Declan Rice Brace Seals Victory as Arsenal Extend Premier League Lead.

Bournemouth vs Arsenal match report

In a pulsating Premier League encounter on January 3, 2026, Arsenal battled back from an early deficit to secure a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, extending their winning streak to five games and strengthening their position at the summit.

The Cherries struck first in the 10th minute when Evanilson capitalized on a misplaced pass from Gabriel Magalhães, slotting past David Raya to silence the traveling fans. However, Gabriel quickly atoned for his error, powering home an equalizer just six minutes later amid a goalmouth scramble.

The game remained evenly poised at halftime, but Arsenal seized control after the break. Declan Rice broke the deadlock in the 54th minute with a composed finish from outside the box, before doubling his tally—and Arsenal’s lead—in the 71st minute with another clinical strike.

Substitute Eli Junior Kroupi pulled one back for Bournemouth with a stunning long-range effort in the 76th minute, setting up a tense finale. Despite late pressure from the hosts, Mikel Arteta’s side held firm to claim all three points.

Rice’s man-of-the-match performance underscored Arsenal’s midfield dominance, while Bournemouth’s winless run extended amid defensive vulnerabilities.

This result sees the Gunners pull six points clear at the top, with Bournemouth remaining in mid-table danger.