Arsenal bounce back against uninspiring Bournemouth

Arsenal were hoping to bounce back from back-to-back defeats to Stoke and Liverpool and Bournemouth were in search of their first points of this Premier League season but it was the hosts who came out on top with a comfortable 3-0 victory.

The game got off to the perfect start for Arsene Wenger’s side, as Danny Welbeck opened the scoring after 6 minutes. Kolasinac drove down the left before crossing for Welbeck, who didn’t get the best of contact on the ball but headed past Begovic to make it 1-0.

The hosts carried on in a positive fashion as they looked to build on their early lead, playing some very nice football as Bournemouth struggled to get a foothold in the game.

Ozil forced Begovic to make a brilliant save from a direct free-kick as Arsenal continued to dominate.

The Gunners doubled their lead through record-signing Alexandre Lacazette on the 27 minute mark. The Frenchman played a quick one-two with Danny Welbeck after a through ball from Ozil, before finding the top right corner from the edge of the box, giving Begovic no chance.

The half finished with Arsenal firmly on top and comfortable, with the Cherries unable to register a shot on or off target with their striker Jermain Defoe an isolated figure up front.

It didn’t take long for Arsenal to extend their lead further and Danny Welbeck got his second goal of the game after 50 minutes. Gosling lost the ball to Ramsey, who advanced goalwards and found Welbeck on the left-hand side of the box and the striker calmly finished across Begovic to make it 3-0.

The England striker then almost secured his hat-trick in audacious fashion. Brimming with confidence, Welbeck took the ball past Cook before attempting to lob Asmir Begovic, but the ball bounced just wide.

With the game already over as a contest Eddie Howe moved Nathan Ake into midfield and the extra man in the middle allowed the away side to get into the game. 

Arsenal had to finish the game with 10 men, having already made three changes as Coquelin hobbled off the pitch with a problem with his knee.

Following the withdrawal of Coquelin, Bournemouth managed their first efforts on target of the match. An effort by Lys Mousset was saved comfortably by Cech before a back-post header from Josh King had to be tipped over by the Arsenal keeper.

Second-half substitutes Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud both forced Begovic into saves before the referee brought an end to proceedings.

It was a positive performance from the Gunners with three goals and a clean sheet, and Wenger will see this as a crucial result as they were able to bounce back from previous disappointment with a trip to Stamford Bridge to follow next Sunday.

Bournemouth, on the other hand, start the season with four successive defeats and the uninspiring nature of the performance will worry Eddie Howe. It is still very early in the season but he will target serious improvement if his side is going to stay in the Premier League, having managed just one goal in four games.