Arsenal overcame a rigorous challenge at the Vitality Stadium to secure a 3-2 victory over Bournemouth, reinforcing their position at the top of the Premier League.
The match was defined by a major defensive lapse from Gabriel that allowed Evanilson to open the scoring, though the Brazilian center-back quickly leveled the game himself.
Despite a late scare from a spectacular Junior Kroupi strike, a second-half double from the returning Declan Rice ensured the Gunners moved six points clear of their nearest title rivals.
David Raya: 6
The Spanish shot-stopper was largely a spectator outside of the two goals, for which he could not be blamed. He remained composed under Bournemouth’s high press, consistently picking the right passes to bypass the initial line of pressure.
Jurrien Timber: 7
Timber endured a difficult opening period as the Cherries targeted his flank with direct running. However, he grew into the game and produced a vital goal-saving challenge in the second half to deny David Brooks a certain goal.
William Saliba: 8
In a game of high tension, Saliba was a pillar of stability. He was rarely troubled by Evanilson in individual duels and maintained his trademark composure throughout, winning all his aerial battles and organizing the backline effectively.
Gabriel: 6
It was a polarizing afternoon for the Brazilian, who gifted Bournemouth their opener with a shocking blind pass across his own area. To his credit, he showed immense character to smash home the equalizer six minutes later and remained a physical presence in both boxes until the final whistle.
Piero Hincapie: 5
Filling in for the injured Riccardo Calafiori, Hincapie struggled to adapt to the intensity of the match. He was frequently bypassed by Antoine Semenyo and lacked precision in his forward passing, often leaving the left flank vulnerable during transitions.
Martin Zubimendi: 6
The midfielder looked uncharacteristically sluggish during the first 45 minutes, often losing possession in dangerous areas. While his performance stabilized after the break, a yellow card hampered his ability to be aggressive in protecting the defense late on.
Declan Rice: 9
Making an unexpected return from a knee injury, Rice was the undisputed man of the match. He showed no signs of physical lingering, curling home a beautiful goal to give Arsenal the lead before finishing a late move to bag his first-ever Premier League brace.
Martin Odegaard: 8
The captain’s creative influence was on full display as he recorded his third assist in as many games. Beyond his vision on the ball, his defensive work rate was exceptional, leading the press and making several key tackles to stop Bournemouth counters.
Noni Madueke: 6
Madueke was a constant threat in the first half, with his explosive dribbling directly leading to Arsenal’s opening goal. However, his influence waned significantly after the break, and he was eventually replaced as his defensive contributions began to slacken.
Viktor Gyokeres: 6
The striker’s goal drought continued, and he struggled to find many touches in the opposition area. Nevertheless, his physical duels occupied multiple defenders, which ultimately created the space for Rice’s first goal of the evening.
Gabriel Martinelli: 5
It was a frustrating outing for the winger, who failed to capitalize on his start. He struggled to beat his marker with any consistency and saw his final deliveries repeatedly cut out, leading to his withdrawal midway through the second half.
Substitutes
Bukayo Saka: 7
Assisted the eventual match-winner with a brilliant cutback for Declan Rice.