Mikel Arteta was delighted with the way his side dominated Bournemouth, particularly in the first half, as Arsenal ran out 3-0 winners to temporarily restore a four-point lead at the top of the table.
Despite an impressive performance, the win wasn’t without controversy. Kai Havertz won a hotly disputed penalty, converted by Bukayo Saka, in the closing stages of the first half and, after Leandro Trossard had doubled the advantage, the visitors had a goal ruled out for a foul on David Raya, checked by VAR, just as they threatened to make life difficult.
The Gunners added a deserved gloss to proceedings in stoppage time when the indefatigable Declan Rice fired home after good work by substitute Gabriel Jesus.
“I thought we started the game [with] probably the best first half that we played all season,” Arteta told his post-game press conference.
“I think we were unbelievable, everything flowed, we were super composed on the ball, really aggressive without the ball, we generated so many chances and could have scored three, four, five easily. And we didn’t.
“We scored one and then credit to Bournemouth as well. They changed a few things, they created us some issues and the game became a little bit more open, something that we wanted to avoid.
“But within that game as well we resolved certain situations in the right way and we were very efficient in front of goal to score the goals and maintain another clean sheet.”
Asked about nerves in the second half, Arteta continued: “Yes, at one-nil against the quality of the opponents we played, you have to navigate through those moments and we knew that.
“If you score two, three, four in the first half, obviously that’s a different game. We didn’t, so you don’t, so you better be so good at managing those moments.”
Asked about some of the key decisions made by the opponents, which included the failure to award a red card to Ryan Christie for reckless challenge on Bukayo Saka, the manager took the easy way out.
“The honest answer is I haven’t seen any of the incidents because I knew you were going to ask me. So I did it on purpose.
“The analyst said, do you want to watch it? And I said, ‘no’, because then I’m going to tell the truth.
“I haven’t seen them, so I cannot comment. I can’t have an impression. The one on David [Raya], the foul, I cannot see because it’s too far.
“On the one on Bukayo, is that on purpose or not? I don’t know. So difficult for me to judge.”
On the Havertz incident he added: “I was happy when I saw the decision, very happy. And I was happier when Bukayo scored the goal. Kai is not someone that dives, but I haven’t seen the image.”
All eyes now turn to Manchester City’s match against Wolves. Arteta confirmed he’ll be watching: “Yes, I’ll be there sitting with my kids and my family. In pyjamas, comfy pyjamas.”
It is all about getting the three points during this time of the season. Ferguson, Pep, Mourinho (to some extent)did it consistently well.
I have a weird feeling that the Hammers will help us win the title at City’s stadium.
Regardless, firstly should have 100% focus onto the next one now – the wankers from the North.
That Havertz dive was just delicious. And so in character. Infuriating for any non-arsenal person.
I watched it about 10 times. It looked like a genuine trip to me–the keeper’s leg was fully across his path, and it would have been difficult (not impossible) for Havertz to have avoided it. And to avoid it, he would have to have changed his path, which was towards the goal. If the keeper’s leg isn’t there, Havertz has a clear path to the goal with full control. So not only not a dive, but because it was a foul that likely prevented a goal, not a “soft” penalty at all.
I love you and I love Havertz but he dragged that trailing leg into the GK. He could have 100% avoided that contact. You can even see his toe kicking up the dirt as he drags it, like an excavator. That said, it’s not cheating to elicit contact, and the best players all do it, some just have a knack for making it look convincing (Cough * Harry Kane). That little bit of gamesmanship if you want to call it that made a big difference in this game. To me though it’s hard to get too mad about it because… Read more »
Yes. Instead of holding his leg back he should have brought it through, come down full force on the ‘keeper’s leg and broken it in two.
Then it would have been fair.
Sarcasm aside, I think if he stays on his feet there he scores. He’s clear of the keeper and a lot of goal to aim at on his left foot.
Seriously, watch it again. Harvertz never “drags” or “trails” his back leg–but yes, he could have made an effort to hop over it, at the risk of losing control of the ball. It is not a situation where the keeper’s outstretched leg is at the edge of the attacker’s path–it is fully across it.
