Arsenal overcomes difficulties against Bournemouth to consolidate the top spot

Arsenal continues to affirm their position as the leading candidate for the Premier League title this season when defeating Bournemouth, thereby extending their winning streak to 5.

This important victory helps Mikel Arteta's team widen the gap with the second-placed team to 6 points, creating favorable psychological momentum before the confrontation with Liverpool in the next round.

The match at Vitality did not start as Arsenal expected. Gabriel Magalhaes' mistake with an unsportsmanlike cross in the penalty area created conditions for Evanilson to easily open the score for Bournemouth in the 10th minute.

However, the Brazilian center-back quickly corrected his mistake when he was present at the right time at the far post, finishing close range after Gabriel Martinelli was blocked right on the goal line, bringing the match back to balance.

After the equalizer, Arsenal still could not impose the game as expected. Bournemouth played confidently, continuously putting pressure on David Raya's goal. The shots of Evanilson, Marcus Tavernier, and Justin Kluivert's almost-goal free kick showed that the home team was the dominant side for most of the first half. The "Gunners" lacked sharpness, and also revealed signs of overload during a tight schedule.

The turning point came after halftime, when Arsenal accelerated significantly. In just the first few minutes of the second half, a quick combination was finished by Declan Rice with a goal to increase the score to 2-1, after a delicate assist from Martin Odegaard.

Arteta's personnel adjustments continued to be effective, when Bukayo Saka made a breakthrough and then passed back for Rice to complete a double, helping Arsenal take a 3-1 lead.

Although Eli Junior Kroupi managed to narrow the score for Bournemouth at the end of the match, Arsenal's defense stood firm to preserve the victory. In the end, The Gunners won 3-2 and increased the gap with Man City to 7 points.