Arsenal comfortably defeated Bournemouth, extending their lead at the top of the Premier League to four points ahead of Saturday’s later matches.
The Gunners controlled the first half and gained the lead just before the break with a penalty. Bukayo Saka converted the spot-kick after Kai Havertz was fouled by Bournemouth’s goalkeeper, Mark Travers.
In the 70th minute, Arsenal’s lead was doubled when Declan Rice intercepted the ball near the box and set up Leandro Trossard, who curled in a shot from inside the area. Rice added a third goal in stoppage time, enhancing Arsenal’s goal difference.
Bournemouth increased their pressure in the second half, with Dominic Solanke testing Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Raya, and Justin Kluivert narrowly missing the target. Antoine Semenyo’s goal for Bournemouth was disallowed due to a foul on Raya by Solanke during the buildup.
Arsenal’s Gabriel had a late volley goal disallowed for offside.
This victory puts Arsenal temporarily four points clear at the top, though Manchester City could close the gap when they play later in the day.
The match also included a tribute to Daniel Anjorin, a 14-year-old Arsenal fan who tragically died in a sword attack earlier in the week.
Arsenal keep pressure on City in title race
The Gunners began the match with intense pace, putting Bournemouth on the defensive for much of the first half.
In the first 20 minutes alone, Mikel Arteta’s team fired off 11 shots, tying the record for the most by a Premier League side in a match this season. Despite the aggressive start, it seemed initially that luck might not be on their side.
William Saliba saw a well-coordinated shot saved by Travers after a one-two with Saka, who also had an attempt thwarted by the Bournemouth goalkeeper.
Declan Rice missed a prime opportunity to open the scoring in the first half, shooting narrowly wide after a setup by Havertz.
Before the half ended, Leandro Trossard, Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard, and Takehiro Tomiyasu all had chances to score, but it was Saka who eventually broke the deadlock with a penalty.
The game’s pressure lessened when Trossard skillfully doubled Arsenal’s lead, and Rice’s late goal added a final touch of flair to the scoreline.
This win marks Arsenal’s fourth consecutive victory as they continue to challenge Manchester City in the title race, hoping for the champions to slip up.
Bournemouth second half shows why they are improving
Bournemouth’s second-half performance underscores their ongoing improvement. The Cherries are enjoying their best season yet in the top flight, achieving a club-record 48 points.
In the first half, they found themselves largely confined to their own half, battling to contend with Arsenal’s prowess and managing only a single shot in the opening minute by Dango Ouattara.
Arsenal’s defense, notably vigilant around 18-goal striker Solanke, contained him effectively. Solanke missed a prime opportunity to score in the 17th minute after Gabriel mishandled the ball, but Saliba quickly intervened to block his attempt.
Manager Andoni Iraola will be encouraged by the team’s enhanced performance after the break, which momentarily unsettled Arsenal before the hosts managed to extend their lead.
Although the visitors believed they had scored through Antoine Semenyo, VAR Peter Bankes, supporting the decision of on-field referee David Coote, ruled out the goal due to a push on goalkeeper Raya during its buildup.
While Bournemouth has a chance to finish in the top half of the table, they were unable to secure points in this encounter.
Player of the match: Martin Ødegaard