Rice plays starring role as Gunners maintain lead in title race

Arsenal cranked up the heat on title rivals Manchester City with a 3-0 victory over Bournemouth that moves Mikel Arteta’s Gunners four points clear at the Premier League summit.

The hosts racked up countless chances in a dominant first half and looked like going in at the break frustrated until Kai Havertz won a 45th-minute penalty that Bukayo Saka coolly converted for his 20th goal of the season.

Bournemouth improved following the interval, but top scorer Dominic Solanke spurned an opportunity to equalise against the run of play.

Arsenal then eased the anxiety building inside The Emirates when Leandro Trossard guided home his 16th goal of the campaign 20 minutes from time.

The impressive Declan Rice added the icing to the cake with a third deep in stoppage time.

The result means Arsenal are now four points clear of second-placed Manchester City who play one of their two games in hand at home to Wolves later on Saturday evening. Bournemouth stay 10th.

Arsenal will now turn their focus to a trip to Manchester United in their penultimate match of the season next Sunday. Bournemouth host Brentford on Saturday.

All Arsenal can do is keep winning and hope that champions Manchester City stutter at some point during the run-in.

If The Citizens prevail in their final four matches they will win the Premier League title for an unprecedented fourth time in a row.

Arsenal know there is no margin for error and after equalling the club’s record of 26 wins in a PL campaign and notching up a 14th in 16 top-flight matches in 2024, there’s no doubt they are doing all in their power to end their long wait.

Manchester United away is followed by the final match of the term at home to Everton with Arteta and Co looking set to take this to the wire after showing great patience to overcome an initially stubborn Bournemouth.

Arsenal have done their job for this week, over to you Man City….

Declan Rice (Arsenal). An all-action display from the midfielder who chipped in with a goal and an assist to once again demonstrate his importance to this Arsenal side.

ARSENAL: Raya 7, White 8, Saliba 7, Gabriel 7, Tomiyasu 7, Rice 8*, Partey 7, Odegaard 8, Saka 8, Trossard 7, Havertz 8. Subs: Martinelli 6, Jesus n/a.

BOURNEMOUTH: Travers 8, Smith 7, Senesi 7, Zabarnyi 7, Ouattara 6, Cook 7, Scott 7, Christie 6, Kluivert 7, Semenyo 6, Solanke 6. Subs: Billing 6, Unal 6, Faivre n/a, Aarons n/a.

38’ –ARSENAL CHANCE! Havertz puts it on a plate for Rice with a sweet knock down from Odegaard’s cross, but the midfielder rifles inches past the far post from close-in.

45’ – GOAL! – Arsenal 1-0 Bournemouth: (Saka – penalty). The Gunners finally make the breakthrough as Saka steps up to beat Travers with a clinical spot kick to the goalkeeper’s right. The penalty was awarded when Travers appeared to catch Havertz as the German looked to round the keeper.

53’ – BOURNEMOUTH CHANCE! Raya has been a spectator for much of this match, but he comes to life with an excellent save to keep out Solanke from a narrow angle on the left.

70’ – GOAL! – Arsenal 2-0 Bournemouth: (Trossard). The relief is tangible in the Emirates air as Trossard guides a low shot beyond Travers from Rice’s improvised, flicked pass.

74’ – BOURNEMOUTH GOAL RULED OUT! Solanke is penalised for barely touching Raya as he tried to punch clear. It’s volleyed against the bar and then into the net by Semenyo following that, but there was also a tug on Billing’s shirt prior to the foul. That’s harsh on The Cherries.

90+7’ – GOAL! – Arsenal 3-0 Bournemouth: (Rice). The midfielder puts the seal on victory with a burst from deep to take Jesus’ pass and drill beyond Travers from a narrow angle on the right.