From the Vitality Stadium, Arsenal's Vengeful Nature Radiates

BOURNEMOUTH, SATURDAY - Arsenal successfully avenged all their grievances from last season with their victory over Bournemouth. Their three defeats from the previous season have been transformed into three wins this season. The vengeful nature of the Arsenal squad is evident, showcasing significant progress for "The Gunners."

Arsenal struggled to secure three points with a 3-2 victory at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth on Sunday (January 4, 2026) early morning WIB. Having fallen behind early due to a blunder by defender Gabriel Magalhaes, the visitors turned the game around thanks to Gabriel's equalizer and a brace from midfielder Declan Rice.

We know that the match will be very difficult. Being able to secure three points and the manner in which we achieve that is of utmost importance.

Although Bournemouth has not won since the end of October, the match was not easy for Arsenal. The difficulty was evident from the very narrow scoreline. The visiting team had to pile all their players in their own penalty area in the final moments. Bournemouth briefly revived hope after a consolation goal from substitute Junior Kroupi in the 76th minute.

Bournemouth is the only team that defeated them in both home and away matches last season. "We know that the match will be very difficult. Being able to take three points and how we achieve that is very important," said Rice.

The victory over Bournemouth simultaneously concluded Arsenal's mission of revenge. Only three teams managed to defeat them in the previous season, namely Newcastle, West Ham, and Bournemouth. Arsenal has faced these three teams this season and has succeeded in winning.

Arsenal transformed three losses into three victories. The unfortunate fate when facing Newcastle and Bournemouth in away matches, as well as West Ham in a home match, has been reversed. They recorded nine points better than last season from just these three matches.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta revealed a bit of the secret behind that drastic change. It is not a coincidence, but rather due to the increasingly mature character of the players who are hungry for trophies. This was evident from Gabriel, who immediately redeemed his mistake with a goal just six minutes later.

"When you talk about a player who shows authority and dominates, he (Gabriel) represents that in this team. That is why he is so important. He leads and sets an example for others. Only after that do other (positive) things happen," said Arteta.

Gabriel made a critical mistake just 10 minutes into the match. He passed the ball to the opposing striker Evanilson, who was unmarked in the penalty area. Instead of being demoralized and suffering a crisis of confidence, the Brazilian defender redeemed himself by scoring a goal from a set-piece in the 16th minute.

The visitors' urgency to win was also evident after halftime. Bournemouth's high-defense hybrid system, which could switch from zone to man-to-man, successfully limited Rice and his teammates' attacks. Arsenal only managed five shots from 62.8 percent possession in the first half.

Rice suddenly took over in the second half. As the wingers and strikers were tightly marked, the midfielder sought openings by entering the penalty area. Twice his movements into the penalty area successfully resulted in goals. This marked Rice's first brace in his career in the English Premier League.

Rice's struggle to return to play has been praised by the manager. He had previously been absent from the last match due to swelling in the knee area. "He has put in so much effort over the past few days to be able to play today. In fact, we did not know when he would be back. The team scored two incredible goals thanks to that effort," said Arteta.

The Arsenal squad's strong character is forged from a wealth of past hardships. They are looking to redeem their title credentials after three consecutive league runners-up finishes. So far, the Gunners are on the right track. They remain top of the table in Week 20 following this result, six points ahead of second-placed Aston Villa.

Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook stated that the team has been performing at its best, although this has not yet been reflected in the results. For him, Arsenal is on a different level this season. "We are up against a truly top-tier team. They are at the top of the standings for a reason," he said.