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Mikel Arteta wanted something less stressful than Arsenal’s previous home win Bournemouth and he got his wish. Last March, his team needed 97th-minute goal by Rhys Nelson to complete a wild 3-2 win from down 2-0. Here there was glory in a general sense of comfort and control, Arsenal moving to 83 points, still begging the question of defending champions Manchester City, who kick off against Wolves at 5.30pm.
It wasn’t quite clear; it is rarely the case. Arsenal caught a break at 2-0 when Antoine Semenho’s goal was disallowed on VAR advice for a foul by Dominic Solanke on goalkeeper David Raya.
Solanke looked a lot less than, say, Ben White does with opposition goalkeepers at corners; the centre-forward remained unmoved and Raya’s low volley was deflected onto the crossbar by Ryan Christie before Semenho slotted home. Bournemouth were overwhelmed.
Then a goal could make it interesting. Anyway, Arsenal eased their home team and deservedly so. Bukayo Saka’s controversial penalty was no small reward for their first-half dominance and, if in-form Bournemouth were more threatening after the break, they were second best overall.
Arsenal scored again in the 97thth minute but this time it was just Declan Rice’s gloss for both an excellent individual performance and the result. Leandro Trossar got Arsenal’s second and they aim to finish with two more wins – against Manchester United and Everton – to take them to 89 points; one shy of the Invincibles’ 2003-04 record. Will it be enough to match their title-winning feat?
Arteta’s plan was to watch the City game afterwards and it was fun to imagine him wearing a Wolves shirt, sipping a pint of Banks and singing about Old Gold. He had said on Friday that in his “heart and soul” he was hoping for a City slip-up. However, his focus on the day was only here, on doing what he and Arsenal needed to do.
Bournemouth presented a challenge, especially with Semenho making a Lazarus recovery from the injury he picked up against Brighton last Sunday. Carried out on a stretcher, Andoni Iraola said at the time that he looked unwell. Semenho managed to take his place on the right wing in the coach’s 4-3-3 formation.
It’s not just Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp who dislikes 12.30pm kick-offs. They are just too early. Yet Arsenal burst out of the blocks, doing everything right from the start. They were physical, pressing high, giving Bournemouth no time on the ball. And they were slippery when they had it, their movements were so sharp. Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers has been warned he is in for a busy game.
Bournemouth’s defenders pounced in the face of blows; four times at the beginning of ten minutes, and many more after that. The first half hour was like a siege; Travers prominent. His best save of the period was to keep out Takehiro Tomiyasu’s header at the far post following a corner. There were others, the block from William Saliba and the strike from his right to deflect Thomas Partey’s curler, worthy of mention. Arsenal could also point to a wayward Parti strike when he was well positioned
Bournemouth barely got past the halfway point in the first half, although Arsenal needed Saliba to make a crucial strike against Solanke in the 18th a minute after a mistake by Gabriel Magallias.
Arsenal’s patience and composure were tested, especially after Rice scored in the 38th minute after a Havertz header. Rice had waited too long, allowing the ball to bounce twice. Was it going to be one of those days?
Arsenal didn’t believe it, with Martin Odegaard pulling the strings like a master puppeteer and Saka shrugging off shots – including a strike from Ryan Christie in the 11th minute that was somehow deemed unworthy of a card – to go again and again.
The penalty was light. Kai Havertz just bought it after meeting Ødegaard’s pass and seeing Travers commit. Havertz waited for the contact, leaving his back leg inside to feel it, and when it was there, he went over it. Travers had played with fire with the challenge. Saka’s turning from his seat was preceded by a stutter.
Havertz’s first touch was so easy on the eye; as well as his gambling style. He flashed a threat, bringing on Saka early in the second half; the wing shot weakly to Travers when he should have scored.
Arsenal needed a second goal as Bournemouth dug in in the second half and Solanke struck Raya from a tight angle after Odegaard was robbed. Bournemouth sensed an opportunity in transition. The home crowd worried that the lead was in doubt and roared in encouragement.
Trosar would reassure them. His finish was in the no-nonsense category, heading home after Ødegaard’s pass was deflected in and Rice carved the deft touch for the assist. When Bournemouth were denied by VAR, Arsenal looked home and struck. Ødegaard went close to making it 3-0 as Gabriel saw a screamer cleared for offside on Havertz in the middle after Ødegaard’s cross. Rice would have the last word.
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