Now that I have read Travers’ comment, I am even more sure:
“Havertz is coming in to try and score, if he shoots first time, you’re just trying to make a save, I’m not thinking about Havertz, am I going to tackle him, I’m just trying to make myself big, trying to make a save.”
Exactly–if Travers gets the ball with his leg and then Havertz trips over it, it is brilliant goalkeeping. If he misses the ball entirely and Havertz trips over the extended leg, it is a foul.
Said to my brother (we were at the match).
He’s a cunt, but by god he’s our cunt.
I want to know what pyjamas I need to get
Plain black, neck to toe.
‘May the 4th be with you’ turned out to be a good wish.
I don’t think it was Bournemouth’s plan to play so defensively in the first half; I think the Arsenal attack was just too strong for them. That’s not how they play–the second half was much more characteristic. The way they were driven back, with every successful defensive play by them resulting in an immediate new threat, reminded me of the extraordinary pressure that Liverpool, at their best, put on teams at Anfield.
Exactly right. We figured out their press and they couldn’t figure out ours. Thus, PL season high 11 first half shots.
I know it’s unrelated..but guess what Arsenal and Sp*rs have in common…goal difference and points🤣🤣🤣🤣
I thought Tomi got fouled when trying to clear the ball right before Bournemouth put it in the net. Not 100% sure as they didn’t replay it in slow motion a thousand times like they did the other part of the play.
But in real time it looked like he got knocked down while trying to clear the ball. If he doesn’t get knocked down there, the ball is cleared and they never even get the opportunity to bump into Raya and put the ball in.
Think their goal to make it 2-1 absolutely should have stood – I’ve got no idea what it was ruled out for and we would all be claiming referee bias if we had it disallowed.
Havertz penalty is different – I don’t think that kind of ‘foul’ should result in a penalty but the fact is that in the Premier League it has done for the last decade. It was therefore the correct decision from the referee, although if they wanted to change the rule in summer I would welcome it.
You’re incorrect. Our goalkeeper was pushed from under the ball in his own area. Even if the contact is small, it’s enough to be deemed a foul.
Dead on. I reckon the only reason Raya makes that despairing, half-arsed punch, is ‘cos he’s been shoved away from claiming the ball properly.
Also, the OTT hands in the air, “not me ref” performance from the fouling player is a bit of a giveaway.
Agreed, but what was annoying about it was that the ref only blew for the foul after the ball was in the net.There was quite a gap between Solanke fouling Raya and the ball being in the net. If the ref thought the former was a foul in the first place, why not blow the whistle and call it straight away, instead of waiting for the ball to be in the back of the net then call it? Spares everyone the interminable VAR delay and nips any controversy in the bud. Maybe he needed a couple of seconds to think… Read more »
Change the rules how? Cracking down on players seeking/exaggerating contact in the box to win a penalty is fraught because intent is impossible to judge. There are so many ways contact can occur between players, it’s impossible to legislate for them all. These decisions are inherently subjective, we have to accept that. Better to be consistent in how the existing rules are applied especially within a game, but also from game to game and season to season as much as possible.
That first half was as superior as we’ve looked all season, especially against a well coached team with one of the better out of possession structures in the league in 2024. I think they rank 5th during that time in intensity and forcing high turnovers and their results have been good as a consequence. We made that press look average today. Conversely, they couldn’t get out of their own half against our press because the team shape and intensity was top and our individual quality and strength in duels is elite. That said, if we didn’t score this game could… Read more »
maybe a supersized and more athletic Leo Trossard? Leo can definitely finish them if you set him up but he can rarely create the right separation himself in a one on one, would be so nice to have someone you could give the ball to up front and even with players in front of them could just take two quick steps, create a bit of space and bam, bottom corner.
Rafael Leao
Nico Jackson
Michael Olise
That’s my list, in that order.
*Rinses mouth*
Nico Williams, not Jackson
Gunners… help a brother out what’s that song they’ve been playing at the carpet right after we win?
ABBA Voulez-Vous
Banger
Some of the football we played in that first half was fucking outrageous. The way we passed the ball about and won it back within a second whenever they had it. Well played lads.
Don’t want to be in a situation where you have to tell the truth…
Damn, pgmol has no answer to that one. ❄️