Bournemouth 0-4 Arsenal: Odegaard & Havertz's penalties secure a win for Gunners

As Kai Havertz staggered his run-up upon approaching the penalty spot, time itself had frozen.

Match Report

Martin Odegaard had been hacked to the ground by Ryan Christie, referee Michael Salisbury pointing to the spot. Bukayo Saka was readying himself to take the penalty, before Havertz emerged from the background.

Arsenal were already 2-0 up by this point, the game tightly wrapped up. Yet, as Havertz stepped up to coolly slot the ball into the bottom-left corner, one could see the relief drain from the German’s body as he jogged towards the away end swamped by team-mates.

They knew, too, the significance was far wider than going three goals up against Bournemouth. The gesture signified what this Gunners side have become: a totality of all its parts.

Unbeknown to them, Manchester City were being beaten by Wolves. That ended 2-1, meaning Arsenal can go top of the league if they were to overcome their foes next weekend. A significant afternoon so early in the season, which may be looked back upon in months to come.

A goal for Havertz and Man City losing on the same day would have been a dream Mikel Arteta could only have wished for in the morning, the betting odds surely off the charts.

Havertz’s struggles since moving to the Gunners have been well-noted, the zero goals and assists in nine games adding to that. It was this goal that could prove to be the turning point.

In both the first two goals Eddie Nketiah was involved, his pace and confidence to drive at the Bournemouth backline bearing fruits for his side. A further reminder to those who have doubted the striker’s place in a side with title ambition.

Prior to the match, many had assumed Arteta would have no choice but to field a side dissimilar to the prior league games.

In Friday’s press conference, Arteta had alluded to injuries to a number of first-team starters, including Declan Rice, Saka and William Saliba.

Yet they all started. Not the first time, nor the last, Arteta will seek to confuse with team news.

The starting line-up was, though, stronger than expected with fixtures against Champions League opponents Lens and Man City coming up next week.

It is the latter game which is already so crucial to their league campaign. An unbeaten start from their 10 matches thus far.

For Bournemouth, they remain winless in 10 Premier League matches — the longest ongoing run of any current top-flight side. A rather concerning start for Andoni Iraola.

Arsenal’s opener came in an unorthodox fashion. Odegaard’s cross fell to Gabriel Jesus, his header from the box’s edge rebounding off the bar to Saka. He nodded the ball into the ground, into an open net.

A third consecutive game in which Saka has scored, in his 87th consecutive Premier League appearance. A truly remarkable feat in a career going in only one direction.

From the sheer number of challenges which clatter into the winger’s legs week after week, it is no wonder some joke his body must be reinforced by metal.

The Gunners notched another before half-time. Oleksandr Zinchenko’s through ball on the left wing reached Nketiah, the striker sprinting towards goal and felled by Max Aarons.

Aarons was nowhere near the ball. Odegaard stepped up and sent goalkeeper Neto the wrong way.

It spoiled an otherwise solid first-half showing by Aarons, who had made headway towards goal with incisive runs down the right flank.

Earlier in the half, William Saliba was required for a last-ditch tackle on an onrushing Dominic Solanke after Kai Havertz ceded possession.

The challenge was timed to perfection. Gabriel pulled one of his own out in just before the break, blocking Solanke’s goalbound shot in the box.

Within eight minutes of the second half, Arsenal scored their third after an awful challenge by Christie on Odegaard.

Nketiah had a shot whistle past the post minutes later, while for the Cherries Luis Sinisterra’s introduction from the bench added a renewed attacking threat for the home side.

Both he and fellow substitute Dango Ouattra willed their team forward.

Jesus had a shot go wide, and Emile Smith Rowe should have scored when one-on-one with goalkeeper Neto soon after his introduction in the 81st minute.

But Odegaard notched another assist in injury-time, Ben White scoring a header. A clean-sheet, three goals and City losing. A perfect day for those of an Arsenal disposition.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start

10' CHANCE! Havertz's shot wide out

15' GOAL! Bournemouth 0-1 Arsenal (Saka)

33' Yellow Card! Havertz booked

44' Penalty Goal! Bournemouth 0-2 Arsenal (Martin Ødegaard)

53' Penalty Goal! Bournemouth 0-3 Arsenal (Havertz)

67' CHANCE! Nketiah's shot wide out

76' Injured Saka replaced by Fabio Vieira

Line-ups

Bournemouth XI: Neto, Ryan Christie, Solanke, Lewis Cook, Billing, Marcus Tavernier, Kluivert, Marcos Senesi, Aarons, Ilya Zabarnyi, Milos Kerkez

Subs: Smith, Joe Rothwell, Kieffer Moore, Brooks, Radu, Luis Sinisterra, Hamed Junior Traorè, Antoine Semenyo, Dango Ouattara

Arsenal XI: Zinchenko, David Raya, Martin Ødegaard, Jesus, Rice, Gabriel, Havertz, Ben White, Nketiah, William Saliba, Saka

Subs: M.Elneny, Trossard, Jorginho, Tomiyasu, Nelson, Ramsdale, Smith Rowe, Jakub Kiwior, Fábio Vieira