Mesut Ozil inspired Arsenal to reclaim top spot in the Premier League, at least for 24 hours, as they won their first league meeting with Bournemouth.
After a tense opening, Ozil's corner was met with a firm header by defender Gabriel for his first goal in English football.
Ozil made it 2-0 after the break from a slick one-two with Olivier Giroud.
Bournemouth showed plenty of spirit, but could not find their way through as Arsenal closed out the victory.
With Leicester not playing until Tuesday, Arsenal leapfrog them into top spot by one point.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, slip to 16th and remain only three points from danger as their six-match unbeaten run came to an end.
Relive Arsenal's win over Bournemouth.
Reaction to Monday's Premier League results.
Banishing the Boxing Day blues
Arsenal's Mesut Ozil made a game-high 50 passes in the opposition's half and 11 crosses. The touch map shows his effectiveness on either flank
If Arsene Wenger wanted a reaction from his squad, having rung the changes following Boxing Day's 4-0 mauling at Southampton, it took a while in coming.
But all it needed was the first goal just before the half-hour to kick the hosts, and their familiar fluent passing game, into gear.
All four of those Arsenal newcomers played their part as Gabriel opened his goalscoring account.
Kieran Gibbs had his hands full with the dangerous Matt Ritchie, Calum Chambers brushed off rumours of a January loan return to Southampton with an assured midfield display, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain threatened with his pace when Arsenal broke, going close to adding a third goal late on.
Although Bournemouth had overcome a 2-0 deficit to draw 3-3 with Everton in an enthralling game last month, such a comeback never looked on the cards here once Ozil had unlocked them.
Cech the record books
Gunners keeper Petr Cech was tested more than his opposite number Artur Boruc early on, as Bournemouth's Harry Arter opened up the defence with some through balls to lone striker Joshua King, who was twice denied by Cech to keep the game goalless.
But as the game went on, even when the Cherries found some space in the final third, there was no way past the Czech goalkeeper, who kept out Matt Ritchie's 30-yard drive and celebrated his 170th top-flight clean sheet to set a new Premier League record.
Petr Cech's former club Chelsea tweeted a message of congratulations to the keeper for setting a new Premier League record
Meanwhile, Boruc earned his spurs at the other end with some important blocks to ensure the Cherries were not swept away.
Arsenal's title-winning sides of the past were built on solid goalkeeping, from Bob Wilson and John Lukic to David Seaman and Jens Lehmann. The purchase of Cech from Chelsea in the summer could turn out to be the key to a first title for 12 years.
Man of the match
Mesut Ozil was at the heart of everything Arsenal did well, not just setting up the first goal and scoring the second but also tackling back to rescue right-back Hector Bellerin at one stage.
What the managers said
Wenger praises 'sensational' Ozil
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger: "There was a little hesitancy at the start after our bad result on Saturday but slowly we got into the game and after that we created chances.
"After a disappointing result, not dropping points once again was most important for us."
On Ozil's performance: "I said many times that he has added something to his game - a desire to be efficient and desire to score goals. He has become a complete sensational football player.
"I am very, very happy with his performances. He is one of the best in Europe certainly. In his position, he is sensational."
Cherries 'dominated possession' says Howe
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe: "We were well in the game. We started brightly but once we conceded we wobbled. At 1-0 there was always a chance we could get into the game but the second goal was of huge quality and ended it.
"We are developing all the time as a side. We still have some way to go but if we make the same improvement again we will be a good side.
"We took the game to Arsenal in the first half but unfortunately the quality of their players told in the end."
Who's up next?
Arsenal host struggling Newcastle on 2 January, while Bournemouth face a tough trip to second-placed Leicester.
Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)
Arsenal
- 33 Cech
- 24 Bellerín
- 04 Mertesacker
- 05 Gabriel
- 03 Gibbs (Monreal - 82' )
- 21 Chambers Booked
- 16 Ramsey Booked
- 15 Oxlade-Chamberlain (Iwobi - 93' )
- 11 Özil
- 14 Walcott
- 12 Giroud (Campbell - 80' )
Substitutes
- 02 Debuchy
- 06 Koscielny
- 13 Ospina
- 18 Monreal
- 28 Campbell
- 45 Iwobi
- 54 Reine Adelaide
AFC Bournemouth
- 01 Boruc
- 15 Smith
- 02 Francis
- 03 Cook
- 11 Daniels
- 06 Surman
- 30 Ritchie
- 04 Gosling (O'Kane - 61' )
- 08 Arter
- 07 Pugh (Stanislas - 45' )
- 17 King (Murray - 80' )
Substitutes
- 09 Rantie
- 19 Stanislas
- 23 Federici
- 24 Tomlin
- 25 Distin
- 27 Murray
- 32 O'Kane
Match Stats
Live Text Commentary
Full Time Match ends, Arsenal 2, Bournemouth 0.
