05/01/2026 – Rice at the Double: Arsenal Six Points Clear

What a weekend to be an Arsenal fan! City dropped two more points thanks to a last-minute equaliser from Enzo Fernandez and that puts us six points clear at the top. The first blog of 2026 and we start with a win, a vital win at that. Bournemouth were responsible for half of our league loses last season and despite their poor form I was very weary they could repeat the upset. An uncharacteristic mistake from big Gabi fuelled that fear early on, I thought we could be in for a very long day. However, the main man, our midfield maestro Declan Rice absolutely took the game by the scruff of the neck and got his first ever Premier League brace. There really is nothing that Rice cannot do and this season he has added goals to his game, he has become not only the complete midfield player but also one of the world’s best.

In the first half I didn’t think we were at our best, we struggled to get the ball flowing especially after we equalised and Bournemouth caused us a lot of issues at the back but like against Villa it took a half time reset to send the team out with more intention. Just nine minutes it took for us to get the second goal and for most of the second half we looked untouchable again. When Rice got his second goal I was convinced it could’ve been four or five but a cracking strike from Jr Kroupi got the nerves going for the last ten minutes.

I thought Madueke started the game superbly with great conviction and he had his man on toast when he was one on one. All I could think though was when Saka came on it took him four minutes to pick up an assist. Despite Madueke playing well he’s competing with one of the very best for his position, a very difficult task. Gyokores played a very important role in the first Rice goal, showing his strength and I do think that when Jesus came on, we had very little option of an out ball and struggled to keep possession in higher areas.

That’s now four wins on the spin for us in the league and it feels as if we have built some momentum at the perfect time, we have a nice buffer at the top now, but we have the Champions visiting on Thursday. A Fulham belter yesterday stopped Liverpool picking up any extra momentum, but you know the best version of the Scousers will arrive at the Emirates and we will have to be at our very best to ensure all three points still in North London. Ekitike didn’t feature in the game yesterday, but it is assumed he will be available for the game against us which will be a big boost for them. I would love to see us avenge the lose at Anfield earlier in the season, especially as that was when they thought they had a chance at the title, little did they know how rubbish they would become! We should have enough to get past these lot, but it will be a difficult game, and Liverpool will be right up for it.

This is the sixth time Arsenal have led the way at the new year, and we have failed to get over the line in the previous five will this be the one that goes against this trend? Thursday is our last Premier League game until the 17th of January when we travel to Nottingham Forest. The rest of January is riddled with cup competitions so keeping injury free as well as in a good groove is massively important. I for one am not a fan of the EFL Cup, of course a trophy is nice, and I will attend the final is the opportunity is there but the two legs in the semi-final add huge congestion to the fixture list and its Chelsea at that! The game where the earliest yellow for an Arsenal player was brandished and Chelsea will be desperate to get their hands on that trophy. We don’t know how Chelsea will be set up with Maresca leaving last week, it looks as if it might be Liam Rosenior from Strasbourg, hopefully he can de scum them, we shall see.

Anyway, Liverpool up next, Thursday 8pm under the lights, lets add to Arne Slots misery, COYG!

The Northbank Blogger.

Player Ratings:

Raya 7.5/10

Timber 6/10

Saliba 8/10

Gabriel 7/10

Hincapie 7/10

Zubimendi 6/10

Rice 9.5/10

Odegaard 8.5/10

Madueke 8/10

Gyokores 8/10

Martinelli 5.5/10

Subs:

Saka 8/10                        Merino 6.5/10

Trossard 6.5/10              Jesus 6/10

Predicted Lineup:

Raya

Timber

Saliba

Gabriel

Hincapie

Zubimendi

Rice

Odegaard

Saka

Gyokores

Trossard