Arsenal climbs to 3rd in league by beating Bournemouth

Bournemouth welcome a faltering Arsenal to Dean Court for Sunday’s early Premier League kick-off knowing that if other results go in their favour, they could leap as high as 13th.

Bournemouth’s task is survival.

Aaron Ramsey believes Arsenal can put the brakes on Leicester City’s remarkable season, describing his side’s victory over Bournemouth as crucial to keeping them in touch with the league leaders before the vital game on Sunday.

Bournemouth had not recovered before Ramsey sent Oxlade-Chamberlain through for his first league goal since September 2014 – and first away from home – with an angled drive.

– Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) February 7, 2016Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been directly involved in a Premier League goal for the first time since December 2014.

Bournemouth’s persistence with a short-passing tactical philosophy is commendable, but their absence of a Plan B can leave them wanting against in-form teams.

The real test is next weekend against Leicester, as winning that would reduce the gap back to two points – with it imperative Arsenal don’t lose.

“Look, in one week, Leicester has beaten Liverpool and Man City“, he added.

It was Arsenal’s first league goal for more than five hours, but it took less than 90 seconds for another to arrive as the Gunners quickly won the ball back before working it out to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain down the right channel, who drove a low strike in off the far post.

“I don’t know why he gets so much criticism as he is a class player”, before joking: “I asked for his shirt after the game and he kindly gave it to me – I don’t know how much he wanted mine though!”

“He scored with his right foot which is very interesting for us”.

Leicester are five points ahead of Tottenham, who leapfrogged City into second after a 1-0 win over Watford, and Wenger says the unlikely title chasers are worthy of all the praise they receive as their fairy-tale season continues.

Bournemouth have shown enough during what has been a largely impressive battle against relegation to suggest that they were always going to pose some problems to the Gunners, and that they did. A football game away from home in the Premier League for anybody is hard to win. “We should take a lot of encouragement from that, even if sometimes in the recent games, we didn’t get the result we wanted”.

“Arsene Wenger: “[On Eddie Howe being manager of a top club] You can not rule it out.

“We needed to start a good run with this game and we stayed strong at the back, and scored two goals with our first two opportunities”.

“You need to get more experience and more time on the pitch”, Giroud told Arsenal Player.