Overview
- Declan Rice returned from a knee concern to score twice in the second half, delivering his first Premier League brace to decide a 3-2 win at the Vitality Stadium.
- Gabriel Magalhães gifted Evanilson the opener with a misplaced pass but equalised six minutes later before settling into a strong defensive display.
- Bournemouth substitute Eli Junior Kroupi struck from long range in the 76th minute to set up a tense finish, yet Arsenal closed out a fifth straight league victory.
- The result moved Arsenal six points clear at the top, with Manchester City able to trim the gap with a game in hand against Chelsea on Sunday.
- Mikel Arteta praised Rice as one of the best midfielders in the game and lauded Gabriel’s reaction to his early error as a sign of the team’s increasing resilience.