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.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Arsenal
Starting XI
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Squad number22Player nameRaya
Average rating6.22
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Squad number4Player nameWhite
Average rating6.64
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Squad number2Player nameSaliba
Average rating6.89
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Squad number6Player nameGabriel Magalhães
Average rating6.74
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Squad number18Player nameTomiyasu
Average rating6.58
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Squad number8Player nameØdegaard
Average rating7.67
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Squad number5Player namePartey
Average rating6.57
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Squad number41Player nameRice
Average rating7.52
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Squad number7Player nameSaka
Average rating7.18
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Squad number29Player nameHavertz
Average rating6.96
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Squad number19Player nameTrossard
Average rating7.29
Substitutes
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Squad number9Player nameGabriel Jesus
Average rating7.17
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Squad number11Player nameGabriel Martinelli
Average rating6.64
AFC Bournemouth
Starting XI
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Squad number42Player nameTravers
Average rating6.25
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Squad number15Player nameA Smith
Average rating5.39
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Squad number27Player nameZabarnyi
Average rating5.59
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Squad number25Player nameSenesi
Average rating5.55
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Squad number11Player nameOuattara
Average rating5.53
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Squad number4Player nameL Cook
Average rating5.41
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Squad number10Player nameChristie
Average rating5.57
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Squad number24Player nameSemenyo
Average rating6.06
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Squad number14Player nameScott
Average rating5.55
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Squad number19Player nameKluivert
Average rating5.97
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Squad number9Player nameSolanke
Average rating5.75
Substitutes
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Squad number8Player nameFaivre
Average rating5.01
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Squad number26Player nameÜnal
Average rating4.85
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Squad number29Player nameBilling
Average rating5.65
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Squad number37Player nameAarons
Average rating4.97
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
Match ends, Arsenal 3, Bournemouth 0.