90:00 +3:05 Full timeFull Time Second Half ends, Arsenal 2, Bournemouth 0.
90:00 +2:30 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Arsenal. Alex Iwobi replaces Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
90:00 +1:43Attempt missed. Harry Arter (Bournemouth) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Matt Ritchie.
90:00 +1:02Attempt saved. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mesut Özil.
90:00 +0:48Attempt saved. Glenn Murray (Bournemouth) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Charlie Daniels.
90:00 +0:20Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Héctor Bellerín.
85:02Offside, Bournemouth. Eunan O'Kane tries a through ball, but Adam Smith is caught offside.
84:30Foul by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal).
84:30Adam Smith (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
83:46Attempt missed. Junior Stanislas (Bournemouth) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Harry Arter.
82:23Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Steve Cook.
82:20Attempt blocked. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Theo Walcott.
81:01 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Arsenal. Nacho Monreal replaces Kieran Gibbs.
80:32Attempt missed. Eunan O'Kane (Bournemouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Charlie Daniels.
79:42 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Arsenal. Joel Campbell replaces Olivier Giroud.
79:36 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Bournemouth. Glenn Murray replaces Joshua King because of an injury.
78:52Attempt missed. Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Mesut Özil.
75:05Attempt blocked. Harry Arter (Bournemouth) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Eunan O'Kane.
72:19Attempt saved. Matt Ritchie (Bournemouth) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Harry Arter.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
71:44Foul by Joshua King (Bournemouth).
70:57Offside, Arsenal. Olivier Giroud tries a through ball, but Theo Walcott is caught offside.
70:56Attempt saved. Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
69:00Attempt missed. Mesut Özil (Arsenal) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Héctor Bellerín with a cross.
65:18Attempt missed. Gabriel Paulista (Arsenal) header from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Mesut Özil with a cross following a corner.
64:54Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Charlie Daniels.
64:20Calum Chambers (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
64:20Foul by Joshua King (Bournemouth).
62:03 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Arsenal 2, Bournemouth 0. Mesut Özil (Arsenal) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Olivier Giroud with a through ball.
60:49 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Bournemouth. Eunan O'Kane replaces Dan Gosling.
60:18 BookingBooking Calum Chambers (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
60:14Foul by Calum Chambers (Arsenal).
60:14Harry Arter (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
58:29Attempt blocked. Dan Gosling (Bournemouth) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Harry Arter.
57:49Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
57:49Foul by Junior Stanislas (Bournemouth).
55:34Attempt blocked. Harry Arter (Bournemouth) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
55:01Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
50:04Theo Walcott (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
50:04Foul by Matt Ritchie (Bournemouth).
45:49Foul by Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal).
45:49Harry Arter (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
45:00Second Half begins Arsenal 1, Bournemouth 0.
45:00 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Bournemouth. Junior Stanislas replaces Marc Pugh.
45:00 +1:06 Half timeHalf Time First Half ends, Arsenal 1, Bournemouth 0.
44:18Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
44:18Foul by Adam Smith (Bournemouth).
41:55Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Simon Francis.
38:49Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
38:49Foul by Joshua King (Bournemouth).
37:47Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Simon Francis.
35:57Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Charlie Daniels.
35:02Attempt missed. Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Mesut Özil with a cross following a corner.
34:42Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Artur Boruc.
34:36Attempt saved. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mesut Özil with a through ball.
33:53Attempt missed. Per Mertesacker (Arsenal) header from very close range is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
33:52Attempt saved. Gabriel Paulista (Arsenal) header from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mesut Özil with a cross.
33:30Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Steve Cook.
33:27Attempt blocked. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked. Assisted by Mesut Özil with a through ball.
29:58 BookingBooking Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card.
26:46 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Arsenal 1, Bournemouth 0. Gabriel Paulista (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Mesut Özil with a cross following a corner.
26:23Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Charlie Daniels.
20:05Foul by Héctor Bellerín (Arsenal).
20:05Marc Pugh (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
17:55Foul by Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal).
17:55Matt Ritchie (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
16:20Theo Walcott (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
16:20Foul by Adam Smith (Bournemouth).
15:08Foul by Calum Chambers (Arsenal).
15:08Dan Gosling (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
14:23Attempt blocked. Harry Arter (Bournemouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
13:00Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
13:00Foul by Harry Arter (Bournemouth).
11:21Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Charlie Daniels.
10:36Foul by Olivier Giroud (Arsenal).
10:36Andrew Surman (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
6:45Delay over. They are ready to continue.
6:10Delay in match Harry Arter (Bournemouth) because of an injury.
4:18Attempt saved. Joshua King (Bournemouth) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Harry Arter.
1:02Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Aaron Ramsey.
0:00First Half begins.
0:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
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