Arsenal go four points clear in Premier League title race
Arsenal will be relieved after getting the job done against Bournemouth to go four points clear at the top in the Premier League. Arsenal enjoy a lead over second-placed Manchester City, who have two games in hand and can wrestle their way back. Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice scored for the Gunners. Bournemouth had a goal disallowed. Here's more.
Arsenal race to 83 points after 36 matches
Arsenal are top after 36 matches with 83 points. They secured their 26th win of the season (D5 L5). Arsenal have scored 88 goals and hold a goal difference of +60. Manchester City are second with 79 points after 34 matches (GD +50). Liverpool are third with 75 points from 35 matches. City can go back atop if they win their games in hand.
Here are the match stats
Arsenal made 24 attempts with nine shots on target. Bournemouth had two shots on target from seven attempts. Mikel Arteta's men had 56% ball possession and clocked a pass accuracy of 83%. Arsenal had 3.98 expected goals and 54 touches in the opponent's box.
Saka is involved in 25 Premier League goals this season
Saka scored Arsenal's first goal from the penalty spot after the Bournemouth keeper fouled Kai Havertz. The Englishman has raced to 47 Premier League goals (A35) in 169 matches. Saka is now involved in 25 Premier League goals this season (G16 A9). In 46 matches across all competitions this season, Saka has scored 20 times. Overall, he owns 58 goals for Arsenal.
Key numbers for Trossard and Rice
Making his 168th Premier League appearance, Trossard scored Arsenal's second goal in the 70th minute. The former Brighton player owns 37 Premier League goals, including 11 this season. Trossard has scored 16 goals across 44 matches this season. Rice assisted Trossard before scoring in the 97th minute. Former West Ham midfielder Rice is involved in 15 Premier League goals this season (G7 A8).
Decoding the key feats attained
Arsenal have won all seven of their Premier League home matches against the Cherries. Bournemouth have picked up just five points in 14 Premier League matches against the Gunners. Arteta's Arsenal have claimed 14 wins in 16 Premier League games in 2024, scoring 51 goals and conceding eight. With 26 wins, Arsenal equalled their Premier League win tally from last season.
How did the match pan out?
Arsenal were the better side in the opening 45 minutes and went 1-0 up from the penalty spot. Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers fouled Havertz and Saka found the net from the resulting spot-kick. Arsenal made it 2-0 when Rice won the ball on the edge of the box and teed up Trossard. It was Rice who scored in added time from Gabriel Jesus' assist.
Unique records for Saka and Rice
As per Squawka, Saka is the first Englishman to score 20+ goals in single season for Arsenal since Theo Walcott in 2012-13. Rice has provided an assist in three consecutive Premier League matches for the first time in his career.
