Bukayo Saka has scored six penalties in the Premier League this season
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.
Arsenal keep pressure on City in title race
The Gunners started the game extremely quickly and had Bournemouth under pressure for the majority of the first half.
Mikel Arteta’s side had 11 shots in the opening 20 minutes of the match – the joint-most by a Premier League side this season – but for a while it looked as though it might not be their day.
William Saliba had a shot well saved by Travers after he exchanged passes with Saka, before the England winger himself had an effort saved by the Bournemouth keeper.
Rice had a good chance to open the scoring in the first half but he shot just wide from a Havertz knock down.
Trossard, Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard and Takehiro Tomiyasu all had further opportunities before Saka finally made the breakthrough from the spot.
The tension eased when Trossard finished well to double the lead, and Rice’s strike in added time added further gloss to the scoreline.
The victory is Arsenal’s fourth win on the bounce as they keep the pressure on Manchester City and hope the champions drop points in the title race.
More to follow.
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Arsenal
Squad number22Player nameRaya
Squad number4Player nameWhite
Squad number2Player nameSaliba
Squad number6Player nameGabriel Magalhães
Squad number18Player nameTomiyasu
Squad number8Player nameØdegaard
Squad number5Player namePartey
Squad number41Player nameRice
Squad number7Player nameSaka
Squad number29Player nameHavertz
Squad number19Player nameTrossard
Squad number9Player nameGabriel Jesus
Squad number11Player nameGabriel Martinelli
AFC Bournemouth
Squad number42Player nameTravers
Squad number15Player nameA Smith
Squad number27Player nameZabarnyi
Squad number25Player nameSenesi
Squad number11Player nameOuattara
Squad number4Player nameL Cook
Squad number10Player nameChristie
Squad number24Player nameSemenyo
Squad number14Player nameScott
Squad number19Player nameKluivert
Squad number9Player nameSolanke
Squad number8Player nameFaivre
Squad number26Player nameÜnal
Squad number29Player nameBilling
Squad number37Player nameAarons
Line-ups
Arsenal
Formation 4-3-3
22Raya
4White2Saliba6Gabriel18Tomiyasu
8Ødegaard5Partey41Rice
7Saka29Havertz19Trossard
22Raya4White2Saliba6Gabriel18Tomiyasu8Ødegaard5ParteyBooked at 59mins41Rice7SakaSubstituted forGabriel Jesusat 86’minutes29HavertzBooked at 60mins19TrossardSubstituted forMartinelliat 81’minutesSubstitutes1Ramsdale9Gabriel Jesus10Smith Rowe11Martinelli14Nketiah15Kiwior20Jorginho21Fábio Vieira35Zinchenko
Bournemouth
Formation 4-2-3-1
42Travers
15A Smith27Zabarnyi25Senesi11Ouattara
4L Cook10Christie
24Semenyo14Scott19Kluivert
9Solanke
42Travers15A SmithBooked at 84minsSubstituted forAaronsat 89’minutes27Zabarnyi25SenesiSubstituted forÜnalat 80’minutes11Ouattara4L Cook10ChristieBooked at 90mins24Semenyo14ScottBooked at 21minsSubstituted forBillingat 71’minutes19KluivertSubstituted forFaivreat 89’minutes9Solanke Substitutes1Neto8Faivre23Hill26Ünal29Billing37Aarons46McKenna48Kinsey49Sadi
Referee:David Coote
Attendance:60,348
Live Text
Match ends, Arsenal 3, Bournemouth 0.
Second Half ends, Arsenal 3, Bournemouth 0.
Goal! Arsenal 3, Bournemouth 0. Declan Rice (Arsenal) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Gabriel Jesus following a fast break.
Ryan Christie (Bournemouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ryan Christie (Bournemouth).
Foul by William Saliba (Arsenal).
Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Philip Billing (Bournemouth).
Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Ben White.
Foul by Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal).
Romain Faivre (Bournemouth) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution, Bournemouth. Romain Faivre replaces Justin Kluivert.
Substitution, Bournemouth. Max Aarons replaces Adam Smith.
Foul by Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal).
Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Offside, Arsenal. Gabriel Jesus is caught offside.
Offside, Arsenal. Kai Havertz is caught offside.
Substitution, Arsenal. Gabriel Jesus replaces Bukayo Saka.
2024-05-04 13:54:44
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