What a difference a year makes.
This time 12 months ago Arsenal hadn’t scored a goal in the Premier League, let alone won a game. Now they are top of the table.
It has been a dream start to the season for Mikel Arteta’s side, who swept aside Bournemouth here with a dominant 3-0 victory.
That’s now three wins on the spin from Arsenal and they have not started a season like this for 18 years.
Tougher tests undoubtedly lie ahead, but right now the mood is high at Arsenal and they will want to build on this great start - particularly as their run of upcoming games looks kind.
So much has changed in a year at Arsenal, but this win here underlined how the introduction of three new players has made a huge impact.
A year ago Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko were helping Manchester City run rings around Arsenal during a 5-0 win, however now they are part of a resurgent Gunners team.
They have raised the level of this Arsenal team, both on and off the pitch, and Bournemouth felt the full force of their impact.
Arsenal started at an electric pace down here on the south coast and that was largely thanks to Jesus.
He has added tenacity to Arsenal’s forward line and that much was clear for Arsenal’s opening goal.
Jesus brought down a long ball, barging off his defender and spinning him with ease. From there he skipped past two men, before playing in Gabriel Martinelli. The winger’s shot was saved, but Martin Odegaard made no mistake with the rebound. Jesus was involved in Arsenal’s second minutes later, this time teeing up Odegaard to lash home.
The Brazilian will get plenty of praise for all of that, but Zinchenko was equally impressive. On the teamsheet he is down as a left-back, but that does not do his role justice.
The Ukrainian essentially plays as an auxiliary midfielder and it is impossible to not draw comparisons to the role Joao Cancelo does at Manchester City.
Zinchenko was everywhere, linking Arsenal’s midfield and attack, and it makes you wonder how Kieran Tierney gets into this team. Imagine saying that a year ago.
Last, but by no means least, the introduction of William Saliba has made a huge difference too.
Arsenal fans have had to wait three years to see the Frenchman appear for them and during that time the hype around him, particularly on social media, has been huge. Like Arsenal as a team, he has far tougher tests ahead, however he has started this season so well.
You wondered if the height of Kieffer Moore could faze him here, but the 21-year-old dealt with the Bournemouth striker’s physicality and then excelled on the ball.
His finish for Arsenal’s third summed up his afternoon, as with his wrong foot he curled the ball into the top corner.
A dream ending to a dream start for Arsenal.
