Rice nets twice, as Arsenal's lead grows

LONDON — Arsenal fought back from a goal down to beat Bournemouth 3-2 on Saturday to extend its lead at the top of the Premier League, as Aston Villa continued its winning run at home.

A goal from Gabriel Magalhaes and two from the returning Declan Rice sent the Gunners six points clear of second-placed Villa and seven ahead of Manchester City.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised the character of his team, singling out Rice and Gabriel, whose sloppy pass set up Bournemouth for the opening goal.

"I love the character of Gabriel, the way he overcame that situation — it's just unbelievable, it says a lot about how much we've grown," he told Sky Sports.

"The team found a way to beat them and it's a massive win."

The Spaniard said that Rice had worked hard to be available after missing Tuesday's 4-1 home win against Villa with a knee problem.

"He has stretched himself to the very limit and the team were awarded with two great goals," he added.

Rice was a doubt for the match because of a knee injury that forced him out of the 4-1 win over Aston Villa on Tuesday, but was fit enough to return and be the difference between the teams on Saturday.

"We are going to need everyone chipping in at different points, so happy to help the team," said Rice, who scored twice in a Premier League game for the first time.

Evanilson gave the impressive Bournemouth an early lead, stroking home after Gabriel's error, but the Brazil defender soon made up for his mistake, converting after Noni Madueke's drive to the byline just six minutes later.

England midfielder Rice side-footed the Gunners ahead in the 54th minute from the edge of the area and gave his side some breathing space with his second in the 71st, producing a low finish from substitute Bukayo Saka's cutback.

Junior Kroupi brought Bournemouth back into the game with a thunderous right-footed finish just five minutes later, but Arsenal held on for a fifth straight Premier League win — keeping it firmly on course for a first English title since 2004.

Home comforts

Earlier, Unai Emery's Villa bounced back from its chastening defeat at Arsenal to beat Nottingham Forest 3-1, recording its 11th consecutive home win in all competitions.

England forward Ollie Watkins gave Villa a deserved lead on the cusp of halftime with a powerful strike from just outside the area, and John McGinn scored twice in the second half, either side of a Morgan Gibbs-White goal.

Villa boss Emery said his players and coaching staff had held a meeting after their drubbing at the Emirates Stadium.

"I am so happy," he said. "We had to recover our energy and our confidence. Here, at Villa Park, the energy we create is really important.

"Forest is competitive. After the Arsenal match we met — the players and staff — (and discussed) how we are doing this season, how we are feeling, how we needed to keep the same consistency as before, how we needed to be together and strong."

Sean Dyche's Forest, which has now suffered four straight league defeats, remains one place above the relegation zone, four points clear of West Ham, which slumped to a damaging 3-0 loss at Molineux.

Relegation-threatened West Ham traveled to face winless basement club Wolves in a desperate need of a victory.

Jhon Arias gave the home side an early lead and Hwang Hee-chan doubled its advantage from the penalty spot shortly after the half-hour mark.

Teenager Mateus Mane drilled in his first Premier League goal shortly before halftime, all but guaranteeing Rob Edwards' team a first league win of the season.

Nuno Espirito Santo's Hammers are in danger of being cut adrift at the bottom of the Premier League along with Wolves and Burnley.

"Everybody needs to think and reflect and question ourselves,"Espirito Santo said. "It's about actions. It's been very bad, very bad.

"I don't recall one day that I felt so bad at a football pitch," he added.

Wolves, who drew with Manchester United last week, remain 12 points from safety.

"We have been improving and progressing, and you saw that today," Edwards told the BBC. "It is another step in the right direction, that is all it was, and it is nice it has culminated in a win.

"We should enjoy it," he said, "but it's only one win. That's all it is."

Elsewhere on Saturday, Brighton beat Burnley 2-0 to end a six-match winless run, courtesy of goals from Georginio Rutter and Yasin Ayari.

AFP