Before this game, Mikel Arteta was asked what the biggest challenge he thinks facing this side is. "Playing better every day," he responded. "Suffocating the opponent more. Create more chances. Conceding zero chances and playing further from our goal."
He may not have exactly achieved the lofty aim of conceding zero chances - Dominic Solanke and Phillip Billing both had the gall to get in behind in the first half only for William Saliba and Gabriel to thwart them respectively, while David Raya was forced into a good save late on. When it comes to suffocating the opponent more though he will certainly be delighted with what he saw.
As was expected from an Andoni Iraola side, Bournemouth did not come into this game passively. Instead they came out swinging, trying desperately to win the ball high off their opponents. Arsenal were happy to let them do so, ducking and weaving away from each attempted punch with lengthy spells of possession in their own defensive third, waiting for their moment to land the killer blow.
This patient approach paid off for their first goal as Eddie Nketiah's quick turn away from Marco Senesi opened up the Cherries backline. The ball was eventually worked wide to Martin Odegaard whose deep cross into the box found Gabriel Jesus, and while there was an element of fortune about the way the ball fell for Bukayo Saka to nod home, it was no more than Arsenal deserved.This is exactly the way Arteta wants to see his side play and unsurprisingly he was keen to express his satisfaction after the game. "They don’t give you any time, it’s a small pitch and it’s difficult to get out of that," he said. "We read the game very well and earned the right to win it."
These tactics worked again in the earning of both the first and second penalties that put Arsenal out of sight at the Vitality. Arteta may not be fully satisfied with what he's seen from his side so far this campaign, but Saturday's trip to the south coast, is surely as close as he's come to finding what his early season experimentation has been looking for.
Why Arsenal signed David Raya
Key to this superb passing display was David Raya. The Spaniard did not have the kind of game that will earn him a segment on Match of the Day. He made one decent low save in the first half, and was largely understated with his play from the back. This though is exactly what Arteta would have been looking for.
In light of a far from perfect display in last weekend's North London Derby and an impressive outing for Aaron Ramsdale against Brentford in the Carabao Cup, many had begun to question how much of an upgrade Raya really was on his teammate. It's certainly easier to point to the superb low save Ramsdale made to keep out Yoane Wissa and argue that he is the superior stopper. Arteta though is after so much more from the position - particularly in a game like this.
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