BOURNEMOUTH 2-3 ARSENAL: Declan Rice's double and a goal from Gabriel Magalhaes gave the Gunners another crucial win, as they staved off a late comeback from the hosts
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 03: Gabriel of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Arsenal at Vitality Stadium on January 03, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Gabriel Magalhaes equalised for Arsenal (Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Arsenal survived a late scare from Bournemouth to move six points clear at the top of the Premier League table. The Gunners came from behind and ran out 3-2 winners, with two second-half goals from Declan Rice proving vital.
Bournemouth were handed an early lead thanks to a head-in-hands moments from Gabriel Magalhaes, as Evanilson pounced on his wayward pass. Gabriel quickly earned redemption, though, equalising for the visitors six minutes later.
Rice's braced looked to have taken the game away from Bournemouth, but a stunning strike from Eli Junior Kroupi just a couple of minutes after coming on as a substitute made it a nervy finish. Arsenal had to batten down the hatches in order to seal the win and extend their lead at the summit.
Mikel Arteta was boosted by the availability of Rice, whose starting role was somewhat of a surprise, having missed Tuesday's 4-1 win against Aston Villa because of a knee injury. Bukayo Saka was named on the bench, likely with an eye on Thursday's game at home to Liverpool.
For Bournemouth, their supporters were given what could well be one last chance to watch Antoine Semenyo in action. The Cherries star is expected to join Manchester City for £65million in the coming days, although it could be after Andoni Iraola's side host Tottenham on Wednesday.
Here are six talking points from the Vitality.
1. Gabriel's six minutes of mayhem
It might be 2026 but Gabriel is still handing out Christmas presents. With just 10 minutes gone and after Arsenal had weathered Bournemouth's strong start, the Brazilian got a routine pass all wrong and gave the ball straight to Evanilson on the edge of the penalty area.
The striker, who probably couldn't believe his luck, had a simple task to slot the ball home beyond the scrambling David Raya and break the deadlock. It was uncharacteristic error from Gabriel, who looked to the sky in frustration.
But the Arsenal star only needed six minutes to make amends. Good work from Noni Madueke on the right of the box led to a goalmouth scramble, and the ball eventually fell to Gabriel, who produced a cool left-footed finish.
This time, he looked to sky in relief. Rapid redemption.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 3: Gabriel of Arsenal reacts after Evanilson of Bournemouth scores his side's first goal for 1-0 during the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Arsenal at Vitality Stadium on January 3, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Gabriel Magalhaes' error gave Bournemouth the lead(Image: Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)
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2. Arteta fumes after Semenyo escapes sending off
What may go down as Semenyo's farewell appearance almost ended prematurely when he risked being sent off with little over half an hour on the clock. The Ghana international had received a yellow card in the 26th minute for a foul in Piero Hincapie.
Shortly after, Semenyo went chasing Declan Rice as Arsenal burst forward, as he grabbed the midfielder's arm. Rice, to his credit, stayed on his feet but his pass was intercepted, arguing with Chris Kavanagh that he'd been impeded by Semenyo.
Arteta was of the same opinion, gesticulating towards the forth official. The Arsenal manager then got into a heated discussion with Bournemouth's coaching staff over the decision not to show Semenyo a second yellow.
What also didn't please Arteta was his players' lacklustre use of the ball. The Gunners made plenty of unforced errors in the first half and went into the break level with their hosts, who hadn't won a game since October.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 03: Declan Rice of Arsenal is challenged by Antoine Semenyo of AFC Bournemouth during the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Arsenal at Vitality Stadium on January 03, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal wanted Antoine Semenyo sent off for this incident(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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3. Comeback complete
The finish from Rice? The hold-up play from Viktor Gyokeres? The lay-off from Martin Odegaard? Take your pick from his marvellous Arsenal goal.
A long ball forward from Jurrien Timber needed Gyokeres to latch onto it, and the Swede did exactly that - and he could've had a penalty given how Marcos Senesi was grappling with him. Odegaard picked up his pass inside the penalty area and waited just long enough for Rice to arrive on the edge of the box, as the Arsenal captain showed great awareness.
Then, in typical Rice fashion, he produced a fine first-time strike, drilling the ball past Djordje Petrovic. The comeback was complete - but the three points weren't sealed.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 03: Declan Rice of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Arsenal at Vitality Stadium on January 03, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Declan Rice was on target to give Arsenal the lead
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4. Another game goes begging for Gyokeres
It's now been more than two months since Gyokeres scored a goal from open play for Arsenal. Granted, the £64million man missed four games through injury but he's had enough minutes to improve his tally of just seven goals this season.
Gyokeres will argue that he hasn't been given enough chances by his team-mates, who are clearly still adapting to playing alongside him. But with Gabriel Jesus, who replaced him after 67 minutes, approaching full fitness and Kai Havertz nearing a return, the former Sporting Lisbon star will be starting to fear for his place.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 03: Viktor Gyoekeres of Arsenal and Marcos Senesi of AFC Bournemouth battle for possession during the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Arsenal at Vitality Stadium on January 03, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Viktor Gyokeres' lack of goals is a concern
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5. Rice doubles up
If you're trailing 2-1 and see Bukayo Saka coming on, you're bound to be afraid. It didn't take long for the substitute to make an impact, making a darting run inside of Adrien Truffert and drawing a flood of Bournemouth players towards him inside the penalty area.
But Saka was unselfish and laid it off to Rice, who was in acres of space. The 26-year-old made no mistake, scoring a Premier League brace for the first time in his career.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 03: Declan Rice of Arsenal scores his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Arsenal at Vitality Stadium on January 03, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Declan Rice looked to have sealed all three points
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6. Bournemouth's late hope
For all the talk of Arsenal's quality on the bench, Bournemouth had firepower in reserve, in particular Kroupi. The teenager is making a name for himself at the Vitality and goals like this won't do him any harm.
Just two minutes after his introduction, Kroupi collected the ball around 20 yards out and confidently shot towards goal, netting his sixth league goal of the season. Raya's footwork was questionable but take nothing away from the strike.
Suddenly, tension filled the south coast air. Arsenal maintained their composure, though, and took home maximum points, starting 2026 with a hard-earned victory.