to make himself available. Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola conceded that defensive frailties once again proved costly, despite an encouraging first-half display.
Arsenal may not have been at their fluent best, but once again they found a way — and that, more than anything, continues to separate them from the chasing pack.
