Arsenal Show Steel as Rice Leads Comeback Win

Arteta praises character after five-goal statement

Mikel Arteta praised Arsenal’s growing “personality and presence” after they came from behind to beat Bournemouth and move six points clear at the top of the Premier League. The win marked Arsenal’s fifth straight league victory and another strong statement as they opened the new year in style.

Arsenal were rocked early when Gabriel Magalhães made a rare mistake that allowed Evanilson to open the scoring for Bournemouth. But the response was immediate and emphatic. Gabriel made amends within minutes by smashing home the equaliser, setting the tone for a dominant display.

Rice return inspires Arsenal surge

Declan Rice was the driving force. Returning from a knee injury that kept him out of the midweek win over Aston Villa, the midfielder scored twice to swing the match firmly in Arsenal’s favour. His performance underlined his importance to Arteta’s side, not just tactically but emotionally.

Arteta revealed Rice had pushed hard to be involved despite fitness doubts. A late decision was made before kick-off, and the England international responded with a commanding display that lifted both teammates and supporters.

Eli Junior Kroupi scored late on for Bournemouth to briefly raise tension, but Arsenal never lost control and saw out the match comfortably.

Arteta sees clear signs of progress

Arteta believes this performance showed how far his team have come after finishing second in the league for three straight seasons. He highlighted Gabriel’s reaction after his early error as a key moment, praising the defender’s energy, leadership and response under pressure.

The Arsenal manager also stressed that Rice continues to evolve, adding new layers to his game and setting standards for the rest of the squad. His influence is growing with every passing week.

Bournemouth frustration grows

For Bournemouth, the defeat extended a miserable run to 11 Premier League matches without a win. Manager Andoni Iraola admitted the frustration is mounting, with his side often playing well but failing to collect points.

Despite growing transfer speculation surrounding Antoine Semenyo, Iraola expects the winger to remain involved for now and feature in the upcoming match against Tottenham. He insisted the noise around a possible move cannot be allowed to disrupt the team.

Arsenal send title message

Arsenal’s comeback win was not just about points, but mentality. They recovered from adversity, controlled the game and delivered another reminder that they are growing stronger as the title race intensifies.