Declan Rice delivered a performance for the ages on January 3, 2026, inspiring Arsenal to a dramatic 3-2 victory over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. Returning to the starting lineup after shaking off a knee injury that sidelined him for the previous match against Aston Villa, Rice not only proved his fitness but also etched his name into club lore with his first-ever Premier League brace. The win, Arsenal’s fifth in a row, opened up a six-point lead at the summit of the Premier League, keeping title rivals Aston Villa and Manchester City at bay—at least for now.
Arsenal’s recent history against Bournemouth had been less than flattering. The Gunners lost both home and away fixtures to the Cherries last season and found themselves trailing early once again. In the 10th minute, Gabriel Magalhães gifted possession to Bournemouth’s Evanilson, who made no mistake in stroking the ball into an unguarded net. But redemption was swift: just six minutes later, Gabriel himself lashed home the equalizer, turning the tide and sending a message that this Arsenal side would not be haunted by the ghosts of last year.
The match was a showcase not only of individual brilliance but also of collective resilience. Declan Rice, who had been ‘fuming’ about missing the Villa game, was determined to make an impact. “It’s a massive win,” Rice told arsenal.com after the final whistle. “It’s a really tough place to come, we lost here last season. It was difficult the season before, so we knew what we were in for today. The manager made us well aware of that after not the best start. Then to show our character again and come back was massive, and to win 3-2 in the end was a massive result.”
Rice’s goals came in the second half, both with his trademark low, side-footed finishes that left the Bournemouth defense scrambling. The first was a testament to Arsenal’s attacking synergy: Viktor Gyokeres, working tirelessly up front and holding off two defenders, set the stage with a clever flick to Martin Odegaard. The Norwegian midfielder, ever the orchestrator, delivered a perfectly weighted pass to Rice, who made no mistake. “He’s so intelligent,” Rice said of Odegaard. “The way he feeds passes for you, the second one, the way he played it through to Bukayo—there aren’t many players in the world who can play those passes.”
Gyokeres’ role in the buildup did not go unnoticed, either. “It’s tough for him, because he’s got two defenders on him all game, all over him. So he has to use his strength, he has to do all he can to help the team and with that goal, without him making that run from Gabi’s flick and holding it, setting it off to Martin, that goal wouldn’t happen,” Rice explained. “Defenders in the Premier League want to be able to stop Viktor Gyokeres, because he’s one of the best strikers in the world. Trust me, he’s doing unbelievably for us, we wouldn’t be where we are without him.”
Manager Mikel Arteta was effusive in his praise for Rice’s mentality and performance. Speaking to the media, Arteta revealed the midfielder had been a doubt right up until kickoff due to swelling in his knee. “Declan Rice was struggling the last few days but pushed and pushed and pushed and made himself available. He played 96 minutes, scored two goals and was one of the best players on the pitch. That is the mentality we need from all of us,” said Arteta. When asked if Rice was among the world’s elite midfielders, Arteta did not hesitate: “For me, yes. Declan is constantly adding things to his game, and his role in the team, and I don’t see where he can stop because he can still improve in a lot of areas and he wants to improve.”
Rice’s numbers this season back up his manager’s claims. He has now scored four Premier League goals—trailing only Viktor Gyokeres and Leandro Trossard for Arsenal—and leads the team in line-breaking passes (142) and progressive carries (188). He also ranks in the top ten for touches, chances created, and possession won among Premier League midfielders. Former England striker Jermain Defoe, watching for BBC Match of the Day, called Rice’s performance “a masterclass,” highlighting his dominance both in and out of possession. “He’s definitely up there with the best midfielders in Europe. He’s a key player for Arsenal in the title race,” Defoe remarked.
Arsenal’s six-point cushion at the top of the table could be trimmed if Manchester City defeat Chelsea, but for now, the Gunners are in the driver’s seat. The match also marked the debut of a new chant for Rice from the traveling Arsenal supporters, to the tune of ‘That’s The Way I Like It.’ Rice was clearly delighted: “I’m really happy with that. The fans are amazing away from home as always. They travel, they pay all their hard-earned money, and to start the New Year off with a win and to make them happy is what we do it for, you know. We know at Arsenal, the fans are here for what we want to achieve for them, so we just have to keep pushing and doing that.”
The Gunners’ January schedule is packed, with four more league games, two Champions League fixtures, an FA Cup tie, and a Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea. Arsenal remain in contention for all four trophies, having won all six of their Champions League group matches. Jamie Redknapp, speaking on Sky Sports, noted, “Everything is going so well for Arsenal. It’s the least important competition for them, but if they win the Carabao Cup, it will take the pressure off to a certain extent. Don’t get me wrong, they want the league title. If they are lucky enough to do the double, unbelievable. But I do think they just have to win a trophy. I think it will relax them.”
As the final whistle blew and the Arsenal fans serenaded their midfield maestro, Rice’s return to action had delivered more than just three points. It sent a statement to the rest of the league: Arsenal have the depth, the resilience, and the star power to mount a serious title challenge. With Rice leading the charge and a squad brimming with confidence, the Gunners’ faithful have every reason to believe this could be a season to remember.