Arsenal kicked off 2026 by maintaining their perfect run of form, securing a 3-2 win against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
The victory, fueled by a sensational second-half performance from Declan Rice, extends the Gunners’ winning streak to seven matches and places them seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
The match began with high drama involving Arsenal defender Gabriel. In a rare lapse of concentration, Gabriel’s misplaced pass inside his own area gifted an easy opener to Bournemouth’s Evanilson. However, the Brazilian defender quickly redeemed himself just six minutes later, smashing home a loose ball following a parried Gabriel Martinelli shot to level the score before halftime.
The second half belonged to Declan Rice, who demonstrated his clinical edge from midfield. Ten minutes after the restart, Rice put Arsenal ahead with a crisp low finish from 20 yards after being teed up by Martin Ødegaard. He doubled his tally shortly after, turning home a cutback from Bukayo Saka to make it 3-1 and send the traveling supporters into a frenzy.
The hosts refused to go down without a fight, as substitute Junior Kroupi pulled one back with a stunning long-range strike that flew past David Raya. Despite a nervy final fifteen minutes, Mikel Arteta’s side managed the game effectively to secure three points against a team that had beaten them twice in the previous year.
With this result, Arsenal solidify their position as title favorites heading into a busy January schedule. The Gunners will next face Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday, followed by an FA Cup third-round clash against Portsmouth and a Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea.
