Arsenal 3 – 0 B’mouth

Arsenal reopened a four-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table with a 3-0 win over Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium.

Bukayo Saka put the Gunners ahead from the penalty spot in a one-sided first half before Leandro Trossard swept home their second following a spell of Bournemouth pressure after the break.

The visitors had a goal controversially ruled out after that, with VAR upholding referee David Coote’s decision to penalize Dominic Solanke for a foul on David Raya, before Declan Rice added a stoppage-time third to put the result beyond doubt.

The victory, Arsenal’s fourth in a row, maintains their title charge and puts the pressure back on Manchester City as they host Wolves, live on sky sportsat the 5.30pm kick-off.

How Arsenal notched up another win

Arsenal fell behind after only nine seconds when Bournemouth visited the Emirates Stadium last season but they looked comfortable from the start this time around, creating a succession of early chances which required last-ditch blocks from the visitors.

Kai Havertz, William Saliba and Saka had all gone close before Takehiro Tomiyasu had his header cleared off the line and there was an even better chance for Rice, who fired a low shot wastefully past the post from Havertz’s knockdown at the far post.

Bournemouth’s resistance was finally broken when the excellent Martin Odegaard played in Havertz, who drew contact from goalkeeper Mark Travers before going to ground, the penalty call surviving a lengthy VAR check before Saka stepped up to convert.

The goal ensures Saka the first Arsenal player since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to reach 20 goals in all competitions for the club in a single season and Trossard is not far behind him on 16 thanks to his clinical first-time finish, from Rice’s clever pass, in the 70th minute.

Arsenal had been forced onto the back foot before that and they survived a scare immediately afterwards, when Antoine Semenyo’s goal, after Ryan Christie’s effort had come back off the bar, was ruled out following another long VAR check.

The referee’s decision to penalize Solanke for a foul on Raya was upheld despite the contact being slight, with Bournemouth’s appeals for a penalty for a Gabriel Magalhaes pull on substitute Philip Billing in the same passage of play turned away.

Arsenal had more chances to extend their lead, with Odegaard firing into the side-netting and Havertz clipping the bar, but Rice eventually got the third, finishing well from an angle from Gabriel Jesus’s pass to add a goal to his earlier assist in a player -of-the-match display which delighted the home fans.

Analysis: Rice has blossomed as an attacker

Declan Rice is best known for his defensive qualities but the 25-year-old’s performances this season might require a reassessment. He has become a lethal attacker under Mikel Arteta.

He provided the assist for Leandro Trossard’s crucial second goal, flicking the ball to him instinctively with the outside of his boot, then added the third himself with a cool finish on the angle.

Rice now has seven goals and eight assists in the Premier League this season, the fourth-highest combined total of any Arsenal player and more than twice as many as he has ever previously managed.

Thomas Partey’s introduction at the base of midfield has helped, giving him freedom to bomb forward from the No 8 position, but Rice’s increased attacking threat has been apparent all season.

This was just another example.

Raya clinches Golden Glove – Opta stats

• David Raya has officially won the Premier League’s Golden Glove, keeping 15 clean sheets in the Premier League this season, with only Petr Cech (16 in 2015/16) keeping more shutouts in his debut Premier League campaign for the Gunners.
• Arsenal have won 14 of their 16 Premier League games in 2024 (D1 L1), scoring 51 goals and conceding just eight in reply. Indeed, the Gunners have won the most points in the competition since the turn of the year (43).
• All 10 of Arsenal’s outfield starters attempted at least one shot in this game, the first time this has happened in a Premier League game for the Gunners since January 2022 against Burnley.
• With two games to spare, Arsenal have equaled their Premier League win tally from last season (26). Indeed, only in 1930/31 (28) and 1970/71 (29) have the Gunners won more games in a single top-flight campaign.

What’s next?

Arsenal continue their title bid at Manchester United on Sunday May 12, live on sky sports. Kick-off 4.30pm. They end the season at home to Everton on Sunday May 19, kick-off 4pm.

Bournemouth host Brentford in their last home game of the season on Saturday May 11, kick-off 3pm. The Cherries finish the season at Chelsea on May 19, kick-off 4pm.

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