X reacts as Arsenal see off Bournemouth to keep title hopes alive

Arsenal secured a vital victory in their bid to be crowned Premier League champions on Saturday lunchtime, moving four points clear of Manchester City with a 3-0 win over Bournemouth.

Arsenal were absolutely rampant in the first half but somehow only had a marginal one-goal lead to show for it thanks to Bukayo Saka's spot kick.

However, strikes from Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice guaranteed the points in the second half, with Bournemouth left cursing the officials after some controversial calls.

Here is how X users reacted to the clash at the Emirates.

Arsenal knew any slip-ups would prove costly at the Emirates and the in-form Bournemouth would prove a stern test for Mikel Arteta's side in their pursuit of the Premier League crown.

The Gunners made an incredibly bright and dominant start in north London too, creating chance after chance after chance, but they somehow found themselves without a goal to show for it in the opening half-hour.

Arsenal had felt slightly aggrieved in the early stages that Bournemouth had not been reduced to ten men.

Ryan Christie's high challenge on Saka had caused the Englishman some discomfort, but the VAR felt there was no need to intervene.

But despite their profligacy in the first half, Arsenal did secure a lead before the half-time whistle thanks to Saka.

Kai Havertz's dangling leg was caught by Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers in the box moments before the break, with Saka calmly slotting the subsequent penalty into the back of the net - much to the relief of the Emirates crowd.

However, not all agreed that it was a penalty in the first place...

Just as Bournemouth appeared to be getting back into the match, Arsenal grabbed a timely second through Trossard.

The winger, who had barely been involved up until that point, received Rice's pass and fired beyond Travers with an accurate curled effort.

Arsenal appeared to be cruising to victory but Bournemouth thought they had provided the perfect response shortly after Trossard's strike. Antoine Semenyo bundled home after a visiting effort struck the crossbar, but referee David Coote ruled the goal out for a foul on David Raya in the build-up.

It was seemingly a harsh decision, with Bournemouth left furious by the referee's decision not to award Philip Billing a penalty after he had been pulled down in the box by William Saliba a second before the foul on Raya.

But Arsenal eventually grabbed a third through Rice's venomous near-post strike, with the Gunners claiming a crucial victory in the race for the title that sees them move four points clear atop the table.

Over to you Man City...

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