Twilight capers : Picture by @YTJourno
**Bournemouth (1) 2** Evanilson 10, Kroupi 76
**Arsenal (1) 3** Gabriel 16, Rice 54, 71
Declan Rice marked his return from injury with two precious goals as the Gunners maintained their stranglehold at the top of the table.
It was only the second time the midfielder has bagged two goals in a game - the other occasion being that famous trouncing of Real Madrid last season.
As usual, he was everywhere and his contribution stretched beyond the goals. He is Mikel Arteta's driving force out on the pitch and seems to be relishing the responsibility.
This, in theory, was the ideal fixture to start the new year for the Gunners. The Cherries went into the game without a win in 10 games and having conceded a hatful of goals recently - including four at Brentford just a few days ago and four at Old Trafford.
They also boast a pretty solid record against the south coast club - apart from last season's surprise double defeat to the men from the Vitality, they have enjoyed the better of it since the Cherries came up in 2016.
But a blind first-time square ball from Gabriel with only 10 minutes played suggested it might be far from plain sailing. The manner of the goal conceded was so out of character too. An unmarked Evanilson, hardly believing his luck, had no option but to rifle past a hopelessly exposed David Raya.
As it turns out, redemption came only six minutes later for the Brazilian, who lashed home at the far post after Noni Madueke's dribble in from the right caused havoc in the defence and two blocks before the ball ran on to the central defender.
When Patrick Kluivert's quickly-taken free-kick released David Brooks down the left channel, they were lucky the final shot went went wide of the far post and they seemed to take it as a wake-up call, taking the lead moments later.
Rice 'We got him half price' steered the ball neatly home after a lay-off from Martin Odegaard and suddenly the Gunners looked in control.
The Cherries hit back, however, with Jurrien Timber's far post intervention just denying Brooks close in and the busy Marcus Tavernier trying his luck with a low shot at Raya.
Arsenal, it turns out, needed the cushion of a third goal and got it when Rice rattled in another crisp finish after another of those marvellously weighted Odegaard passes freed a newly-arrived Bukayo Saka inside a defender and his cutback invited the finish it got.
Andoni Iraola made a triple substitution and the Cherries got back into the game immediately when Junior Kroupi picked up a lay-off from Lewis Cook outside the area and drilled a ball across Raya to get the home crowd back onside and set up a grandstand finish.
There were six minutes of injury time to negotiate, plus small change and some late pressure from the ever-spirited Cherries was seen off. Next up for the Gunners in five days is the small matter of Liverpool at the Emirates. There's no rest for the wicked.
**Cherries:** (4-2-3-1) Petrovic - Jimenez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert - Tavernier, Scott (Kroupi 74) - Brooks (Adli 67), Kluivert (Cook 74), Semenyo - Evanilson (Unal 74)
**Gunners:** (4-3-3) Raya - Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie - Odegaard (Merino 80), Zubimendi, Rice - Madueke (Saka 66), Gyokeres (Jesus 66), Martinelli (Trossard 66)