Bournemouth 3 Arsenal 3: Watch highlights as Gunners fight back from 3-0 down and Olivier Giroud scores injury-time equaliser

OLIVIER GIROUD completed a desperate fightback from 3-0 down but saw their title charge derailed at Bournemouth.

Eight years after taking over the Cherries, Eddie Howe saw his side take a commanding lead through Charlie Daniels, Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser.

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But Arsenal hit back through Alexis Sanchez and Lucas Perez to set up a nervy finish.

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Bournemouth skipper Simon Francis was sent off in the 83rd minute for a two-footed lunge on Aaron Ramsey.

And Arsenal made their numbers count as Giroud popped up to head into the bottom corner.

STATS, FACTS, GOALS & LOLS

• EIGHT years ago Eddie Howe saw Bournemouth - facing relegation out of the Football League - lose 2-1 to Darlington!
• Petr Cech just nicked the ball before bringing down Callum Wilson in the area - a brilliant decision from the ref - it was nice to see the Cherries' official Twitter account acknowledging this too.
• Skodran Mustafi's return was supposed to firm up Arsenal's defence but the German was let down by his team-mates.
• Hector Bellerin had ages to pick out Charlie Danielsin acres of space and was skinned far too easily for the opener.

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Charlie Daniels made a mug of Hector Bellerin twice in build-up to first goal

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• Bournemouth's first penalty shout was correctly waved away but the second was stonewall. Granit Xhaka is far from the midfield rock Arsenal need.
• Howe's side had an extra day's rest heading into this game. Arsene Wenger has always been a fan of the busy festive schedule.

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• Two goals down after mistakes from your right-back and defensive midfielder - obviously the man stuck out of position on the wing is at fault. Arsenal fans will blame Aaron Ramsey for anything.
• Bellerin was fouled in the build-up to Bournemouth's third but has to show more strength. A blip on an otherwise brilliant refereeing performance from Michael Oliver.

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• Ryan Fraser cannot be far off a full Scotland cap. The winger was a constant threat and deserved his strike.
• Olivier Giroud's 69th-minute bicycle kick was considerably less graceful than his last effort.
• Of Alexis Sanchez's 15 goals this season - 10 have come away from the Emirates. The Gunners should not be taking 70 minutes to manage a shot on target against a side whose stadium is the size of one of their stands.
• Giroud proved his value by flicking the ball on for Sanchez and Lucas Perez to score. The Spaniard's first Premier League goal was a belter.
• Seconds after Dan Gosling missed a great opportunity to seal the win, Cheeries skipper Simon Francis lost his cool and flew in two-footed on Ramsey. A deserved red card.

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BIG PICTURE

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SOCIAL SAYS

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

STAR MAN: Olivier Giroud (Arsenal)

Bournemouth: Boruc 5; Francis 6, Cook 7, Ake 7, Daniels 8; Arter 6, Gosling 7, Stanislas 7, Fraser 8; King 6, Wilson 6. Subs: B Smith 5, A Smith 5, Surman 5.

Arsenal: Cech 6; Bellerin 5, Mustafi 6, Koscielny 6, Monreal 6; Coquelin 6, Xhaka 6; Ramsey 6, Iwobi 5, Sanchez 7; Giroud 9. Subs: Perez 7, Oxlade-Chamberlain 7, Gabriel 6.

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WHAT THEY SAID

Arsene Wenger: "We dropped two points but we have to do better in the other games and hope other teams will drop points.

“It was a physical test and a mental test for us. In the end, we were even frustrated not to win the game. You have to acknowledge the performance of Bournemouth.

“Congratulations to them but, as well, it is too uneven to have only two days to rest against a team who had over three days’ rest.”

Olivier Giroud: "I’m pleased to help the team by scoring the equaliser but I’m still disappointed. It’s nice to come back but the way we played at the end, that made me think we should have done better. At least we came back, showed great mental strength and I will take it."