Saka, Trossard and Rice send Arsenal four clear at the top
FOUR CLEAR: Arsenal's Leandro Trossard celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game. Photo credit: Adam Davy/PA Wire.
GOALS from Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice sent Arsenal four points clear at the top of the Premier League table before Manchester City played the first of their two games in hand over the leaders.
This was a deserved victory for Mikel Arteta’s side, but not as straightforward as the score might suggest against a well-drilled in-form Bournemouth side.
It was one-sided in that Arsenal had the majority of chances and possession, but there were long, nervy spells during which Bournemouth looked like they could cause an upset.
Stats do not always reflect the flow of a match accurately but these are a fair indicator of how dominant and attack-minded Arsenal were. In the opening 20 minutes alone they had ten attempts on goal from 34 attacks. As half time approached that had risen to 16 shots from 67 attacks.
The most important number, however, was the big fat ZERO next to the goals scored and conceded column. That was until the 45th minute when Kai Havertz was tripped in the box as he tried to go past keeper Mark Travers.
The VAR decided the German’s well-placed trailing leg was not decisive. Saka stepped up to send Travers the wrong way with his spot kick and skillfully recorded his 16th league goal of the season.
The England international nearly made it 17 soon into the second half, but this time Travers saved well from a first-time shot after more good work from Havertz.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, were looking distinctly more dangerous as Arsenal keeper David Raya finally had to start earning his wages.
The on-loan Brentford keeper, due to sign permanently this summer, then had to put up with chants of ‘you’re just a sh1t Aaron Ramsdale’ as Bournemouth piled on the pressure.
Arsenal fans, wracked with nerves, had to be reminded by captain Martin Odegaard to make some noise to counter the Bournemouth offensive.
They were all but silenced with 20 minutes to go when Declan Rice showed his class by playing in Trossard to his left at the edge of the Bournemouth area.
The Belgium forward took his time to pick a spot and bent a right-foot shot beyond Travers for his third goal in four matches.
Bournemouth believed they had pulled one back a few minutes later when Ryan Christie scored. Referee David Coote ruled it out instantly and was eventually backed up by the VAR for a foul by Dominic Solanke on Raya.
It looked the right call, but split views in the press box so was far from conclusive.
Rice left nothing to doubt eight into time added on at the end when he controlled in the area before thumping Arsenal’s third past Travers.
No more than he and Arsenal deserved after having so many good chances throughout the match.
Raya 5, White 6, Saliba 7, Gabriel 7, Tomiyasu 7, Rice 8, Partey 7, Odegaard 8, Saka 8 (Jesus 86), Trossard 8 (Martinelli 81), Havertz 8. Subs: Ramsdale, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Kiwior, Jorginho, Vieira, Zinchenko.
Travers 7, Smith 6 (Aarons 89), Senesi 6 (Unal 80), Zabarnyi 6, Ouattara 6, Cook 5, Scott 6 (Billing 71), Christie 6, Kluivert 7 (Faivre 89), Semenyo 6, Solanke 6. Subs: Neto, Mckenna, Hill, Kinsey, Sadi.
David Coote 7.
60,348.
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