Arsene Wenger’s men are now without a win in five games in all competitions, and five points adrift of fourth place in the Premier League, after Bournemouth extended their unbeaten run to four games to move further away from the bottom three.

Defender Hector Bellerin had given the visitors – playing without forward Alexis Sanchez – the lead when he latched on to a defence-splitting Alex Iwobi pass to squeeze the ball past Asmir Begovic.

But Wilson took advantage of Petr Cech’s indecision as he got to Ryan Fraser’s low cross before the Arsenal keeper and poked it past him.

The 25-year-old then turned provider, bringing down Lewis Cook’s cross for Ibe to rifle home.

Eddie Howe’s side savoured a first ever Premier League victory over Arsenal, at the seventh attempt, the victory moving them up to 13th place and four points away from danger.

But for Wenger, who was completing his three-game touchline ban for verbally abusing an official, it was further disappointment as speculation mounts that Sanchez’s departure is imminent.

A strong first-half Gunners performance, in which 20-year-old Ainsley Maitland-Niles rattled the crossbar, was undone in less than five calamitous second-half minutes.

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Source: BBC

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Manchester City smashed Bournemouth to continue their record-breaking run with their 17th straight victory in the Premier League.

Sergio Aguero took his tally of Etihad Stadium goals past 100 with a double, as the top flight leaders swept past the Cherries.

Raheem Sterling also claimed his 16th goal of the season and Danilo his first for the club late on, as Pep Guardiola’s side took their 2017 tally to 101 goals.

City were not at their sparkling best but still had far too much for Bournemouth, who have now lost back-to-back games 4-0 after last week’s thrashing by Liverpool and are without a win in seven.

Another win moves Man City 14 points clear at the top of the table at the halfway stage of the season.

West Ham 2-3 Newcastle:

Newcastle came from behind and managed to hold on in a nervy finale to beat West Ham in a five-goal thriller at the London Stadium.

Marko Arnautovic continued his great run of form with the Hammers’ opening goal inside just six minutes, the former capitalising on a dreadful back-pass from  Henri Saivet.

But Saivet redeemed himself with a wonderful free-kick to pull the Magpies level just four minutes later, and David Moyes’ men then found themselves behind when Mohamed Diame netted early in the second-half.

Newcastle then went 3-1 up when Christian Atsu finished off a neat counter-attacking move, and made the most of some woeful West Ham defending.

Andre Ayew, who had earlier missed a penalty, found the net in the 69th minute to give West Ham hope, but Rafa Benitez’s side managed to hold on to claim a vital three points.

Victory lifts Newcastle to 15th, two points clear of the bottom-three, with West Ham slipping to 17th and just a point off the relegation zone.

Brighton 1-0 Watford:

The hopeless Hornets suffered their fifth defeat in six games as Pascal Gross’s second-half strike earned Brighton a home victory.

It was a vital win for the Seagulls, who ended their seven-game winless streak with a deserved three points.

Albion had not found the net from open play for more than ten-and-a-half hours when German midfielder Gross cut on to his right foot and let fly with a 64th-minute drive which flew under Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.

The well-earned win was much needed for Seagulls manager Chris Hughton, ending a run of three points from a possible 27 while inflicting a fourth successive loss on the Hornets and putting a little more pressure on their boss Marco Silva.

Southampton 1-1 Huddersfield:

Charlie Austin could face a suspension after his challenge on Jonas Lossl left the Danish goalkeeper with a blood-soaked face as Southampton drew 1-1 with Huddersfield at St Mary’s.

Austin fired Saints into the lead but later avoided sanction despite catching Huddersfield keeper Lossl in the nose in a bad-tempered south coast affair.

The striker could face retrospective punishment from the Football Association for his actions, with a three-match ban a possibility, while Lossl managed to play on undeterred after lengthy treatment.

Austin’s fifth strike in five starts was cancelled out by Laurent Depoitre’s third goal in as many games however, as the Terriers fought back for a share of the spoils.

Saints frontman Austin later hobbled off with a leg issue as injury cut short his mixed afternoon.

