ARSENAL survived a second-half scare to beat Bournemouth 3-0 and keep their title challenge right on track.
The Gunners have gone four points clear ahead of rivals Manchester City, though City have two games in hand starting at home against Wolves this evening.
Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice got the crucial goals as the Cherries had a controversial goal chalked off by VAR.
- Kick-off time: 12.30pm
- TV channel: TNT Sports 1
- Live stream: Discovery+
- Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Odegaard, Rice, Partey; Saka, Havertz, Trossard.
- Bournemouth XI: Travers; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Ouattara; Cook, Christie; Semenyo, Scott, Kluivert; Solanke.
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That’s all!
Thanks for coming along as Arsenal maintained their momentum to stay in the title race.
The Gunners will not have a nervy wait to see how Man City get on this afternoon against Wolves – all eyes on the Etihad.
Read our match report from today’s 3-0 win below…
Arteta will watch City
Mikel Arteta revealed he will watch on as Manchester City take on Wolves later on this afternoon.
But the Gunners boss won’t be donning a Wolves shirt to cheer on his title rivals’ opponents.
Instead he said he will be watching on wearing his pyjamas with his wife and kids.
Credit: Getty Arteta takes leaf from Wenger’s book
Mikel Arteta claimed he didn’t see any of the controversial decisions surrounding the team today.
The Arsenal boss joked: “The honest answer is I haven’t seen any of the incidents because I knew you were going to ask me.
“They said do you want to see it and I said no so I can give you an honest answer!”
Iraola on the decisions
Andoni Iraola has claimed that the referee got the two big decisions against his team wrong.
But the Cherris boss reiterated that regardless of those decisions Arsenal still desreved to win the game.
He said: “I don’t agree wirh the decisions. The penalty one and he especially the disallowed goal.
“But I want to repeat I think they were better than us and deserved to win the game.”
Credit: Reuters Player ratings
SunSport’s Jordan Davies has given his ratings for every Arsenal player during today’s match.
Here’s how some of the stars were rated…
- Declan Rice – 9
- Kai Havertz – 9
- Gabriel – 6
- Thomas Partey – 7
Arteta on the first half
Mikel Arteta claimed his team performed “the best we have played all season” in the first half against Bournemouth today.
He added: “We could have scored three, four or five easily.”
Credit: Reuters The game by stats
Here’s how the game looked by its stats…
Different attitude
Arsenal looked like the pressure got to them in the run-in last season as they tussled with City in the title race.
The Gunners seem more assured this year and Declan Rice has explained that there’s no dread this time round, suggesting the side are instead “embracing” it.
We are embracing the title race this year
Declan Rice
Glove to see it
David Raya’s clean sheet today means that his tally of 15 games without conceding cements him as this year’s golden glove winner in the Premier League.
What a debut season he has had for the Gunners.
Following in the footsteps
Bukayo Saka’s penalty today makes him the first English Arsenal player to score 20 goals in a season since Theo Walcott in 2013.
Saka has now bagged 20 times and registered 14 assists this term.
Credit: AFP Talking points
There’s plenty to discuss after that game including two disallowed goals and a potential red card.
Bukayo Saka was left bleeding after a studs up challenge Ryan Christie that left him writhing in pain on the floor.
Bournemouth had the ball in the back of the net from Semenyo but it was ruled out after Solanke was deemed to have pushed an Arsenal player in the build up.
While Gabriel’s rocket was ruled out after Kai Havertz was deemed to be in an offside position when he flicked it on to the centre-back.
Stay tuned as we bring you the reaction from the match.
Gunning for glory
Arsenal return four points clear at the summit of the Premier League.
This season looks like it is going to go right down to wire.
- Arsenal – 83pts, 36 games played
- Man City – 79pts, 34 games played
- Liverpool – 75pts, 35 games played
FULL TIME
Rice’s goal is virtually the last kick of the game and Arsenal maintain their spot on top of the table.
A comfortable 3-0 win to pile the pressure on Man City who face Wolves this afternoon.
GOAL!!!!
THEY ARE OVER THE LINE NOW!! RICE MAKES IT THREE!
Arsenal 2-0 Bournemouth
90+4′ Chants of “We are top of the league” ring around the Emirates.
The Gunners are within minutes of getting past another tough task.
Man City’s move next…
Arsenal 2-0 Bournemouth
90+2′ Nothing comes from the Bournemouth corner and Arsenal bring the ball up the pitch.
This is a much more experienced Arsenal side this season and they are showing it by the way they are dealing with pressure today.
Arsenal 2-0 Bournemouth – Cherries free kick
90+1′ Ryan Christie whips a free kick across the box and wins a corner for the Cherries.
Pressure mounting on Arsenal.
Plenty to play for
The referee has indicated there will be EIGHT minutes of added time here.
Could we see more late drama like we did last season?
Double Cherries change
89′ Faivre and Aarons come on for Bournemouth.
It’s Smith and Kluivert who make way.
Arsenal 2-0 Bournemouth – Goal ruled out!
Arsenal have a third ruled out for offside.
Gabriel Magalhaes rockets the ball into the top corner off a Havertz flick.
VAR checks it and it’s ruled out.
Arsenal substitution
85′ Arsenal make their second change of the game as they look to see out this performance.
Bukayo Saka is substituted for Gabriel Jesus.
Credit: Reuters
Yellow card – Adam Smith
84′ Smith is shown yellow for diving in on a loose ball and catching Havertz on his follow through.
Arsenal 2-0 Bournemouth
82′ ALMOST AN INSTANT IMPACT. Gabriel Martinelli runs in behind and gets into the box.
He falls to the ground under a challenge but the referee waves away any suggestion of a second penalty.
Arsenal 2-0 Bournemouth – Havertz hits bar
80′ Right before that substitution Havertz clattered the woodwork with an effort from inside the area.
The Gunners could be home and dry here.
Arsenal substution
81′ Leandro Trossard is taken off for Gabriel Martinelli to add some fresh legs on the left flank.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
