More from Mikel Arteta ...
“We started the game really well,” he tells Sky Sports. “We were dominant, precise. The two goals gave us a lot of confidence. Jesus was involved in the goals. His contribution to the team was outstanding. He can still improve his level. He’s got a huge desire to be the best.
“Winning makes life completely different. The atmosphere is good. The unity is incredible. Saliba, [the goal was the] last thing I’d expect.
On last season’s horror-start: “In life difficult experiences make you stronger and make you learn more than good moments. That moment was painful and we don’t want to go through that again.
On the transfer window: “We will try to the end [to sign more players]. The transfer market is tricky. We’d like to do something else. Let’s see what we can do.”
Mikel Arteta speaks ...
“We expected a very difficult game from the beginning after seeing how Bournemouth started against Aston Villa and we wanted to avoid that type of game,” he says in a BBC interview. “We were really efficient in ball possession and in the box.”
On Gabriel Jesus’s wonderful play in the build-up to Arsenal’s opener. “That is something you don’t train,” he says. “He is playing with such talent. He was involved in two of the three goals.” He goes on to say there is plenty of improvement in Arsenal’s play and says his players allowed Bournemouth to get too many crosses into their penalty area in the second half.
Martin Odegaard speaks ...
“It was really solid from start to the end,” he tells Sky Sports. “We came out and dominated, made some good chances and scored some good goals. We know it’s always difficult coming to these places. We have struggled before but we were so sharp and aggressive. It was a good performance from start to finish.”
Arsenal’s captain goes on to praise the contribution of Gabriel Jesus. “He is not just about goals,” he says. “He gives us so much in the play and he drops down to combine. He is brilliant and he is amazing to play with. We are lucky to have him here.”
100% - William Saliba completed all 76 of his pass attempts against Bournemouth; the most passes by an Arsenal defender with a 100% completion rate in a Premier League match (since 2003-04, when this data is available). Immaculate. pic.twitter.com/sIDjbJpJjx
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 20, 2022
3 - Arsenal are the first top-flight side to win their opening three league matches the season after losing their first three since Everton in 1937-38 and 1938-39, with the Toffees going on to win the title in the latter of those seasons. Harbinger? pic.twitter.com/2V6tZLPFTb
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 20, 2022
Full time: Bournemouth 0-3 Arsenal
Peep! Peep! Peeeeeeeeeeeep! It’s all over at the Vitality Stadium, where Arsenal have hammered Bournemouth to record their third consecutive victory and go top of the Premier League at this early stage of the season. They completely outclassed their hosts, who had few answers for them. Maritn Odegaard scored two, while William Saliba added a splendid third to put the game completely beyond Bournemouth. Arguably the man of the match, Gabriel Jesus was outstanding but looked heartbroken to have a goal chalked off for offside after a VAR consultation.
90+4 min: Smith-Rowe tries a shot but Mark Travers saves at his near post. And that’s yer lot – Craig Pawson blows the final whistle.
90+2 min: Bournemouth advance and Adam Smith sends a cross into the penalty area. Kieffer Moore gets between two defenders to steer a downward header goalwards but Aaron Ramsdale gets down to make the save.
90 min: Mark Travers rides to the rescue again, foiling Eddie Nketiah with a fine save after the substitute found himself through on goal and tried to sidefoot home from 12 yards out.
88 min: Arsenal substitution: Albert Sambi Lokonga on for Granit Xhaka, who passes the captain’s armband to Gabriel Jesus, the third man to wear it tonight.
87 min: Gabriel Jesus is played in behind the Bournemouth defence, controls the ball with a wonderful first touch and smashes the ball goalwards. Travers is quick off his line to block with a good save. The flag was up for offside.
86 min: Bournemouth win a free-kick in a good position just outside the Arsenal penalty area but Marcus Tavernier fails to hit the target. He sends the ball skidding a couple of feet wide of the left upright.
81 min: Kieffer Moore arcs a splendid cross into the Arsenal penalty area. Unfortunately for Bournemouth, he’s nowhere near quick enough to get on the end of it and power it past Aaron Ramsdale, as you might expect him to if somebody else had sent in a delivery like that.