The draw left Southampton with just one win in 10 Premier League encounters, maintaining pressure on manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

Stoke City 3-1 West Brom:

The pressure on Stoke manager Mark Hughes eased a little following a 3-1 home victory against West Brom.

Five defeats in the previous six Premier League matches had dragged Stoke towards the relegation battle, but Hughes said in the build-up to the game he did not feel defeat here would spell the end of his four and a half years in charge.

Chairman Peter Coates, however, described Saturday’s fixture against the second-from-bottom club as “one we need to win.”

It looked like Stoke would comfortably oblige after first-half goals from Joe Allen and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting put them firmly in control but West Brom rallied at the start of the second half and Salomon Rondon halved their deficit.

However, the Baggies were unable to get anything from the game and Alan Pardew is still looking for his first victory since taking over as manager five matches ago.

More worryingly, his group of players are without a Premier League win for 17 matches.

Swansea 1-1 Crystal Palace:

Leon Britton’s first game as Swansea caretaker manager ended in a 1-1 home draw against Crystal Palace.

Swansea had put club stalwart Britton in temporary charge after sacking Paul Clement on Wednesday, and there was a familiar feel about proceedings when Luka Milivojevic put Palace ahead on the hour.

But substitute Jordan Ayew rescued a point 13 minutes from time with a thunderous 20-yard drive – his second goal of the season, with his previous Premier League strike coming against Palace at Selhurst Park in August.

Britton – half the age of Palace boss Roy Hodgson – oversaw a vastly improved display from a Swansea side who had scored only 10 goals in 18 games under Clement this season.

But Swansea will still spend Christmas bottom of the league as they seek to make a swift managerial appointment.

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Source: Talksport

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The 34-year-old rifled his first Bournemouth goal in 16 years, as the Cherries came from behind to sink visitors Brighton 2-1.

Solly March’s header had Brighton dreaming of a second successive Premier League win but Andrew Surman coolly levelled before England poacher Defoe stole the victory.

Defoe last scored for Bournemouth on a loan spell in May 2001, and the veteran exhibited all his stunning staying power to settle this south coast derby.

Bournemouth were in real danger of losing five successive Premier League matches for the first time when March capped a flowing move, but manager Howe’s men responded in style to kick-start their season.

Defoe has turned out for West Ham, Tottenham, Portsmouth, Toronto FC and Sunderland since his loan stint on the south coast as a teenage goalscorer of rich promise.

A full generation of strikers has come and gone in between, but still Defoe keeps on delivering, adding again to his impressive haul that included 15 Premier League goals with the Black Cats last term.

The Cherries’ success leaves Crystal Palace as the final top-flight team still seeking points, with Defoe securing a crucial boost to boss Howe.

Super sub Jordon Ibe laid on both goals in a clinical cameo that will raise hopes of the former Liverpool starlet finally making good on his £15million transfer fee.

A nervy first-half saw Shane Duffy play in Josh King and Harry Arter hand possession straight to Davy Propper. Neither man could produce a finish however, leaving the clash deadlocked at the break.

Bournemouth wasted 65 per cent of first-half possession and almost paid an immediate price after the break, when Dale Stephens hit the bar after a Brighton corner.

The emboldened visitors then struck with a clinical and eye-catching move, Pascal Gross chesting down to Anthony Knockaert who immediately played the ball back into the German’s path.

March then despatched Gross’ whipped cross with a smart header, sucking all the air out of Bournemouth and their fans.

Here was the killer instinct Howe’s hosts craved so desperately, cruelly distilled into a goal magicked from little more than three touches.

Howe had asked his men for fight though, and that steel showed itself in an equaliser of high quality.

Surman traded passes with Ibe, collecting the replacement’s neat backheel, cut inside Lewis Dunk’s rash challenge – and coolly side-footed home.

With the match finally alight, Ibe had a rasping shot blocked by Dunk, while Brighton’s new talisman Gross was desperately seeking medical attention.

Gross eventually found his feet and returned to the pitch – but not before Ibe had played in Defoe, who turned, scurried on and buried a drive past Seagulls goalkeeper Mathew Ryan. A timely finish from a timeless striker.

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Source: TalkSport

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