Arsenal surged to the top after comprehensive win at Bournemouth

William Saliba wheels off in celebrations after firing home the third and final goal at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday. Arsenal won 3-0. (Photo credit; Sky Sports)

Arsenal beat AFC Bournemouth on Saturday to move to the summit of the premier league and maintained their perfect start to the season, something they haven’t done since the 2004/2005 season which was their historic unbeaten era.

Mikel Arteta stuck to the same line up for three straight games for the first time in his Arsenal career but there was space on the bench for new signing Fabio Vieira. Bournemouth came into the game with a strong home record and the Cherries needed to put last weekend’s result at City behind them.

Arsenal needed only five minutes to get on the score sheet. Gabriel Danced through the Cherries defenders and set up Gabriel Martinelli, the latter fired one on target but goalkeeper Travers could only parry it into the directions of Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard and the Norwegian made no mistakes.

One became two not long afterwards from a similar interchange but from the right this time. Bukayo Saka fed Ben White and the England defender sent one in to the area; Gabriel Jesus controlled but before he could put his laces to it, Odegaard stole it from his boots and the outcome was the same.

Bournemouth didn’t smell the Arsenal goal all half long and not much changed in the second half. Arsenal made it three not long after halftime with William Saliba making up for last weekend’s own goal with a brilliant finish from the edge of the box.

It was off a set piece from the right. A well flighted ball into the Bournemouth area met Granit Xhaka, the Swiss set up Saliba cleanly with no one closing him down and the Frenchman lofted the ball home past Travers in the Bournemouth goal for his first goal in Arsenal shirt and only his second professional goal.

Both sides went on quietly from there on but it was Arsenal that threatened more. Gabriel Jesus had the ball in the net but it was correctly ruled offside with replays showing the Brazilians moved a bit too early as the game ended 3-0.

Arsenal are currently top and can only be usurped by Manchester City if the champions win by more than a goal margin against Newcastle. Arsenal have now scored nine goals in three games, it took them nine games to achieve that last season.