Rice hits double as Arsenal edge Bournemouth in five-goal thriller

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Arsenal maintained their push at the top of the Premier League table after Declan Rice struck twice to inspire a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Bournemouth in a pulsating contest on the south coast.

The hosts stunned Arsenal early when Evanilson capitalised on defensive hesitation to fire Bournemouth ahead inside 10 minutes, exposing early nerves in Mikel Arteta’s side.

Arsenal responded with composure and gradually wrestled control, levelling through Gabriel Magalhães, who reacted quickest to convert a loose ball in the box.

After the break, Rice took command of the contest. First, he finished confidently from the edge of the area following a slick exchange with Martin Ødegaard, before doubling his tally moments later with a calm close-range finish after being picked out by Bukayo Saka.

Bournemouth refused to fold and set up a nervy finale when Eli Junior Kroupi curled a superb long-range strike past David Raya, trimming Arsenal’s lead to a single goal with 15 minutes remaining.

The closing stages saw sustained pressure from the hosts, but Arsenal held firm, with Raya producing a crucial late save to preserve all three points.