Bournemouth vs Arsenal: Rice double sinks Cherries as Gunners extend lead to 6 points

Arsenal tightened their grip on the Premier League title race with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Bournemouth, marking their fifth consecutive league win.

The result moves the Gunners into a provisional six-point lead over Manchester City, though they were made to sweat for the points at the Emirates.

The afternoon began in disastrous fashion for Mikel Arteta’s side when Gabriel Magalhaes gifted Bournemouth an opener, playing a loose pass across his own box that Evanilson easily intercepted and converted.

Gabriel quickly redeemed himself, however, slamming home an equalizer at the far post after Gabriel Martinelli’s effort was cleared off the line.

Despite the recovery, Arsenal looked fatigued for much of the first half, surviving several scares from a lively Bournemouth attack led by Justin Kluivert.

The second half saw the leaders rediscover their clinical edge. Within ten minutes of the restart, Declan Rice swept Arsenal ahead after a delicate tee-up from Martin Odegaard. Arteta then turned to his bench, and the introduction of Bukayo Saka paid immediate dividends; the winger’s cut-back found Rice once more, who tucked away his second of the evening to make it 3-1.

A late strike from Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi ensured a nervous finale, but the Gunners held firm to secure the victory.

While Arsenal celebrate a vital three points, Bournemouth’s winless streak now stretches to 11 matches, leaving Andoni Iraola’s side precariously close to the relegation scrap.