Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger describes his side's 1-0 win over West Brom after a late Olivier Giroud header as "not easy mentally" following back-to-back Premier League defeats.

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud heads a late winner as the Gunners end a run of two league defeats with victory over a stubborn West Brom.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte praises his players after a 3-0 win over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge extends their "fantastic" run to 12 consecutive Premier League wins.

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe says his team were "well in the game" for long periods despite eventually losing 3-0 at Chelsea.

Chelsea are cruising at home to Bournemouth, but the away side have actually had more possession than their lofty hosts, now nine points clear at the top of the league (with Liverpool still to play later of course). 

The Cherries have been neat, tidy and maybe too nice? 

Harry Arter, Jack Wilshere and Adam Smith each had 100% passing accuracy in the first half, but that's now dropping south of 90% as Eddie Howe's side begin to realise they must take more risks.

Image source, Opta

Arsenal have had nearly 80% possession, 16 attempts on goal, but still there's no way past Ben Foster in the West Brom goal.

Image source, Opta

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You can't win the league at Christmas. But you can open up a nine-point gap. And Chelsea are on the way to doing exactly that. 

Nick Clohessy: West Brom, with all the adventure of plain toast made in a toaster that takes 20 seconds too long every single time.

Scotty: Slow, boring and predicatable. Same old really. #Arsenal

Arsenal very much the team on top - nearly 80% possession for the home side. 

But the Gunners and West Brom are equal on shots on target - one apiece so far.

That's still the case after Alex Iwobi's effort is blocked by Claudio Yacob. The Baggies midfielder is a one-man wall at the moment.

Image source, Opta

Tor Noppharat: Dunno whether that was intentional by Pedro. But it was a really nice Christmas present!

Steve Howes: Pedro, beautifully worked goal with bournemouth trying to smother defence

Deldude: One word for Pedro's goal genius 

I'm never normally a fan of the short corner but Chelsea worked one especially well for their goal. Cesc Fabregas (4) took it short and then quickly found himself on the edge of the area to find goalscorer Pedro (11) with a lovely little pass through. Deadlock, broken. 

Image source, Opta

What do Chelsea do when Diego Costa is suspended? Well, you might imagine that they would play Michy Batshuayi in a straight swap, but they haven't.

Instead Eden Hazard (10), Pedro (11) and Willian (22) are all flitting about in a very fluid front three. It's been pretty - but also pretty ineffective so far. 

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Chelsea replace suspended pair N'Golo Kante and Diego Costa with Cesc Fabregas and Pedro.

Fabregas partners Nemanja Matic in the centre of midfield while Pedro joins Willian and Eden Hazard in attack.

Chelsea XI: Courtois, Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill, Moses, Fabregas, Matic, Alonso, Willian, Hazard, Pedro.

Image source, BBC Sport

Nathan Ake is ineligible to face his parent club and Bournemouth make two other changes from last week's defeat by Southampton.

Andrew Surman, Dan Gosling and Brad Smith come in to the team, with Marc Pugh and Callum Wilson making way.

Bournemouth XI: Boruc, Adam Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Brad Smith, Arter, Surman, Gosling, Wilshere, King.

Image source, BBC Sp

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud makes his first league start of the season as he comes in for forward Theo Walcott, who does not make the bench. Left-back Kieran Gibbs replacing Nacho Monreal is the only other change by Gunners boss Arsene Wenger from the team that were beaten by Manchester City last time out. 

Arsenal XI: Cech, Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Gibbs, Coquelin, Xhaka, Sanchez, Ozil, Iwobi, Giroud.  

Image source, #bbcfootball

West Brom boss Tony Pulis makes one change from the defeat by Manchester United last time out as centre-back Jonny Evans comes in for Jonas Olsson.

West Brom XI: Foster, Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Nyom, Yacob, Fletcher, Phillips, Chadli, Brunt, Rondon.

Image source, #bbcfootball

Simon Brotherton
Match of the Day commentator

Chelsea are hoping history repeats itself this season, because every other time they've been top of the Premier League at Christmas, they've gone on to win it.

Antonio Conte's team are clear at the summit thanks to a stunning run of 11 wins in a row. One more against Bournemouth will set a new club record.

Image source, Reuters

As you cast a final eye over your fantasty selections consider this:

There will be no Boxing Day goals for Diego Costa this year. Guaranteed.  

The in-form striker is suspended and he will be missed. Costa has scored 13 of Chelsea's 35 Premier League goals this season. In addition, the former Atletico Madrid forward has provided five assists.

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13 December: Everton away lost 1-2

18 December: Man City away lost 1-2

26 December: West Brom home?

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Steve Wilson
Match of the Day commentator

On current form it's possible that West Brom could finish higher than in any season since 1981.

They've scored three or more goals in four league games already: that's rather like the quiet bloke from Quantity Surveying arriving at the office party in a low-cut sparkly number with slingback heels and a Chihuahua puppy in his handbag. Surprising.

Image source, Getty Images