Sports
Arteta Lauds Arsenal Grit After Comeback Win at Bournemouth
Mikel Arteta said Arsenal’s ability to recover from an early setback in their 3-2 win over Bournemouth underlined how far his side have come in their bid to end a 22-year wait for the Premier League title.
The Gunners stayed top of the table, moving six points clear of Aston Villa and seven ahead of Manchester City, who host Chelsea in their game in hand on Sunday.
Arsenal fell behind early after a rare mistake from Gabriel Magalhaes, but the defender responded in emphatic fashion by heading home the equaliser.
Declan Rice then struck twice in the second half to swing the contest in Arsenal’s favour, with Eli Kroupi’s late stunner only briefly threatening to derail them.
“They are so good, we made it even harder for ourselves conceding the first goal, but I love the character of the team,” Arteta said. “I love the character of Gabriel. The way he overcame that situation is just unbelievable.
“It says a lot about how much we’ve grown. The team found a way to beat them, and it’s a massive win.”
Rice had been a major doubt after missing Tuesday’s 4-1 victory over Aston Villa due to swelling on his knee, but forced his way back into the starting line-up and proved decisive.
“He has stretched himself to the very limit, and the team were rewarded with two great goals,” Arteta added. “I think it’s the first time he’s scored two in a Premier League game, so yes, a great day to remember.”
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