Giroud comes to the rescue as Arsenal refuse to yield

Bournemouth 3 Arsenal 3: Just when it looked like new year, same old Arsenal, Arsene Wenger’s side proved they at least have the fighting spirit to stay in the title race in 2017 with a remarkable comeback from 3-0 down against Bournemouth.

Wenger’s team, who stay fourth in the Premier League after earning an unlikely point, looked dead and buried as goals from Charlie Daniels, Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser put vibrant Bournemouth ahead on the south coast. But a second-half revival saw Alexis Sanchez, Lucas Perez and Olivier Giroud — in injury time — rescue a 3-3 draw and change the tone of the whole night.

Defeat here could have been hugely costly for the Gunners on an evening when they also lost midfielder Francis Coquelin to injury and had to play without Mesut Ozil, who was too ill to be selected. For a start it would have been the first time since 2011 they had lost three away games in a row (having also capitulated at Everton and Manchester City over Christmas) — and secondly it would have given Chelsea a chance to go 12 points clear of their London rivals by beating Tottenham at White Hart Lane tonight.