Bournemouth vs Arsenal live: Declan Rice gives Gunners precious lead in Premier League clash

Ruthless from Arsenal!

Gyokeres does well to hold the ball up and get the Gunners into the box, and after a wonderful bit of awareness from Odegaard to know where Rice is, he slips it into the Englishman’s path who fires home.

53 mins: CHANCE! Really smart thinking from Kluivert to play the quick free-kick to Brooks, slipping the Welshman through from halfway.

The only problem is that the angle closes for him and he ends up firing wide.

50 mins: Up the other end, Semenyo finds himself in space down the right but to the surprise of many, he opts not to drive at his man on the edge of the box.

Instead, his pull-back does not find a red and black shirt.

49 mins: First opportunity to create something comes Arsenal’s way as a free-kick is whipped in from deep towards the head of Gyokeres.

He knocks it down which comes close to falling to Saliba but it’s cleared.

And we’re off again!

Here come the teams for the second half.

Might we see Mikel Arteta turn to the bench? Not yet it seems...

It’s been an entertaining game at the Vitality - but probably not for the reasons Mikel Arteta would’ve hoped for.

His side haven’t had a shot since the 18th minute and instead it has been Bournemouth that have been probing for a second.

With Manchester City in action, the Gunners have a huge chance to ramp up the pressure on their title challengers. A big second half coming up.

Gabriel went from zero to hero as the Brazilian redeemed an early howler to put Arsenal on terms at half-time of an entertaining clash at Bournemouth.

The defender delivered countryman Evanilson a late Christmas present by gifting the ball to the Bournemouth striker on the edge of the Gunners box after 10 minutes, who promptly fired past David Raya to give the Cherries the lead.

He then provided the finishing touch just six minutes later to level for Arsenal, hitting the back of the net after pinball in front of the Bournemouth goal.

Both teams have probed for a second but to no avail, with Arsenal hoping to end the night six points clear at the top of the Premier League.

A couple of late stoppage-time breaks go begging for Arsenal and the first half ends with it all square.