79 min: Kieffer Moore brings a smart save out of Aaron Ramsdale with a powerful header from the edge of the penalty area. The ball was going wide but Ramsdale wasn’t taking any chances and tipped it behind for a corner. From that, Bournemouth win another one but Eddie Nketiah clears the ball when it’s sent into the penalty area.
78 min: Granit Xhaka gives the ball away cheaply just outside his own penalty area. Kieffer Moore plays the ball wide to Marcus Tavernier but he scuffs a shot harmlessly wide from a narrow angle.
76 min: Arsenal triple-substitution: Emile Smith-Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Takehiro Tomiyasu come on for Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and Ben White.
No goal! Bournemouth 0-3 Arsenal
Jesus looks distraught but the curtain-twitchers in Stockley Park got their set squares and rulers out and decided he was a couple of millimetres offside as he ran on to Odegaard’s wonderful pass and chipped the ball over Mark Travers.
GOAL! Bournemouth 0-4 Arsenal (Jesus 72)
Arsenal score again. Gabriel Jesus converts from an exquisite Odegaard assist. But was he offside. I think this one is going to be chalked off.
69 min: Martinelli tees himself up with a neat bit of footwork, spinning to volley narrowly wide of the far post.
68 min: Emile Smith-Rowe and Fabio Vieira are warming up on the touchline for Arsenal, while Scott Parker stands in his technical area with his arms folded, impassively chewing gum.
66 min: Ramsdale is forced off his line to punch the ball out for a Bournemouth throw-in. He looked a little uncertain but got enough on the ball to clear any danger.
65 min: Bournemouth substitution: Ryan Christie comes on for Philip Billing, who appears to have picked up a knock.
63 min: “Shall we sing a song for you?” chant the travelling Gooners, riffing on the pain of the silent home fans. They follow up with a rousing rendition of “You’re going down with United!”
62 min: Martinelli gallops deep into the Bournemouth half at great speed but squanders possession after a poor touch.
59 min: Arsenal’s third goal was quite the gut-punch for Bournemouth, coming as it did just as the home side were starting to get a foothold in a game that now looks completely beyond them. Adam Smith gewts booked for a rash challenge on Marintelli, while I forgot to mention a booking picked up by Gabriel Jesus in the 52nd minute.
57 min: Correction: Saliba was just inside the penalty rea when he curled that shot home with laser-like precision. Fun fact: he’s not left-footed, which makes his goal even more special.
55 min: Arsenal’s elegant centre-back opens his goalscoring account with a wonderfully placed shot from outside the penalty area that curled into the top corner off his left foot. He was teed up by Granit Xhaka, following a fine Gabriel Martinelli cross from the right.
GOAL! Bournemouth 0-3 Arsenal (Saliba 54)
Arsenal lead by three and it’s a splendid goal by William Saliba.
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52 min: As Ramsdale went to kick the ball out of his hands, Jaidon Anthony tried to block it. The ball broke in the direction of Lerma, who fired high over the bar. Ramsdale is furioous and believes he should have got a free-kick. I can’t remember that particular law of the game but have a feeling he might be right if Anthony got a touch on his kick-ouit.
51 min: A long throw from Lloyd Kelly is helped on its way by Chris Mepham and Aaron Ramsadale is forced to collect again.
49 min: Bournemouth get a cross into the Arsenal box from the left and Jefferson Lerma rises to try to get his head to it. He doesn’t steer the ball goalwards and Aaron Ramsdale gathers.
48 min: Bournemouth attack down the left flank but Arsenal’s impressive makeshift left-back Ben White sticks out a leg to half their gallop.
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47 min: Centre-back Marcos Senesi and midfielder Ben Pearson have suffered the indignity of being hooked at half-time. They’re replaced by Lewis Cook and Jaidon Anthony.
Second half: Bournemouth 0-2 Arsenal
46 min: Play resumes with Bournemouth having made two changes in personnel, more of which anon.
This must be the best time Arsenal fans have had in years. That Saliba song been going on 10 minutes straight at least! And they get to go to the beach after!
— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) August 20, 2022
Very good half from Arsenal. If you were being greedy you might have wanted one more goal from that dominance but can’t argue at 2-0.
