Bournemouth 2-3 Arsenal: Report, result, and goals as Rice double sends Arsenal six clear
Arsenal surged six points ahead at the top of the Premier League thanks to a brace from Declan Rice that secured a 3-2 victory over Bournemouth.
Earlier, Aston Villa’s 3-1 victory against Nottingham Forest had narrowed Arsenal’s lead at the top to three points.
Concerns loomed for Mikel Arteta’s squad when Evanilson capitalized on a mistake from Gabriel, giving Bournemouth an early advantage.
However, Gabriel quickly redeemed himself by equalizing before Rice netted twice in the second half, putting Arsenal in control.
Junior Kroupi unsettled Arsenal’s nerves by scoring with 14 minutes left in regulation, but Arsenal remained resolute, putting pressure back on the teams behind them, with Manchester City now trailing by seven points in third place ahead of their match against manager-less Chelsea on Sunday.
For Bournemouth, the situation worsens as they remain winless in their last 11 Premier League matches, though they still hold a nine-point cushion above the relegation zone.
Gabriel makes amends
Bournemouth was rewarded for their vibrant start as their pressing proved effective, with Gabriel’s errant pass across the box falling right into Evanilson’s path, who confidently finished past David Raya.
Gabriel, however, quickly atoned for his mistake by scoring after a blocked shot rebounded into his path, thanks to some excellent work from Noni Madueke.
Yet, Arsenal struggled to capitalize on the equalizer immediately. Just nine minutes into the second half, they were fortunate when David Brooks misfired across the goal following a quickly taken free-kick from the hosts.
Rice soon made them pay for that missed chance.
Rice the hero for Arsenal
One minute after Brooks’ squandered opportunity, Rice put Arsenal ahead, making a triumphant return from the injury that sidelined him in the midweek win against Villa.
Martin Odegaard set up Rice after impressive hold-up play from Viktor Gyokeres, and Rice’s strike into the bottom-right corner left Djordje Petrovic with no opportunity to respond.
Seventeen minutes later, he extended Arsenal’s lead in a strikingly similar fashion, connecting with Bukayo Saka’s right-wing pull back for another composed finish, leaving Bournemouth facing an uphill battle.
Kroupi sparked a glimmer of hope for a comeback with a brilliant curling shot into the far corner, yet Arsenal comfortably managed the game from that point on.
Published: 2026-01-03 19:25:00
source: www.101greatgoals.com
