Kai Havertz scored his first Arsenal goal in a comfortable 4-0 Premier League win over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
In his 10th appearance in all competitions since joining from Chelsea for £65m in the summer, Havertz calmly slotted home a penalty to give his side a 3-0 lead eight minutes into the second half after Martin Odegaard had been recklessly brought down by Ryan Christie (53).
Havertz has struggled to make an impact since moving across London but Mikel Arteta believes the midfielder’s first club goal since March could prove to be a turning point in his Arsenal career.
Kai Havertz scored his first Arsenal goal on his 10th appearance
“We have all tried to give him support and the right tools. He’s doing so many great things. It was about that moment, that was the question that had to be answered and he has done it,” Gunners boss Arteta said.
“It will change everything. After everything he’s been through in the last few weeks that moment is worth all of it, so I’m really happy for him.”
Bukayo Saka, who was injured late in the game, had earlier headed Arsenal in front from close range (17) before Odegaard scored a spot-kick of his own just before the break (44). Ben White’s header in stoppage time (90+3) then capped a routine victory for the visitors on the south coast.
The result kept Arsenal unbeaten in the Premier League this season and moved them to within one point of leaders Manchester City, who lost at Wolves. Bournemouth remain winless and dropped into the relegation zone after Luton beat Everton.
How Arsenal eased past Bournemouth
Arteta was able to call on a number of players who were injury doubts ahead of the trip to the Vitality Stadium as William Saliba, Declan Rice and Saka all started despite missing the majority of training leading into the game.
Saka, though, hobbled off for the second match in succession having injured a foot against Tottenham in last weekend’s thrilling north London derby draw.
Bournemouth had started the game brightly but Arsenal quickly took control. Havertz saw a shot deflected narrowly wide before Saka put the Gunners ahead by nodding into an empty goal after Gabriel Jesus’ header came back off the post and into the path of the England winger.
Saka’s strike deflated the Cherries and, after Oleksandr Zinchenko stung the palms of Neto, they fell further behind when Odegaard stroked home a penalty following Max Aarons’ clear foul on Eddie Nketiah.
Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka also scored for Arsenal on the south coast
Bournemouth did test David Raya at the end of the first half through Christie, but Arteta’s side picked up where they left off after the break and soon put the result beyond doubt when Havertz, without a goal or assist in his first nine Arsenal appearances, made no mistake from 12 yards.
The Germany international was mobbed by his team-mates as his name rang out from the away section before White’s well-timed header from an Odegaard free-kick made it 4-0 deep into stoppage time.
The only sour note for Arsenal came when Saka hit the deck in pain after a coming together with Milos Kerkez in the second half. The 22-year-old initially played on but limped off the pitch in the 76th minute.
With a Champions League trip to Lens on Tuesday and a home match against Manchester City in the Premier League next Sunday – live on Sky Sports – Arteta will desperately hope Saka’s injury is just a minor one.
Saka gave Arsenal the lead but was later substituted due to injury
Arteta hails ’empathy’ of Arsenal players
Mikel Arteta hailed the “empathy” of his Arsenal players after they gave Havertz the chance to end his goal drought for the club.
Havertz is not Arsenal’s regular penalty taker but was handed the ball by his team-mates after Odegaard had been fouled by Christie in the second half.
“I’m really happy for the win, but I’m even happier to be part of a team that shows the human qualities that they did today,” Arteta said.
“Without me telling them anything, to show that empathy to a player that has some question marks to resolve externally, they warmed me even more. They’ve done it in a really natural way.
“To show that level of empathy and understanding, worrying and caring for somebody is just great.
“I’m delighted they made that decision. And so thankful as well to our supporters for the way they sang his name and made him feel. If there’s a player who deserves that it’s Kai Havertz, I’m so happy for him.”
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Mikel Arteta was delighted with Arsenal’s performance and the way his players showed ’empathy’ towards Kai Havertz
Iraola: The worst Bournemouth have played all season
Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola said: “It was the first time we were not at the level the competition required and we did not finish the game well.
“For sure this game leaves the worst sensation for me. You can lose against this type of team because they are really good, but it is the first game this season where I have felt that we were not at the level.
“You have to be at your best to compete against these teams and we weren’t after the first goal. We cannot concede two penalties and also the first goal is a bit strange, we should be there but we lost the positioning of Saka.
“We started really well, were doing well but after 1-0 I think they were better than us.”
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Andoni Iraola described Bournemouth’s display as their worst of the season
How the match played out
Fantasy Premier League stats
Opta stats: Arsenal shining but Cherries struggling
- Arsenal have won their opening three away games in a top-flight campaign for just the fourth time (also in 1930-31, 2004-05 and 2013-14). It’s the first time they’ve done so without conceding a single goal.
- Bournemouth have failed to win any of their last 11 Premier League games (D3 L8), the longest ongoing winless run of any current top-flight side.
- Arsenal have kept 13 away clean sheets in the Premier League since the start of last season, five more than any other team.
- Bukayo Saka has either scored (five) or assisted (two) in seven of his last eight Premier League appearances for Arsenal. He’s also netted against 22 of the 24 sides he has faced in the competition with the only exceptions being Leicester (six games) and Burnley (five games).
- Kai Havertz scored his first goal for Arsenal (10th game), netting for the first time in 21 club appearances across all competitions since March.
What’s next?
Bournemouth‘s next assignment is a Premier League clash with Everton at Goodison Park on October 7 (kick-off 3pm). The Cherries then host Wolves in the league two weeks later on October 21 (kick-off 3pm).
Sunday 8th October 4:00pm
Kick off 4:30pm
Up next for Arsenal is a trip to Lens in the Champions League on Tuesday (kick-off 8pm). The Gunners then return to Premier League action next Sunday when they host champions Manchester City, live on Sky Sports (kick-off 4.30pm).