Match Report – Match Highlights – Player Ratings – Post-Match Press Conference
Final Result: Bournemouth 0-4 Arsenal (Saka 17′, Odegaard 44′, Havertz 53′, White 93′)
Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; Zinchenko (Tomiyasu 69′), Saliba, Gabriel, White; Rice (Jorginho 81?), Havertz (Smith Rowe 81?), Odegaard; Saka (Vieira 76?), Jesus, Nketiah (Nelson 69?)
Following the midweek exertions of the EFL Cup, Mikel Arteta’s press conference prior to the Bournemouth didn’t inspire much confidence but Arsenal fans were very elated to see William Saliba, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka on the pitch. Even the Leandro Trossard who was a doubt made a cozy spot for himself on the bench.
The rest of the team picked itself, with David Raya starting ahead of Aaron Ramsdale, further confirming that he’s now the goalkeeper of choice in the Premier League, unless the gaffer sees the need to shake things up in the foreseeable future. Gabriel Jesus continued featuring from the left wing, allowing Eddie Nketiah another runout in the middle.
Arsenal took control from the onset with Raya locating Oleksandr Zinchenko with a cross field ball that instigated an attack. Zinchenko located Saka who fed an overlapping Ben White but his cut back was dealt with rather easily by the Bournemouth defense. Jesus showed some good movement and teed up Kai Havertz at the edge of the box whose first time shot hit the side netting.
Arsenal’s incessant pressure finally paid off when Martin Odegaard sent a brilliant swung effort to Jesus whose header clipped the post and fell kindly to Saka that headed the ball home from point blank range. He had a similar effort against Fulham earlier this season, so it was good to see the English winger put this one into the back of the net. Odegaard was pulling all the strings and saw the run of Nketiah before dinking a sumptuous pass to the young forward’s path, but Nketiah wasn’t in the same wavelength with his captain.
Nketiah continued his all action play and showed good pace to move the ball ahead of Illya Zabarnyi, and won a penalty for his side after the Ukrainian defender scythed him down. Saka picked up the ball to do his thing, but passed the ball to his captain on his request, just like the Crystal Palace game. Odegaard took the spot kick in Saka’s stead and dispatched it.
Bournemouth’s first foray forward came from some passing play involving Justin Kluivert and Ryan Christie, but the latter’s shot was saved and smothered by Raya on the second attempt. Odegaard was on the end of a mistimed tackle in the box, leaving the ref no choice but to point to the spot again. Again, Saka picked up the ball and was set to dispatch it, but after a momentary break, it was decided that Havertz would take the spot kick. The much-maligned German picked his spot and placed it past Neto to score his first Arsenal goal, much to the delight of his teammates, as expressed by Rice and the manager after the game.
Saka suffered another knock and was taken out for Fabio Vieira, who created two big chances for Jesus that weren’t finished. Smith Rowe came on in the closing stages for Havertz and had two chances to score but Neto made himself big. However, the Bournemouth keeper couldn’t do enough to stop White’s header going past him right at the death.
Arsenal’s win coupled with Manchester City’s loss at Wolves meant that next week’s clash with the defending champions would be a title challenging six-pointer, but Arteta has the Champions League to think about before shifting gears to Premier League action next week.
The good form continues and Arsenal will take solace from a very good start to the new campaign. However, the game against Bournemouth was complete and utter domination.
Sayonara.
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