Arsenal player ratings: Declan Rice earns 9/10 after impressive brace, but Gabriel has mixed night
Declan Rice celebrates alongside his Arsenal teammates after scoring against Bournemouth (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) Arsenal increased their advantage over Manchester City in the Premier League standings with a hard-fought 3-2 victory away to Bournemouth. The Gunners fell behind 1-0 early, but rallied to take a 3-1 lead in the second half thanks to a double from Declan Rice. The home team did create a tense finish by scoring again, but Arsenal managed to maintain their lead and secure all three points. Continue reading for our complete Arsenal player ratings… Arsenal player ratings vs Bournemouth David Raya – 6 – Conceding two goals means this wasn’t the happiest match for Raya this season, although it must be said that the second goal from Bournemouth was a spectacular strike, leaving very few goalkeepers with a chance to stop it. Jurrien Timber – 7 – Likely Arsenal’s standout defender in an overall slightly wobbly performance, Timber handled the threat posed by Antoine Semenyo well and contributed effectively in moving the ball forward as he frequently does. Piero Hincapie – 6.5 – Still getting used to English football, Hincapie had a reasonably solid game today, although he wasn’t always entirely convincing against a strong Cherries side. Gabriel Magalhaes – 6.5 – A challenging performance to evaluate! Gabriel committed a significant error in the 10th minute that allowed Bournemouth to take the lead, but just six minutes later he scored a well-placed equalizer and was reasonably steady afterward. Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Magalhaes (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) William Saliba – 6.5 – Serviceable for Arsenal, although not quite at his best as the team conceded two goals, which is unusual for them when both starting centre-backs are fully fit. Martin Zubimendi – 7 – Neat in his play, Zubimendi effectively controlled the match as he frequently does. Declan Rice – 9 – With two excellently taken goals, Declan Rice showcased his best form, including a lovely effort below that made it 2-1 for the Gunners early in the second half… Arsenal turn it around! Declan Rice fires it home! ? pic.twitter.com/yohVWA8Crj — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 3, 2026 Martin Odegaard – 8 – Smooth and skillful, Martin Odegaard was a delight to watch once again this evening, continuing his recent resurgence and delivering a clever assist for Rice’s first goal. Noni Madueke – 7.5 – Secured a rare start over Bukayo Saka, and appeared vibrant on the right, particularly demonstrating impressive skill to assist in Gabriel’s equalizer. Gabriel Martinelli – 6 – Regrettably inconsistent, this was one of Gabriel Martinelli’s tougher outings, with the Brazilian winger unable to make an impact or execute the right choices at crucial moments. Viktor Gyokeres – 6 – A diligent player, but Gyokeres still seems to be missing the quality and finishing touch that Arsenal require from him. Subs: Gabriel Jesus 6, Bukayo Saka 7, Leandro Trossard 6, Mikel Merino 6
Published: 2026-01-03 19:36:00
source: www.caughtoffside.com
