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Bournemouth 2—3 Arsenal: Declan Rice shines in entertaining second half
Bournemouth 2-3 Arsenal: Declan Rice shines in entertaining second half
Declan Rice struck twice as Arsenal ran its Premier League winning streak to five games with a 3-2 win over defense-starved Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
MORE — Mikel Arteta reaction
The Gunners trailed when Evanilson made the most of a Gabriel Magalhaes gaffe but the defender leveled the score within minutes before Declan Rice struck twice in the second half.
That didn’t trigger a comfortable ending thanks to Eli Junior Kroupi’s 76th-minute finish, but the Gunners hung on for the win and a six-point advantage on second-place Aston Villa. Man City can trim that lead to four with a win over Chelsea on Sunday.
WATCH — Bournemouth v Arsenal full match replay
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Bournemouth remain on 23 points, good for 15h on the table. That’s nine points clear of the bottom three despite the Cherries winless run reaching 11 Premier League matches after this home defeat.
Antoine Semenyo went the distance for Bournemouth despite reports of an impending move to Manchester City.
Arsenal’s midfielders too much for Adams-less Cherries
Bournemouth have allowed 38 goals in 20 games this season, a not-so-great return of 1.9 goals conceded per Premier League game. A resounding 14 of those goals have come in the five games since Tyler Adams went down in the fifth minute at Manchester United, as opponents have feasted on the Cherries to the tune of 2.8 goals per game. Bournemouth have midfielders who can desperate tackle and block shots. They have midfielders who can attack and help dictate tempo. But Adams might be their only hope at really controlling a midfield, and Martin Odegaard, Martin Zubimendi, and Declan Rice all had brilliant days against Marcus Tavernier and Alex Scott, taking a bit of the bite out of the Antoine Semenyo, Justin Kluivert, and David Brooks trio in front of them. It really was as simple as that.
What’s next?
Bournemouth host Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday in the Premier League before heading to Newcastle United on Saturday in the FA Cup.
Arsenal host Liverpool at 3pm ET Thursday in the PL and then visit Portsmouth on January 11 for an FA Cup third-round tie.
Bournemouth vs Arsenal final score: 2-3
Evanilson 11′, Gabriel Magalhaes 16′, Declan Rice 54′, 71′, Eli Junior Kroupi 76′
Eli Junior Kroupi goal — Bournemouth 2-3 Arsenal
Fantastic fit in true “pick that one out” fashion.
Substitute Eli Junior Kroupi lays it off to the right and goes to the middle where he retrieves the ball off another Cherry.
His aim is true from 25-ish yards.
Declan Rice goal — Bournemouth 1-3 Arsenal
It’s those two again, with recent sub Bukayo Saka in the middle.
Rice is just devouring good service, as Odegaard plays Saka into the 18 and the English winger cues up his countryman for a fine finish and brace.
Declan Rice goal — Bournemouth 1-2 Arsenal
The Gunners go right back the other way and score.
Martinelli gets a bit on a long ball and Viktor Gyokeres occupies 2-3 defenders.
Martin Odegaard scoops up the ball and delays a split-second before laying the ball back to Declan Rice.
The English midfielder doesn’t miss his mark.
Bournemouth nearly strike off kick restart
William Saliba commits a foul in the midfield and Bournemouth quickly restart, sending David Brooks down the left flank.
Brooks is able to turn the corner but it’s a tight angle to Raya’s goal and the Bournemouth man drags his shot wide of goal.
Halftime — Bournemouth 1-1 Arsenal
The Cherries are out-attempting the Premier League leaders 8-5 but the two best chances were by far the two best chances and both ended up in the goal.
How will Andoni Iraola attack the second half? Because Arsenal have Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Gabby Jesus, and Leandro Trossard on the bench and will surely deploy at least three of the four.
Bournemouth can bring Eli Junior Kroupi, Amine Adli, and Enes Unal into the fold, too, but Arsenal hold the biggest cards to play and Bournemouth have to decide when to push their attacking luck.
