Well, this live page is being brought to an abrupt end unfortunately because there is BIG news breaking right now regarding Manchester United and Ruben Amorim.

We've set up a new live page and it's full steam ahead over there now!

Click here to join us and we'll see you shortly!

Arsenal

Arsenal goalscorer Declan Rice, speaking to Sky Sports about scoring a brace in the game for the second time in his career: "That's a crazy stat. I haven't scored a lot this season, to be honest with you. I'd only scored two, so to grab a brace today in an important victory was a really nice feeling. When you win and you're able to help out the team like I did today always adds that extra bit of a special feeling. I'm delighted with the goals and more importantly three points because they're a very good side, Bournemouth, especially here."

On how important the win was today: "Massive. Off the back of Aston Villa, the key thing today was to build on that and go and win. The win against Aston Villa would've meant nothing if we didn't come here today and didn't pick up anything. It's so important this time of year, the schedule's crazy, the games come thick and fast and if you can win your games in and around Christmas, on top of what we've done already, it's going to put you in a really good position. We've got to keep building on that, keep the mentality right, keep pushing, but we're in a really good spot at the minute. Long may it continue.

"It felt like they were swarmed all over us in the first half but we're a team, at the second half when we get in there at half-time and the manager speaks and we speak between each other, we knew we had the quality and we knew the space was there to go on and win the game and we've done that a lot this season, so credit to everyone to go out there and perform in the second half because that wasn't easy out there today."

Arsenal

Declan Rice stole the headlines in Arsenal's victory over Bournemouth on Saturday after coming back from injury to score twice and take the Gunners six points clear at the top of the Premier League.

It was just the second time in his 375 senior club appearances that Rice netted two goals in a game, alongside last season's remarkable free-kick double against Real Madrid.

Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It is very different context to the Villa game. We put ourselves into a very difficult position with the manner we conceded the first goal but what Gabriel has done was remarkable, he showed leadership and unity. We then grew into the game and scored two great goals.

"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.

"The ones who came in did really well, that is what we need. All of the players are really consistent and it was against a team difficult to beat.

"We will learn from the first goal we conceded. It is the quality of the oppositon and sometimes you have to applaud that.

"We are still in January we have nine games this month so we will play game by game."

Arsenal

Last up we have the current leaders, Arsenal. And they have more than a couple of good omens in their favour right now.

The Gunners currently sit six points clear at the summit. Incredibly, that's their biggest ever lead at the top of the Premier League table after 20 matches.

Mikel Arteta's side were five points clear of Manchester City at this stage of the 2022-23 campaign (their next-highest lead), but went on to lose five and draw four of their remaining 18 games to fall to second, and lose out to City by five points.

Image source, Getty Images

Unai Emery said following Aston Villa's victory over Chelsea in December that he would not discuss his side's league target until after the 34th round of fixtures.

So, no surprise then that the Spaniard did not declare Villa to be in the title race despite sitting level on points with defending champions Manchester City after 20 games.

"So good, three points. We needed rest and work to get ready for this match. The players responded fantastically to the demands we set," said Emery.

"Each match is a new challenge and how we are competing is the key. We are focusing on each match. Very important to get back to winning ways."

Emery's side travel to out-of-form Crystal Palace next, with Brentford the only side in the current top eight to come in their next eight league games.

Image source, Getty Images

Ollie Watkins was left out of the England squad in November following a slow start to the season for Aston Villa, having also withdrawn from the Three Lions squad in October because of injury.

Since arriving at the club from Brentford in 2020, Watkins has hit double figures every season at Villa.

But he had managed just one goal in his first 19 games.

Now, with six goals in his last eight games, including one against Nottingham Forest on his 250th Villa appearance on Saturday, it's safe to say the 30-year-old has rediscovered his form in front of goal.

His connection with fellow England international Morgan Rogers continues to strengthen, with Rogers's assist for Watkins' first-half opener the 10th Premier League goal that the pair have combined for since the start of last season - two more than any other duo.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn speaking to Sky Sports: "It was important. It was a poor result the other night. We wanted to show a reaction, maybe the start of another 11-game winning run we don't know."

On his goal celebration: "A wee joke in the dressing room. I don't know how much I can say about it. There is a reason behind it and it was hinting at the manager talking about us going step by step so it was a wee nod towards that. The manager wanted me to be more intense and get in the box and thankfully I did that."

"I just take each day as it comes and hope we get the three points."

Image source, Getty Images

So, what about the other chasers?

Aston Villa remain within six points of Premier League leaders Arsenal after they bounced back from their loss to the Gunners with victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Unai Emery's side had their 11-match winning streak ended by Arsenal less than a week ago, but they refused to fall away from the title race as they returned to winning ways at Villa Park.

A John McGinn double and an Ollie Watkins strike helped them to a 3-1 victory - their 11th straight home win, which represents their best run in 36 years - just four days after that setback.

Perhaps more importantly at this stage of the season, Emery's in-form side already have an eight-point cushion to fourth-place Liverpool as they first of all seek to secure Champions League football next season.

Manchester City

For most of this season Manchester City have been overperforming their expected goals (xG). Against Chelsea yesterday there was virtually no difference in front of goal with City hitting the net once from an xG of 0.99.

But, in their 0-0 draw with Sunderland in mid-week, City were uncharacteristically wasteful in a match where they generated an xG of 2.25.

Out of nowhere the goals have suddenly dried up. Erling Haaland, who has 38 strikes in 31 games for club and country this year, has blanked in each of his past three games.

Should they be worried?

BBC 5 Live Breakfast

David Mooney from the Blue Moon podcast speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast:

"It's been a bad four days for the title race.

"Ultimately, City are currently decimated by injuries. The same eleven is probably going to have to play Brighton on Wednesday night. And that's probably going to be a bit of a problem.

"He's got one of the biggest squads he's had for a long time, Guardiola, but he just doesn't have the options right now to be taking players out and resting them here and there, and they looked exhausted in that last ten to fifteen minutes [against Chelsea].

"It's going to be a struggle. There is an upward curve, but it's still not the level of previous City teams."

Shay Given
Former Man City keeper to BBC Sport

"It's a brilliant result for Chelsea, with no manager. And a brilliant result and week for Arsenal, who are now six points clear. City dropping four points in the last two games is huge at this time of the season.

"We always say Christmas and New Year, with such a busy schedule, is so important and it's not been a great festive period for Manchester City. Both their centre halves went off and Rodri looked leggy in the last 15, 20 minutes.

"Their squad's quite stretched at the minute, which people might laugh at because of the money they've spent, but if you look at the bench today there were a lot of kids given the injuries and absentees they have.

"On the whole it was probably a fair result and you've got to give credit to Chelsea's second half performance as they were so much better than they were in the first."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City

Man City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We started really well, especially the first half. In the second half it was a bit more open, a bit more up and down, and still we created some big opportunities. We're disappointed that we conceded the goal so late.

"Yes they played much better [in the second half] but still we created some chances. In our pressing they could find the free man more often but we had to kill the game earlier."

On his scoring form: "I feel good as well. I've waited a long time to get my goals. Now I've got the feeling I hope I can keep going with this."

On six points gap at the top: "We should keep going and we still have the confidence that we can turn it around. Next game is very important again."

Izzy Christiansen
Former England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Two very frustrating games to open the year for Man City. They were completely dominant, but Chelsea kept chipping away.

Man City will be so frustrated.