Arsenal 3-0 Bournemouth

Danny WelbeckImage source, Getty Images
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Danny Welbeck has now scored three Premier League goals this season, one more than he scored in all of last season

Danny Welbeck scored twice as Arsenal returned to winning ways and condemned winless Bournemouth to a fourth successive defeat.

The Gunners came into the game on the back of two costly defeats by Stoke and Liverpool, but made the perfect start when Welbeck headed them in front after six minutes.

Record signing Alexandre Lacazette doubled the lead on 27 minutes, bending a shot past Asmir Begovic from the edge of the area.

Welbeck than added a third just after half-time, scoring from a tight angle into Begovic's far corner.

Alexis Sanchez, who was close to joining Manchester City on transfer deadline day, started the day on the bench, but came on for Welbeck with 15 minutes remaining.

The Cherries failed to register an attempt in the first half and Jermain Defoe's header against the post after half-time was the best it got for the visitors.

Arsenal were reduced to 10 men for the final 10 minutes, when substitute Francis Coquelin was forced off with a hamstring injury but Bournemouth failed to take advantage.

Eddie Howe's side are only off the bottom of the Premier League on goal difference and have lost their opening four games in a season for only the third time.

Gunners find home comforts

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Arsenal 3-0 Bournemouth: Alexis Sanchez told me he is focused - Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger's side were woeful in a 4-0 defeat at Anfield two weeks ago, which followed a 1-0 loss at Stoke.

Then came the final week of the transfer window, which saw a failed bid for Monaco's Thomas Lemar and left the club clinging on to Sanchez, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain signed for Liverpool.

The home fans needed a performance and were treated to a clinical one as the Gunners cruised against a poor Bournemouth side.

Wenger set up his team with a back three of Laurent Koscielny, Shkodran Mustafi and Nacho Monreal, who restricted the visitors to just two shots on target in the whole game.

Wing-back Sead Kolasinac led the attacking efforts in the first half, getting forward at every opportunity and providing the cross for Welbeck's opener.

Image source, Opta
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Sead Kolasinac stuck to his task on the left of Arsenal's attack and defence

Almost half of Arsenal's play came down the left side of the pitch in the first 45 minutes, while right wing-back Hector Bellerin was crucial to the second half, running down his wing on the counter-attack, tipping the balance in favour of the right.

Mesut Ozil, Granit Xhaka and Ramsey all played like they had a point to prove, while Welbeck and Lacazette started to show signs of a handy partnership.

Such was the performance that Wenger did not need to introduce Sanchez until late in the game and when he did come on, the Chilean looked desperate to get on the scoresheet.

"Sanchez will win the fans back, and win them back very quickly," Wenger said.

The loss of Coquelin on 81 minutes might have usually caused some anxious moments, but Arsenal saw out the game in a professional manner.

Cherries' performance a cause for concern

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Arsenal defeat is a real disappointment - Howe

"You can get bad results in the Premier League, but when you don't have performances, that's where concerns creep in," Howe said.

The Cherries' performance was definitely found wanting at the Emirates.

Howe's side had been only narrowly beaten by Manchester City two weeks ago, with Raheem Sterling scoring a 97th-minute winner.

But they were barely in the game against Arsenal.

The Cherries have become only the ninth team to lose their opening four games in a Premier League season, although four of the previous eight have managed to avoid relegation.

In defence they toiled against Arsenal's attack, looking unorganised - their efforts summed up when Begovic made a mess of Tyrone Mings' backpass, almost allowing Welbeck and then Lacazette another opening.

They had Begovic to thank for keeping the scoreline respectable, saving a curling Ozil free-kick in the first-half and a good stop from a Giroud shot in the second half.

The real worry for Howe will be his side's attack, with the team having scored just one league goal this season.

England striker Defoe had just one touch inside the Gunners' box all game and managed just 16 touches in total.

Joshua King, who scored 16 league goals last season, was restricted to just one shot on target.

The most worrying statistic of all is that Bournemouth did not have their first shot on target until the 85th minute.

Man of the match - Danny Welbeck

Image source, EPA
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There were two goals and an assist for the England striker, who also scored against Malta in this month's World Cup qualifier

What they said

Bournemouth striker Jermain Defoe: "A disappointing performance, we are not happy. We can give so much more than that.

"The next game is massive for us. We believe we can perform. It is not for the want of trying, we prepare right. Sometimes when your confidence is low nothing seems to go your way and hopefully it will turn.

"We have to be men and stand up and be counted. We can only do it together."

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe: "That was nowhere near where we need to be.

"We are not creating chances, we are giving up too many chances and we are not passing the ball well."

The stats you need to know - Lacazette's quick start

  • Arsenal have won their last seven Premier League games at the Emirates, their longest such run at home since April 2015 (nine successive wins).

  • Lacazette became only the second Arsenal player to score in his first two home Premier League games for the club, after Marouane Chamakh in 2010.

  • Welbeck has scored three goals in four Premier League games this season, having scored just two in 16 appearances in the competition last term.

  • This was only the second time Danny Welbeck has both scored and provided an assist in a Premier League game for Arsenal, with the other being at Aston Villa in September 2014.

  • Kolasinac has delivered two assists in his three league games for Arsenal so far, with both being provided for Welbeck.

  • The Gunners have won by at least a two-goal margin in all four of their previous home meetings with Bournemouth in all competitions.

What's next?

Arsenal venture into the Europa League, hosting German side FC Koln on Thursday, before a game at Premier League champions Chelsea next Sunday.

Bournemouth will hope to bounce back at home to Premier League new boys Brighton on Friday.

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