Bournemouth vs Arsenal: Mikel Arteta singles out player for praise after 3-2 win

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has singled out Gabriel Magalhaes for praise after the Brazil international scored the equaliser minutes after his error led to Bournemouth’s opener. 

The Gunners beat Andoni Iraola’s Cherries 3-2 to extend their league lead to six points. They came from behind to claim victory, as Evanilson gave Bournemouth the opener after an error from Gabriel. 

The former Lille man scored the equaliser six minutes after his countryman’s 10th-minute opener. Declan Rice’s second-half brace sealed the result for Arsenal, but Eli Kroupi’s 76th-minute strike sparked late drama. 

Speaking after the game, Arteta praised Bournemouth’s effort, crediting them for an incredible performance, before praising his team's character to overcome a difficult opponent. 

"I'm very happy we knew the difficulty of the match; they're a team that constantly threaten you,” he said, per the BBC. “They are so good; they made it even harder for ourselves conceding the first goal but I love the character of the team. 

“I love the character of Gabriel; the way he overcome that situation it's just unbelievable. It says a lot about how much we've grown. The team found a way to beat them, and it's a massive win.”

He continued his praise of Gabriel, stating that he was representative of the team's steely character. “When you talk about players who show authority and dominate, that's a player that represents that in this team. 

“That's why he's so important; we have to lead by example. You cannot demand that to the rest, and then something happens. So I think today's example is a great one.”