Declan Rice's second-half double proved crucial to put Arsenal six points clear at the top of the Premier League table via a 3-2 win over Bournemouth, despite multiple scares on the south coast.
2025/2026 Premier League
2-3
Match Report
Rice was absent from Arsenal's thumping midweek win over title rivals Aston Villa, but he returned to action with a bang as the Gunners held out during a nervy finish.
Arsenal weathered an early storm from Bournemouth as they looked to take control, only for an uncharacteristic error from Gabriel gifting the Cherries a 10th-minute lead.
After attempting to play a first-time pass across Arsenal's back line, Gabriel got his angles all wrong and presented the ball to Evanilson, who rolled the ball beyond David Raya.
But no sooner after handing Bournemouth the lead, Gabriel hauled his side level with a thumping finish in the 16th minute after good work from Noni Madueke down the right.
The Cherries had the better of the chances during an impressive first-half display, but found themselves behind nine minutes after the restart when Rice swept the ball home.
Bukayo Saka then made an impact off the bench with his dazzling run ending with a pull-back to Rice, who finished past Djordje Petrovic with 19 minutes of the match remaining.
However, a Bournemouth substitute also made his mark in the 76th minute when Junior Kroupi sent a stunning effort into the bottom corner, but it proved to be just a consolation.
Data Debrief: Rice returns to haunt Bournemouth again
Mikel Arteta will have been buoyed to have Rice available again, and although his presence in the middle of the park did not improve Arsenal, who were unusually sloppy in possession in the first half, he made the difference in the final third.
Indeed, Rice netted his first-ever brace in the Premier League in what was his 296th appearance in the competition, while it was his second for the Gunners in all competitions, after his two sensational free-kicks against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
But given the England international's record against Bournemouth, you would have fancied him to have a say on proceedings. He has now scored five goals in 12 top-flight games against Bournemouth, more than double the goals he's scored against any other opponent in the competition.
The Gunners were made to work for their victory, though, having registered an expected goals (xG) total of 1.17 from their 12 shots, compared to Bournemouth's 1.34 from their 15 attempts at Raya's net.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
3' Match Event for Bournemouth vs Arsenal
8' Madueke cuts inside but he wellies his shot well over the bar
10' GOAL! Huge error from Gabriel gifts Evanilson to score! Bournemouth 1-0 Arsenal
16' GOAL! Gabriel equalizes to make up for his mistake! Bournemouth 1-1 Arsenal
25' Kluivert takes a free-kick, dipping and swerving the ball just wide of far post
35' Rice asks for a free-kick but the ref waves play on
40' Semenyo runs onto Evanilson's pass and scoops a shot over the bar
54' GOAL! Rice curls the ball into corner to turn it around! Bournemouth 1-2 Arsenal
58' Semenyo plays a good low ball across the face of goal which Brooks almost gets
67' Saka, Trossard and Jesus come of for Gyokeres, Martinelli and Noni Madueke
71' GOAL! Rice fires a low finish into the net! Bournemouth 1-3 Arsenal
76' GOAL! Eli Kroupi pulls one back for hosts! Bournemouth 2-3 Arsenal
77' Semenyo has a shot blocked
80' Arsenal make a switch as Mikel Merino replaces Martin Odegaard
Line-ups
Bournemouth XI: Brooks, Marcus Tavernier, Kluivert, Marcos Senesi, Djordje Petrovic, Evanilson, Antoine Semenyo, James Hill, Adrien Truffert, Alex Scott, Jimenez
Subs: Fraser Forster, Smith, E.Ünal, Lewis Cook, Bafodé Diakité, Adli, Eli Kroupi, Julio Soler, Remy Rees-Dottin
Arsenal XI: David Raya, Ødegaard, Rice, Viktor Gyökeres, Gabriel, Martín Zubimendi, Martinelli, Saliba, Madueke, Timber, Hincapie
Subs: Christian Nørgaard, Trossard, Kepa, Merino, Jesus, Ben White, Eberechi Eze, Saka, Lewis-Skelly