— arseblog (@arseblog) August 20, 2022
Almost total control of the game.
Half-time: Bournemouth 0-2 Arsenal
Peep! The players go in for their half-time refreshments with Arsenal in complete control of an incredibly one-sided game. Martin Odegaard scored both goals in as comprehensive a first-half thrashing as you’re likely to see … unless you watched the game between Brentford and Manchester United last week. With just two goals between the sides, Bournemouth aren’t completely out of but they’ll need to up their game considerably if they are to have any chance of forcing their way back into it. Not even Arsenal can “Arsenal” this up from here, can they?
45 min: Arsenal fans are repeatedly workshopping their new song in homage of William Saliba. It’s not bad.
— Tim Stillman (@Stillberto) August 20, 2022
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44 min: There’s a break in play as Kieffer Moore receives treatment after shipping a stray hand in the face from – I think – Gabriel. It was an accident.
43 min: I’d be interested in hearing Scott Parker’s half-time address to his players. THey’re doing their best but just aren’t good enough to cope with this Arsenal side. There isn’t so much a gulf in class between these sides as a Grand Canyon sized chasm.
41 min: Ben White sends a cross from the right flashing across the face of the Bournemouth goal but there’s nobody on hand to divert it into the back of the net.
39 min: With the home fans silenced, Arsenal’s travelling support are having an absolute ball as they run through their extensive repertoire of chants. While there are some cynics out there who might say happy Gooners are among the most insufferable football fans around, I wouldn’t be among them. Oh no. Not me.
36 min: Philip Billing tries to play Kiefer Moore in behind the Arsenal defence with a weighted ball from deep but William Saliba is alert to the danger and cuts it out.
34 min: Bournemouth finally enjoy a period of sustained possession, holding on to the ball for around 40 seconds before gifting it back to Arsenal.
33 min: Arsenal win another free-kick about 35 yards from the Bournemouth goal, which the home side clear. Marcus Tavernier tries another scamper upfield on the break but runs into traffic and loses the ball.
30 min: It’s a Premier League baptism of fire for Marcos Senesi, who is having a torrid time as Arsenal’s players swarm him. The Argentina international made his debut last week against Manchester City and we can but hope he has been assured that there will be easier games ahead. Next up in the Premier League? Oh look, it’s only Liverpool away.
26 min: In complete control of a game that has the air about it of a well attended passing drill, Arsenal’s players continue to ping the ball about at their leisure. Jordan Zemura gets booked for an over-zealous tackle on Bukayo Saka, giving Arsenal a free-kick in line with the right side of the Bournemouth penalty area. Curling the ball to the far post, Odegaard picks out Granit Xhaka who is unable to connect properly as he tries to slide the ball home.
24 min: Saka barges into Lloyd Kelly down by the corner flag as he chases a pass from Martin Odegaard. Bournemouth win a free-kick and a brief moment of respite.
23 min: The corner is taken and the ball breaks to Sako, who takes a wild swing at it. It cannons off a defender and falls to Marcus Tavernier, who canters upfield on the break. With nobody in support, he doesn’t keep hold of it for long.
22 min: Martinelli takes on and beats Marcos Senesi down the inside left and wins a corner for his team when his scross is blocked.
20 min: Excellent play from Moore, who gets a round of applause from the fans for winning the ball with a robust challenge near the halfway line, then cutting inside with some nifty footwork.
19 min: Bournemouth play it long from the back and Kieffer Moore does well to take the ball down and shake off his man. He runs into traffic and is forced backwards.
17 min: Kieffer Moore wins a free-kick for his side, drawing a foul from Thomas Partey just inside the Bournemouth half.
15 min: Kieffer Moore runs on to a through ball down the middle but is ushered wide towards the touchline by William Saliba. Good defending.
14 min: Arsenal have had 80% of the possession so far and lead 2-0 already. This could be a very long evening for the players of Bournemouth.
The goal stands!
Ben White was not offside as he sprinted up the inside right, received a pass and squared the ball across the face of the Bournemouth penalty area. Gabriel Jesus’s first touch weas a heavy one, but he unwittingly teed up Odegaard, who whipped the ball off the Brazilian’s toes and inside the upright.
