Bournemouth have gone top of the Championship table after beating Cardiff City 5-3 to extend their unbeaten run to 12 games in all competitions in the process.
Ritchie gave Bournemouth the perfect start to an exciting contest at Dean Court by thumping the ball home from inside the area with just 37 seconds on the clock.
It was an exciting start, but Ritchie's second effort of the game was not as precise and the ball went wide.
The hosts looked confident and Simon Francis crossed for Pugh, who controlled the ball before volleying straight at Cardiff keeper David Marshall.
At the other end, a strong run from Craig Noone saw him evade three Cherries players before shooting wide.
Bournemouth's dangerous play warranted a second goal, however, and they got it when Arter slotted home from the edge of the area.
Kenwyne Jones gave Cardiff hope with a nice finish just before the break, but Pugh grabbed a goal moments later to restore Bournemouth's two goal advantage.
The second half began in the same dramatic style as the first as Cardiff pulled a second goal back through Sean Morrison, who headed beyond Artur Boruc after meeting Peter Whittingham's cross.
A neat passing move then culminated in Ritchie shooting wide from the edge of the area as Bournemouth looked to seal the points with a fourth goal.
Substitute Yann Kermorgant was eventually the one to get it after he curled a free kick into the top corner.
Morrison clawed a third goal back for Cardiff, but Bournemouth eventually went home with the points after Callum Wilson secured the win with a goal in the dying moments of the match.
Benjamin Topliss
