Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta hailed his team’s resilience after a 3-2 comeback win over Bournemouth. The Gunners overturned an early deficit to move six points clear of Aston Villa at the Premier League summit.
They now lead Manchester City by seven points, with City facing Chelsea on Sunday.
Arteta praises character after early scare
A rare mistake by Gabriel Magalhaes gifted Bournemouth the lead, but the Brazilian equalised soon after. Declan Rice sealed victory with a second-half double despite a late strike from Eli Kroupi. “They are so good, we made it harder by conceding first, but I love the team’s character,” Arteta said.
Gabriel’s response drew special praise. “The way he overcame that situation is unbelievable,” Arteta added. He noted it shows Arsenal’s growth as they chase a first title in 22 years.
Rice defies injury doubt
Rice returned despite knee swelling that sidelined him against Villa midweek. The England midfielder stretched his limits to score twice, doubling his season tally. “It’s the first time he’s scored two in a Premier League game, a great day,” Arteta said.
Wolves hammer West Ham
Wolverhampton Wanderers thrashed West Ham 3-0 for their first Premier League win this season. A first-half blitz at Molineux overwhelmed Nuno Espirito Santo’s former club. Hwang Hee-chan assisted Jhon Arias early, then converted a penalty won by Mateus Mane, who added a third.
West Ham managed no shots on target in reply. Wolves sub Jorgen Strand Larsen came closest after the break. The loss leaves West Ham 18th, four points from safety.
Brighton end slump
Brighton beat Burnley 2-0 to snap a six-game winless streak. Georginio Rutter and Yasin Ayari scored the goals. Manchester City host Chelsea next, with Liverpool and Manchester United also playing.