Gabriel goal! Bournemouth 1-1 Arsenal
Redemptive.
Really good stuff from Noni Madueke, who tracks down a long free kick and dances into and through the 18 before cutting back.
There’s an air kick by one Arsenal attacker before Gabriel Martinelli sees his shot blocked and Gabriel cleans up the third chance with a fine finish.
Gabriel gaffe! Evanilson goal — Bournemouth 1-0 Arsenal
Gabriel takes a back pass in his left corner and doesn’t look centrally before passing square.
Had he looked, he would’ve seen Bournemouth center forward Evanilson standing between the spot and the top of the box.
Evanilson buries a shot past David Raya, and it’s 1-0.
Arteta makes changes, Iraola gets Semenyo
Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard are on the bench, as is Eberechi Eze, as Mikel Arteta will play Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli on either side of Viktor Gyokeres.
Andoni Iraola gets at least another game out of Antoine Semenyo, which probably shouldn’t be a huge surprise — if Man City are to buy Semenyo, isn’t playing against Arsenal as Bournemouth’s best player essentially a part of City’s title hunt?
Bournemouth lineup
Petrovic, Truffert, Senesi, Jimenez, Hill, Scott, Brooks, Tavernier, Kluivert, Semenyo, Evanilson
Arsenal lineup
Raya, Timber, Saliba, Magalhaes, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres
Bournemouth vs Arsenal preview
The Gunners hammered Aston Villa 4-1 on Tuesday to run their winning streak to four matches, and Man City’s Thursday draw with Sunderland has delivered the Gunners a four-point lead atop the Premier League table.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth continues to slump toward the bottom three. Andoni Iraola’s Cherries remain nine points clear of the relegation zone but are now four points back of the top half of the table.
It’s head-snapping stuff given Bournemouth’s recent seasons and their hot start to this campaign. Bournemouth have gone 10 Premier League matches without a win, though they have drawn five times including two with Chelsea and one with Manchester United.
But the schedule’s not getting any easier for a side that was second after nine weeks and fifth after the first match of November.
Bournemouth team news, focus
OUT: Ryan Christie (knee), Tyler Adams (knee – MORE), Veljko Milosavljevic (knee), Ben Gannon-Doak (hamstring), Matai Akinmboni (muscular) | QUESTIONABLE: Antoine Semenyo (undisclosed), Lewis Cook (neck)
Arsenal team news, focus
OUT: Riccardo Calafiori (undisclosed), Max Dowman (ankle), Cristhian Mosquera (ankle – MORE)| QUESTIONABLE: Declan Rice (knee)
Bournemouth vs Arsenal prediction
Here’s a telling stat: Bournemouth and Manchester United were scoreless when Cherries (and USMNT) mainstay Tyler Adams departed their Week 16 match. Bournemouth conceded four times in that game, once in a draw at Bournemouth, four more times at Brentford, and twice against Chelsea. He’s so important and Arsenal may just eat the Cherries alive on Saturday. Bournemouth 1-3 Arsenal
How to watch Bournemouth vs Arsenal live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 12:30pm ET Saturday
Venue: The Vitality Stadium — Bournemouth
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Arsenal injury, suspension list and return dates vs. Portsmouth: Piero Hincapie, Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera latest
Arsenal will begin their bid to win the FA Cup for the 15th time in their history when they travel to Fratton Park for Sunday’s meeting with Championship strugglers Portsmouth.
The Gunners missed the chance to further extend their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table in Thursday’s underwhelming goalless draw against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.
While their five-game winning league run came to an end, Mikel Arteta will be pleased with the fact that his side are now unbeaten in seven competitive matches ahead of Sunday’s cup tie and Wednesday’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up all of Arsenal’s latest injury and suspension news ahead of the clash with Portsmouth, who are languishing in 21st spot in the Championship standings.
