**Arsenal**extended their lead at the top of the Premier League with a 3-2 win against Bournemouth.
The Gunners made an unexpected error to gift away the first goal of the game as **Evanilson**converted from close range. However, Gabriel Magalhaes made up for his mistake with a swift equaliser.
The contest ebbed and flowed as an open encounter that presented chances to both clubs before a talismanic figure wrapped up the ordeal. Declan Rice put the league leaders ahead with a sweet strike early in the second half, and he bagged a brace to make sure of the three points for the visitors.
It was a necessary buffer as a rising star for **Bournemouth**brought more uncertainty to the game with a stunning shot from distance. But the winless streak goes on for the side from the south coast.
Story of the Match
Andoni Iraola stuck with the same starting eleven he used in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea. Alex Jimenez joined the team as the right back, James Hill partnered with Marcos Senesi in central defence, and Marcus Tavernier played with Alex Scott in midfield. Antoine Semenyo, still heavily linked with a transfer to Man City, stayed in the attack along with David Brooks, Justin Kluivert, and Evanilson.
Mikel Arteta altered three members of the lineup he selected in an emphatic 4-1 victory over Aston Villa. **Declan Rice**had been absent with a knee injury for that fixture, but he was deemed fit to play in the middle of the park in place of Mikel Merino. Bukayo Saka sat out for Noni Madueke on the right flank while Gabriel Martinelli made his customary appearance instead of Leandro Trossard.
The Gunners attempted to go through the gears in the early stages. Martin Zubimendi searched for Viktor Gyokeres, who was unable to swivel around Senesi inside the penalty area. Moments later, Madueke picked up the ball on the right flank, cutting inside on his left boot to skip past several black and red shirts. But with all the hard work done to force a way into the box, he fired over the bar.
But a big blunder scuppered their work. The visitors circulated the ball at the back, and **Gabriel Magalhaes**looked for a shift of play towards the right side of the pitch. However, he shanked the execution, gifting possession to Evanilson, who rolled the ball into an empty net past David Raya.
The hosts had heightened spirits, and **Justin Kluivert**cracked an effort from range at the target. Their joy would not last for too long though as **Arsenal**engineered another key goal through a set-piece.
Rice whipped a delivery into the danger zone from a free kick that was punched out of the way. Madueke collected the second ball, skipped around Semenyo, and drove to the byline before pulling the ball back for Martinelli. He was denied, but Gabriel converted the rebound to redeem himself.
Parity was restored— order less so. The Cherries continued to act as a disruptive force through their press, provoking errors out of a team that rely on stability. Brooks fed Evanilson into another dangerous position, but he was marginally offside. Then, a giveaway from Zubimendi then saw **Bournemouth**break forward and Tavernier eventually flicked a header close to the goal.
Iraola’s players pushed onwards. Gabriel gave away a free kick for a foul on Evanilson, and Kluivert swept a shot just wide of the post. Tavernier threatened too, and belief was building in the ground.
The guests were a little aggrieved when Rice received a slight pull from Semenyo, who was already on a yellow card. Though a transition was interrupted, the referee chose not to dismiss the forward.
Arteta’s men, for their own part, had things to do better. They had not registered a shot since the 18th minute, and as Odegaard awaited the perfect opening on a counter, he passed up on a good opening.
Brooks reemerged for the second half with the same intent to create problems for the visitors. He was liveliest to the restart from a free kick, running freely in behind, but his shot strayed wide of the mark.
The action was not the prettiest, but the league leaders did what the best do, delivering a knockout blow. Martinelli and Gyokeres were in the wars, forcing **Bournemouth**back with success in aerial duels. The ball dropped for Odegaard, who set up Rice to stroke the ball beyond Djordje Petrovic.
Iraola’s men did not relent. Semenyo showed Piero Hincapie a clean pair of heels, teasing a devilish delivery along the floor that Jurrien Timber had to manage. He should have got a goal kick out of a deflection onto Brooks, but the officials awarded a corner that ended up with an effort for Tavernier.
In the 66th minute, Arteta made a triple substitution to freshen up the attack. Gabriel Jesus got more minutes on his road to recovery as a replacement for Gyokeres, joined by Saka and Trossard.
Almost immediately, the Gunners benefitted from the changes. Odegaard had drifted out to the right flank, looking for his usual connection with the right winger. Saka made a dart behind the backline, drove to the byline, and a pullback left Rice with the simplest of finishes. **Arsenal**were now 3-1 up, and it looked like the triumph would be theirs to take to North London after an uncomfortable ordeal.
But Bournemouthwere not finished. Iraola sent on Enes Unal and EliJunior Kroupi in another roll of the dice, and the French forward provided a piece of brilliance. He connected with a layoff from Lewis Cook and arrowed a missile into the net: only one goal to separate the sides with 15 to go.
There was much to admire from Iraola’s men, who persisted until the end of injury time in the second half. Semenyo would wind up for a throw-in that the Gunners cleared, and the referee blew his whistle instead of allowing the hosts to go again from the second phase of the set-piece. Fans and players were irate in unison, but they had to accept the superiority of the league leaders on the day.