Bournemouth vs Arsenal live: Declan Rice brace powers Gunners to crucial comeback win in Premier League
Bournemouth 1-3 Arsenal: Rice’s brace added to Gabriel’s equalise as the Gunners came from behind to win
Declan Rice’s brace powered Arsenal to a precious comeback victory over Bournemouth as Mikel Arteta’s side extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to six points.
Gabriel went from zero to hero inside the early stages, delivering countryman Evanilson a late Christmas present by gifting the ball to the Bournemouth striker on the edge of the Gunners box after 10 minutes, who promptly fired past David Raya to give the Cherries the lead.
He then provided the finishing touch just six minutes later to level for Arsenal, hitting the back of the net after a passage of pinball in front of the hosts’ goal.
Rice fired Arteta’s side in front after the restart before doubling his tally and Arsenal’s advantage, and while Eli Junior Kroupi’s 76th-minute stunner set up a nervy finish at the Vitality Stadium, Arsenal managed the match’s climax well to see out the win.
Relive all the action from Bournemouth vs Arsenal in our live blog below:
How it leaves the Premier League table
Arsenal end the night a hefty six points clear of the closest challengers Aston Villa at the Premier League pinnacle and seven in front of Manchester City, who face Chelsea tomorrow.
Mind the gap.
Eli Junior Kroupi's instant impact
He’s been one of the breakout stars of the season and for good reason, with Eli Junior Kroupi making an instant impact off the bench to give Bournemouth hope.
It was a stunning finish, but in the end not enough to salvage a result.
Is this it for Antoine Semenyo at Bournemouth?
Antoine Semenyo may have played his last game for Bournemouth, with the winger seemingly Man City-bound.
On his future, Cherries midfielder Lewis Cook said: "It's part of football. Players come and go, whatever happens with Semenyo.
“He's a top professional and gives everything for the team. We'll see what happens but we can reflect on today and take it into next week."
Mikel Arteta's post-match reaction
"It is very different context to the Villa game. We put ourselves into a very difficult position with the manner we conceded the first goal but what Gabriel has done was remarkable, he showed leadership and unity. We then grew into the game and scored two great goals,” Arteta told BBC Sport.
"Declan Rice was struggling the last few days but pushed and pushed and pushed and made himself available. He played 96 minutes, scored two goals and was one of the best players on the pitch. That is the mentality we need from all of us.
"The ones who came in did really well, that is what we need. All of the players are really consistent and it was against a team difficult to beat.
"We will learn from the first goal we conceded. It is the quality of the oppositon and sometimes you have to applaud that.
"We are still in January we have nine games this month so we will play game by game."
Declan Rice on whether he will watch Man City vs Chelsea
"I didn't watch the Sunderland game,” he told Sky Sports, referencing City’s goalless draw with the Black Cats on New Year’s Day.
“If I have the time I might watch it. But I’m just focusing on us at the minute, I know it’s cliché but there are so many games and we can’t get too caught up on what others are doing."
Gabriel's 'zero to hero' outing
Bournemouth's woes continue
Bournemouth have lost 16 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, more than any other team.
Tonight makes it 11 league games without a win for Andoni Iraola.
Report: Arsenal stave off Bournemouth to surge six points clear at top of Premier League
Declan Rice scored a second-half brace as Arsenal fought from behind to complete a thrilling 3-2 win against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
Evanilson took advantage of Gabriel’s misplaced pass to put Bournemouth ahead after just 10 minutes. However, Gabriel atoned for his error when he struck back just six minutes later.
Rice, who missed his first Premier League game of the season with a knee injury in Arsenal’s 4-1 rout of Aston Villa on Tuesday, then put the Gunners ahead after 54 minutes before adding a second with 19 minutes to go.
Eli Junior Kroupi landed a brilliant strike from range just five minutes later to provide Mikel Arteta’s side with a nervy finish, but the visitors held on to move six points clear of Villa.
Arsenal stave off Bournemouth to surge six points clear at top of Premier League
Arsenal come from behind to beat Bournemouth
Controversy at the death
You have to feel for Bournemouth at the end there.
Referees don’t usually blow if an attacking phase is still in play as the clock ticks over, but that’s exactly what Chris Kavanagh did there when Antoine Semenyo’s long throw came back out to him.
He blew on 96 on the do to a furious reaction from the Cherries players and manager Andoni Iraola. And given the fact Arsenal were taking their sweet time over every stoppage of play to barely a complaint from the official, you can’t blame them.
A sour end to what was a really fun game of football.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments
Bookmark popover
Removed from bookmarks