Arsenal extended their unbeaten start to ten matches in all competitions with a 4-0 victory over Bournemouth. The German midfielder scored a second-half penalty, while Bukayo Saka contributed with a rare headed goal. Martin Odegaard also netted from 12 yards earlier in the game. The win also marks Arsenal’s continued streak of not conceding a goal in their away games.
Bournemouth, who were winless in their opening six league games, initially played with confidence despite their lowly position. However, William Saliba‘s well-timed sliding tackle denied Dominic Solanke an early goal for the hosts. Arsenal then took control as Gabriel Jesus hit the post with a header, allowing Saka to nod the ball into the net. This marked only the second headed goal in Saka’s senior career.
The goal settled Arsenal down and increased their possession. Odegaard nearly capitalized on the space outside the box with a threaded pass to Jesus, resulting in a corner and a shot saved by Neto. Arsenal continued to dominate possession, leading to their second goal when Max Aaron‘s sliding challenge brought down Nketiah in the penalty area. Odegaard confidently converted the penalty, giving Arsenal a comfortable two-goal lead at halftime.
In the second half, Odegaard remained influential with another penetrating run inside the area. He was fouled by Ryan Christie , resulting in another penalty. This time, Saka handed the ball to Kai Havertz, who confidently scored his first goal for Arsenal. The team celebrated after the goal, demonstrating their camaraderie and support for Havertz.
The victory allowed Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to make several substitutions and give playing time to other players. Emile Smith Rowe nearly added a fifth goal, but Neto made a great save. In injury time, Ben White scored a fourth goal for Arsenal with a headed effort from Odegaard’s free-kick.
Arsenal now looks forward to their Champions League match against Lens and a game against Manchester City before the international break. Arteta praised his team’s performance and highlighted their empathy and support for their teammate Kai Havertz, who scored his first goal for the club. The manager emphasized the importance of building a culture and environment where players support each other, and he expressed gratitude to the supporters for their unwavering support.
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