GOAL! Bournemouth 0-2 Arsenal (Odegaard 11)
Arsenal double their lead. Odegaard scores again but there’s a VAR check for a Ben White offside in the build-up.
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10 min: Adam Smith dives in to intercept a pass but can only send it straight back to an Arsenal player in a salmon pink shirt.
8 min: The Arsenal fans at the Vitality Stadium are already getting their “ole!” on, cheering each pass as the players they’ve come to encourage ping the ball around between themselves.
6 min: It was brilliant play from Gabriel Jesus, controlling a high ball, knocking Senesi oout of his way and slaloming his way past a couple of defenders before playing Martinelli in behind. His shot from a tight angle was well saved by Travers, but the ball broke to Odegaard, who had the simple task of tapping in.
GOAL! Bournemouth 0-1 Arsenal (Odegaard 5)
Scrap that, they’ve scored. It’s Odegaard with a tap-in after the ball rebounded his way from Mark Travers.
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3 min: Arsenal continue to dominate possession without creating anything in the way of a chance in these very early stages.
2 min: Arsenal dominate possession in these early stages, with Bournemouth struggling to get a touch of the ball. Halfway inside his own half, Ben White almost gets caught in possession by Ben Pearson but holds on to the ball and wins a free-kick.
Bournemouth v Arsenal is go
1 min: Arsenal get the ball rolling, their players wearing black armbands in memory of their head groundsman, Steve Braddock, who has passed away at the age of 58 after a long illness. May he rest in peace.
Not long now: Captains Martin Odegaard and Lloyd Kelly lead the teams out behind referee Craig Pawson and his team of match officials. It’s a splendidly sunny evening on the south coast.
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Those teams: Working on the presumption that if it isn’t broken you shouldn’t fix it, Mikel Arteta names an unchanged team for the third consecutive game. Summer signing Fabio Vieira is on the bench, but Nicolas Pepe is a conspicuous absentee from the match-day squad. Arsenal’s record signing is believed to be off to Nice.
Bournemouth boss Scott Parker makes three changes from the side that got swatted aside by Manchester City. Marcos Senesi makes his full debut, while Jordan Zemura and Philip Billing are recalled. Jack Stacey, Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie drop to the bench.
Bournemouth v Arsenal line-ups
Bournemouth: Travers, Mepham, Senesi, Kelly, Smith, Lerma, Billing, Zemura, Tavernier, Pearson, Moore.
Subs: Cook, Christie, Marcondes, Neto, Stacey, Lowe, Dembele, Hill, Anthony.
Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus.
Subs: Tierney, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Holding, Tomiyasu, Vieira, Sambi Lokonga, Elneny, Turner.
Referee: Craig Pawson (England)
Today’s match officials
Referee: Craig Pawson.
Assistants: Marc Perry and Scott Ledger.
Fourth official: Graham Scott.
VAR: Paul Tierney.
Early team news
Dominic Solanke missed Bournemouth’s defeat at the hands of Manchester City with a foot injury but could return to action today following a late assessment. Midfielder Joe Rothwell and right-back Ryan Fredericks will both miss out. Following his 10-minute long Premier League baptism of fire off ther bench against Manchester City, Argentinian central defender Marcos Senesi could make his full Bournemouth debut today.
Arsenal are without winger Reiss Nelson, while Fabio Vieira is also a doubt but it would be no surprise to see Mikel Arteta to pick the same starting line-up that faced Leicester last weekend.
Premier League: Bournemouth v Arsenal
Having put last season’s nightmare start of three consecutive defeats behind them by opening the current campaign with wins over Crystal Palace and Leicester, Arsenal hope to make it three wins on the spin when they travel to the Vitality Stadium to take on newly promoted Bournemouth.
Uncharacteristically contented and optimistic, Arsenal fans will hope their team wins this game with a minimum of fuss, while remaining well aware that it is exactly the kind of fixture in which they could trip over their own feet. Kick-off on the south coast is at 5.30pm (BST) but stay tuned in the meantime for team news and build-up.
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