Piero Hincapie
Status: Major doubt
Type of injury: Muscle
Possible return date: January 11 (vs. Portsmouth)
Hincapie was forced off with what appeared to be a muscle problem in the 57th minute of Thursday’s draw with Liverpool. Arteta now faces a nervous wait to discover the full extent of the defender’s injury.
Kai Havertz
Status: Minor doubt
Type of injury: Match fitness
Possible return date: January 11 (vs. Portsmouth)
Havertz has recovered from the knee injury that kept him out of action for months. However, he has been left out of Arsenal’s last two matchday squads as he continues to build up his fitness. There is a possibility that the forward could make his first appearance since August in Sunday’s FA Cup clash.
Riccardo Calafiori
Status: Out
Type of injury: Muscle
Possible return date: January 14 (vs. Chelsea)
Calafiori has sat out Arsenal’s last four matches with a muscle injury. The defender is making progress in his recovery, but he is not expected to be ready for the upcoming trip to the south coast.
Cristhian Mosquera
Status: Out
Type of injury: Ankle
Possible return date: January 14 (vs. Chelsea)
Like Calafiori, Mosquera is closing in on a return to action after missing over a month of action due to an ankle injury. However, the former Valencia defender will not be available for selection this weekend.
Max Dowman
Status: Out
Type of injury: Ankle
Possible return date: Unknown
Max Dowman is likely to be out until February after sustaining an ankle problem while playing for Arsenal Under-21s in last month’s behind-closed-doors friendly against Manchester United.
ARSENAL’S SUSPENSION LIST
Arsenal have no players suspended for the third-round tie.
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Arsenal remain in the driving seat to clinch the Premier League title crown this season – and they could strengthen Mikel Arteta’s squad to bolster their chances.
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Whether or not the right players are out there remains to be seen, but with Arteta enduring several injury blows already this season – particularly in defence – the manager will be keeping a close eye on potential targets.
The Gunners splashed the cash in the summer, bringing in the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera to the Emirates Stadium – so a loan deal might favour the club
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There could also be high-profile exits, both loans and permanent deals, with young midfield talent Ethan Nwaneri linked with an exit. Other youngsters could also make loan moves to get a taste of first-team football.
With that said, football.london takes a closer look at all the moves completed by Arsenal so far this January.
Read the latest information on injuries, suspensions and availability in the Liverpool men’s squad.
Injuries
Hugo Ekitike
Ekitike was unavailable for the clash with Fulham because of DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). Arne Slot was asked whether he will be fit for the game at Arsenal on January 8.
Slot on January 7: “He has not trained with us until now and let’s see if he can today.
“I’ve said, I think, two or three days ago when we played Fulham that he is not going to be out for long but because games come so fast he is in between maybe training with the team or it would take him one or two days extra.”
Wataru Endo
The midfielder has been out of action with an ankle injury since appearing in the 3-3 draw at Leeds United on December 6.
Alexander Isak
Isak is facing a spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture on December 22.
He sustained the issue while scoring against Tottenham Hotspur two days prior.
Slot on December 23: “It’s going to be a long injury. For a couple of months. That’s a big, big, big disappointment for him and as a result of that of course also for us.”
Slot did also confirm he is confident Isak will be able to play again during the 2025-26 season.
Giovanni Leoni
The defender is amid a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the end of his debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.
Slot on September 26: “He is not in a good place, of course, because he tore his ACL and it means he will be out for a year. Being so young and coming to a new country and playing so well in your first game… it’s very hard to take the positive side.
“There’s never a positive side – but you always try to look at a positive side and that is that he is still so young, so he has so many years still to go after he recovers from a terrible injury like that.”
Availability
Mohamed Salah
After featuring off the bench versus Brighton on December 13, the forward is now with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Salah scored in the group games against Zimbabwe and South Africa to help his country reach the last 16. They are next in action on January 5.
Suspensions
Conor Bradley
Bradley is one yellow card away from receiving a one-match suspension in the Champions League.
The Reds travel to Marseille on January 21 for matchday seven of the league phase and then host Qarabag a week later.
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