Arsenal's revenge tour this week has continued. After thrashing Aston Villa, it was Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth to feel their wrath despite being gifted an opening goal courtesy of a rare Gabriel mistake.
Gabriel made amends by scoring the equalizer, before Declan Rice marked his comeback by netting a match-winning double as Mikel Arteta's side stretched their advantage to six points.
The Arsenal manager promised his squad would learn following last season's disappointing defeat. Following a lethargic first-half, it appeared old habits were lingering. Yet, a transformed display after the interval, inspired by the midfielder's dominance, secured another league triumph propelling a message across the Premier League.
The day's results had seen Arsenal's cushion trimmed to three points. A major boost, however, arrived with their key midfielder passing a last-minute assessment. Perhaps mindful of an upcoming meeting with Liverpool, changes were made, as star wingers and Trossard among the substitutes.
The Cherries, sticking with the same team, watched their forward nearly make a dream start immediately. Unexpectedly, the first goal went to the hosts when an errant attempted ball fell kindly for Evanilson, slotting home with ease.
The manager's ire clear, but his mood changed with the culprit who delivered the response. Following lively work on the wing, a scramble ensued for the center-back, who fired in a fierce left-footed finish to restore parity.
The opening half was far from fluid for the visitors, with striker Viktor Gyökeres finding it tough while Evanilson proving a constant menace. Tempers flared before the break, with the Arsenal bench exchanging words against the opposition before departing to the dressing room.
The team talk during the interval worked wonders. Almost instantly of the restart, neat interplay through the midfield set up Rice, who made no mistake flew past Djordje Petrovic to complete the turnaround.
The England star had more to offer, grabbing his brace soon after after exquisite combination play involving Saka and Ødegaard. His celebration affectionately for the cameras, with the away side seemed to be in complete control.
The home side, to their credit, found a response. Replacement Eli Junior Kroupi struck an outstanding 25-yard drive that flew into the net creating a nervous ending.
The Cherries pressed for an equalizer in the dying moments, leaving their fans incensed as the final whistle sounded during a promising attack. For Arsenal and the victorious team, the result was all that mattered: another vital points in a relentless title pursuit.
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