Arsenal v Bournemouth: How it happened

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WHAT HAPPENED

Two goals from Danny Welbeck, either side of a cracker from Alexandre Lacazette, gave us a much-needed victory over Bournemouth.

In truth we were always in control of this match, from the moment Welbeck opened the scoring on five minutes, with a bundled header at the near post.

Lacazette doubled the lead with a long-range effort before half-time, and when Welbeck made it 3-0 on 50 minutes, it looked as though we were in for a thumping scoreline.

As it was we had to settle for a 3-0 win, but the comfortable nature of the victory was exactly what was needed after the defeat at Anfield last time out.

This was our first game at Emirates Stadium for a month, with the side looking to make a positive statement after a turbulent few weeks.

Olivier Giroud's late winner against Leicester on the opening day of the season seems an age ago, and back-to-back defeats at Stoke and Liverpool since then meant we came into this game under a fair amount of pressure.

The perfect way to relieve that pressure came from Welbeck with just over five minutes on the clock. Sead Kolasinac, restored to the starting line up in place of the departed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, burst down the left wing and hung up an inviting cross. Welbeck's connection was anything but clean, but he headed past Asmir Begovic at the near post.

Now Arsenal could settle. With an injection of confidence now coursing throughout the team, Granit Xhaka tried his luck from outside the area, seeing his shot turned away for a corner.

Mesut Ozil was also denied by Begovic – his left footed free-kick was palmed away when destined for the corner of the net.

We were beginning to take control of the ball, and as a result the chances started to come. Xhaka skied a shot when set up by Lacazette on the edge of the area, after the Swiss had started the move himself with a sweeping ball to Mesut Ozil.

The second goal was on the cards, and Lacazette supplied it with a fantastic finish. He swapped passes with Welbeck on the edge of the area, then lashed the ball home from just outside the area.

Begovic was the busiest of the Bournemouth players, and he was quick off his line to deny Lacazette his second, after Welbeck's closing down had forced the opportunity.

The half-time break did little to disrupt Arsenal's rhythm. Jermain Defoe hit the post for the visitors, but moments later we increased the lead.

Aaron Ramsey slipped the ball through to Welbeck and the forward took it on into the area before finishing just inside the far post with his left foot.

Ozil was next to try his luck, firing into the side netting when the angle was against him.

Welbeck was inches away from completing his hat-trick on the hour mark, he worked a shooting opportunity with some nimble footwork just inside the area, but his lob was narrowly off target.

Arsenal were enjoying themselves going forward, and Francis Coqulin nearly marked his 100th Premier League appearance with his first ever goal, but his shot was deflected wide after being teed up by Ozil.

Giroud, looking for a landmark of his own - 100 goals for the club - was denied at the near post after being set up by fellow sub Alexis Sanchez.

We had to see out the last 10 minutes with 10 men, Coquelin was withdrawn with an apparent hamstring injury, with no more subs available.

The visitors then had their only two efforts on target of the afternoon, the second requiring a good save from Petr Cech, who had been largely untested until the closing stages.

AS IT HAPPENED

Click here to see how the action unfolded on our play-by-play feed.

WHAT IT MEANS

The Gunners climb up to ninth with a very welcome three points and clean sheet, putting a dismal couple of weeks behind us.

Assist king: Sead Kolasinac is making an impact in the final third

WHAT'S NEXT

We switch attentions to the Europa League, playing our first ever game in the competition, at home to Cologne on Thursday night. That's followed by a trip to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea in the Premier League next Sunday.

Click here to view our full fixture list

FORWARDS FIRING

All four strikers impressed, as we racked up 17 shots against the Cherries. Here are some of the highlights:

6 - Welbeck gives Arsenal the perfect start with a bundled near post header from Kolasinac's cross.

28 - Lacazette smashes home a fantastic 20-yard effort to double the lead.

37 - Lacazette was sniffing around a loose ball, showing his striking instincts, but Begovic snuffed out the chance, popping the ball in the process.

50 - Welbeck slots home a superb left-footed finish low into the far corner.

60 - Welbeck's deft right-footed finish floated just over the bar.

79 - Giroud is found by a reverse pass from Alexis, but his near post shot is pushed away.

90 - Alexis tried his luck with a low drive, yet again Begovic was equal to it.