We continued to heap strain on Manchester Metropolis on the high of the Premier League desk by beating Bournemouth to maneuver 4 factors clear.

After bossing the primary half, we lastly broke the impasse on 44 minutes when Bukayo Saka netted his twentieth purpose of the marketing campaign by way of the penalty spot after Kai Havertz was felled by Mark Travers, and after the break Leandro Trossard doubled our benefit to place us firmly in management.

VAR was stored busy all through, and would disallow additional efforts from Antoine Semenyo and Gabriel, earlier than Declan Rice added a late third to seal a fourth consecutive victory.

One other clear sheet noticed David Raya declare outright possession of the Golden Glove for the season, however most significantly we stay proper within the championship hunt with two video games to play.

Persistence pays off

We had gained all seven of our earlier residence conferences with Bournemouth, and if the opening 25 minutes was something to go, we have been destined to take care of that 100 per cent report.

We continually probed across the Bournemouth field however their purpose lived a charmed life early on. Defenders threw their our bodies in the best way of efforts from Trossard and Martin Odegaard to maintain their aspect stage, earlier than Havertz flashed a volley goalwards which was saved.

Then moments after making a wonderful deal with to stop Dominic Solanke from pulling the set off, 60 seconds later William Saliba discovered himself on the different finish slicing inside a defender and taking pictures at Travers – one thing Saka repeated quickly after.

The possibilities stored piling up. Takehiro Tomiyasu linked with a Saka nook however noticed his downward header cleared away, Thomas Parety blazed over and within the thirty seventh minute, the most effective probability introduced itself to Declan Rice when the ball was nodded down into his path however his half-volley from 10 yards out flew fractions extensive.

However simply because it appeared like we’d be compelled to go into the interval stage, we discovered a method to get in entrance a minute earlier than half-time. A fantastic cross from Odegaard slipped Havertz in behind the defence to go one-on-one with Travers, who tripped the German striker as he tried to spherical him.

After a prolonged VAR examine, the penalty was upheld and Saka stored his cool to calmly roll the spot-kick into the online with our sixteenth try of the half, and provides us one thing to point out for all our superiority.

Trossard makes it two

4 minutes after the restart Saka may, and will, have made it 2-0 when Havertz gained possession on the sting of the world and slipped it to the England worldwide in house, however his tame first-time effort was proper at Travers, who was then known as into motion once more inside a minute when Havertz despatched a shot on the flip in direction of the underside nook however the Cherries custodian was equal to it.

Bournemouth had proven little or no by this level, however Andoni Iraola’s aspect started to point out glimpses of why they have been one of many in-form groups within the division.  Raya was known as into motion for the primary time on 53 minutes when the guests sprang a counter after profitable the ball in midfield however our shot-stopper stored out a Solanke effort together with his legs, after which Justin Kluivert thumped one extensive earlier than whipping a free-kick onto the highest of the online.

However simply as they have been build up a head of steam, we managed to double our lead. Saka discovered Odegaard in house, however his cross was deflected away from its supposed goal and fell for Rice. He received into the world and an excellent piece of talent noticed him spin away and tee up Trossard, who positioned an instinctive shot previous Travers to attain his fourth league purpose in his final six outings, and put us firmly in management.

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Rice seals it

However that two-goal benefit was practically swiftly decreased when, beneath strain from Solanke, Raya noticed a clumsy punch fall to Ryan Christie who crashed a volley off the bar, and the rebound fell to Semenyo who put it into the online. Nonetheless, a foul was given on our keeper, with VAR backing up the on-field officers’ verdict.

As the sport entered the ultimate 5 minutes, we have been subsequent to have the ball within the internet however for VAR to rule towards us when Gabriel powered an excellent shot into the highest nook, however the purpose was dominated out.

A 3rd purpose did arrive late in stoppage time although when Gabriel Jesus buzzed across the fringe of the field and performed a neat reverse cross to Rice, and he fired into the underside nook to attain our 88th Premier League purpose of the marketing campaign – our becoming a member of best-ever return, and guarantee Manchester Metropolis must additionally preserve profitable in the event that they’re to disclaim us to the title.

Details and stats

We’ve got gained 14 of our 16 Premier League video games in 2024 (D1 L1), scoring 51 objectives and conceding simply eight in reply. We’ve got gained essentially the most factors within the competitors for the reason that flip of the yr (43).

With two video games to spare, we have now equalled our Premier League win tally from final season (26). Certainly, solely in 1930/31 (28) and 1970/71 (29) have the Gunners gained extra video games in a single top-flight marketing campaign.

Bournemouth have misplaced all 11 of their video games towards sides beginning the day high of the desk, the worst 100 per cent loss price towards such opposition within the competitors’s historical past.

Bukayo Saka turned the primary participant to attain 20 objectives for Arsenal in a season (all competitions) since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2019/20 (29 objectives) and the primary Englishman to take action for the membership since Theo Walcott in 2012/13 (21 objectives).

David Raya has stored 15 clear sheets within the Premier League this season, with solely Petr Cech (16 in 2015/16) retaining extra shutouts in his debut Premier League marketing campaign for the Gunners (David Seaman in 1992/93 & Jens Lehmann in 2003/04 each additionally 15 clear sheets every).

We’ve got gone on to win all 17 of our Premier League video games this season once they’ve been forward at half-time, the one aspect to take action in 2023/24.

We’ve got scored 10 penalties within the league this season, with solely Chelsea netting extra (11). Certainly, that is the joint-most penalties we have now scored in a single Premier League marketing campaign, together with 2006/07.

All 10 of our outfield starters tried no less than one shot on this sport, the primary time this has occurred in a Premier League sport for us since January 2022 towards Burnley.

What’s subsequent

Subsequent weekend sees us head to Outdated Trafford to face Manchester United on Sunday, Might 12, earlier than we full our season with residence sport towards Everton every week later.