Arsenal beat Bournemouth to move four points clear

Bukayo Saka scores a penalty against Bournemouth

Arsenal cruised past Bournemouth to go four points clear at the top of the Premier League before Saturday’s later games.

The Gunners dominated the opening 45 minutes and took the lead just before half-time from the penalty spot.

Kai Havertz was brought down by Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers and Bukayo Saka coolly rolled the ball into the net from the resulting spot-kick.

Arsenal doubled their lead in the 70th minute when Declan Rice won the ball on the edge of the box and teed up Leandro Trossard, who curled the ball home from inside the area, before Rice scored in added time to boost the Gunners’ goal difference.

Bournemouth threatened a lot more in the second period and Dominic Solanke forced David Raya into a save in the second half before Justin Kluivert flashed a shot wide.

The Cherries thought they had pulled a goal back through Antoine Semenyo but his strike was ruled out for a foul on David Raya by Solanke in the build up.

Arsenal centre-back Gabriel also had a goal ruled out late on for offside after he smashed a volley into the top corner.

The victory means Arsenal are clear at the top but their four-point lead may only last a few hours as title rivals Manchester City play later this afternoon.

During the match, Arsenal and their fans paid tribute to 14-year-old supporter Daniel Anjorin, who was killed in a sword attack on Tuesday.

More to follow.

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Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.

Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection

Arsenal

Starting XI

  1. Squad number22Player nameRaya

    Average rating

    6.22

  2. Squad number4Player nameWhite

    Average rating

    6.64

  3. Squad number2Player nameSaliba

    Average rating

    6.89

  4. Squad number6Player nameGabriel Magalhães

    Average rating

    6.74

  5. Squad number18Player nameTomiyasu

    Average rating

    6.58

  6. Squad number8Player nameØdegaard

    Average rating

    7.67

  7. Squad number5Player namePartey

    Average rating

    6.57

  8. Squad number41Player nameRice

    Average rating

    7.52

  9. Squad number7Player nameSaka

    Average rating

    7.18

  10. Squad number29Player nameHavertz

    Average rating

    6.96

  11. Squad number19Player nameTrossard

    Average rating

    7.29

Substitutes

  1. Squad number9Player nameGabriel Jesus

    Average rating

    7.17

  2. Squad number11Player nameGabriel Martinelli

    Average rating

    6.64

AFC Bournemouth

Starting XI

  1. Squad number42Player nameTravers

    Average rating

    6.25

  2. Squad number15Player nameA Smith

    Average rating

    5.39

  3. Squad number27Player nameZabarnyi

    Average rating

    5.59

  4. Squad number25Player nameSenesi

    Average rating

    5.55

  5. Squad number11Player nameOuattara

    Average rating

    5.53

  6. Squad number4Player nameL Cook

    Average rating

    5.41

  7. Squad number10Player nameChristie

    Average rating

    5.57

  8. Squad number24Player nameSemenyo

    Average rating

    6.06

  9. Squad number14Player nameScott

    Average rating

    5.55

  10. Squad number19Player nameKluivert

    Average rating

    5.97

  11. Squad number9Player nameSolanke

    Average rating

    5.75

Substitutes

  1. Squad number8Player nameFaivre

    Average rating

    5.01

  2. Squad number26Player nameÜnal

    Average rating

    4.85

  3. Squad number29Player nameBilling

    Average rating

    5.65

  4. Squad number37Player nameAarons

    Average rating

    4.97

Line-ups

Arsenal

Formation 4-3-3

  • 22Raya
  • 4White
  • 2Saliba
  • 6Gabriel
  • 18Tomiyasu
  • 8Ødegaard
  • 5ParteyBooked at 59mins
  • 41Rice
  • 7SakaSubstituted forGabriel Jesusat 86′minutes
  • 29HavertzBooked at 60mins
  • 19TrossardSubstituted forMartinelliat 81′minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Ramsdale
  • 9Gabriel Jesus
  • 10Smith Rowe
  • 11Martinelli
  • 14Nketiah
  • 15Kiwior
  • 20Jorginho
  • 21Fábio Vieira
  • 35Zinchenko

Bournemouth

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 42Travers
  • 15A SmithBooked at 84minsSubstituted forAaronsat 89′minutes
  • 27Zabarnyi
  • 25SenesiSubstituted forÜnalat 80′minutes
  • 11Ouattara
  • 4L Cook
  • 10ChristieBooked at 90mins
  • 24Semenyo
  • 14ScottBooked at 21minsSubstituted forBillingat 71′minutes
  • 19KluivertSubstituted forFaivreat 89′minutes
  • 9Solanke

Substitutes

  • 1Neto
  • 8Faivre
  • 23Hill
  • 26Ünal
  • 29Billing
  • 37Aarons
  • 46McKenna
  • 48Kinsey
  • 49Sadi

Referee:
David Coote

Attendance:
60,348

Match Stats

Live Text

Post update

Match ends, Arsenal 3, Bournemouth 0.