Premier League: Reaction as Arsenal ease to win at Bournemouth

Bournemouth manager Scott Parker speaking to BBC Sport: “The quality of their levels was clear to see. I was disappointed with out general demeanour and body language and at times and not understanding what we need to be against a top side.

"We lacked an endeavour and real desire to understand how the game looked.

"At half-time the most important thing was to make the players understand what we really wanted from the game. We need to show certain elements of what we showed second half and not first half.

"The first half was a difficult half. They came out of the blocks and they are a very good team. When you are us you cannot lose hope and I just felt we lost that a little bit. The players need to understand what we need to bring and we just fell short of that."

Bournemouth boss Scott Parker, speaking to Sky Sports: "First half was really unacceptable from us in many ways. We needed to have humility in terms of understanding the dynamics of the game and what we were up against.

"I thought our body language and what we needed, we were nowhere near it. Without that, when you're a team like us, there's no disgrace losing to Arsenal but what is not acceptable is how we went about it in the first half.

"There was a reaction in the second half but it was not enough and we need to understand that first-half performance.

"I didn't expect to see what I saw in the first half. I expected them to show a certain ingredient which we didn't show and it was far too easy in terms of recovery runs, getting back into shape and the quality we were playing against.

"There's some big learning to do regarding this game, which is a good thing but we need to learn from that."

Bournemouth winger Jaidon Anthony, speaking to Sky Sports: "Really tough. First half we didn't really get near them and with the quality they have they punished us. We will learn from it for sure.

"We changed shape and wanted to get more pressure on them and get around them, it was one of my jobs to press them.

Making his Premier League debut against boyhood club Arsenal: "Special 10 years there [at Arsenal]. It's funny the way the world works, coming on for my debut against Arsenal.

"[The manager] asked me to make an impact because we didn't get near them in the first half. We wanted to change the dynamics of the game.

"I thought we were better in the second half but we didn't create enough chances. Overall, it's a special day for me but a disappointing."

Bournemouth have lost each of their last 14 Premier League games against teams starting the day in the top two places in the Premier League, scoring four goals while conceding 38 times.

Iain: It may 'only' be Palace, Leicester & Bournemouth, but 9 points out of 9 is obviously better than 0 out of 9 & we have a team playing with confidence, so as an Arsenal fan, I am already a lot happier & optimistic about this season than last

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard speaking to BBC Sport: "We came out really strong from the start and dominated the game completely. We scored some good goals and controlled the game, so it felt good.

"The second half was maybe a little bit different. We gave them some momentum and a lot of set-pieces but William [Saliba] scored our third one so it was a solid game."

Gabriel Jesus' work in the build-up to the first goal: "He gives us a lot. Not just goals and assists, but with the link-up play with how he drops down so we're lucky to have him."

Saliba's brilliant finish: "I've never seen him do that in training but it was a great strike. I'm really happy for him. He did really well in the last game too so I'm happy for him.

"We're doing well but we have to keep going, working hard. We're looking forward to the next game already. That's what it's all about."

Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale to Sky Sports: "Really enjoyable. When I left Bournemouth I never got to say goodbye to the fans because of Covid so it was a special feeling. The fans were singing my name.

"Not many teams will come here and have that much control. Great day. Three wins from three.

"We want to own the ball and the pitch and we did that from minute one to 45. We lost that a bit in the second half but the third goal, I don't know where he's pulled that from.

"It's crazy how our mentality has changed from the end of last season. We're more ruthless. We saw how close we came last season [just looking out on a Champions League place to Spurs]. It took a few weeks to get over. It hurt more because it was the others down the road.

"Zinchenko and Jesus know how to win."

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to Sky Sports: "Still far [from perfect]. We had some strong periods. In the second half we conceded too many chances for Bournemouth. I'm proud, it's not easy to come here and win 3-0 but there are still things to prove.

"We started the game really well. We were dominant, precise. The two goals gave us a lot of confidence. Jesus was involved in the goals. His contribution to the team was outstanding.

"He can still improve his level. He’s got a huge desire to be the best.

"Winning makes life completely different. The atmosphere is good. The unity is incredible. Saliba, [the goal was the] last thing I’d expect.

"In life difficult experiences make you stronger and make you learn more than good moments. That moment was painful and we don’t want to go through that again.

"We will try to the end [to sign more players]. The transfer market is tricky. We’d like to do something else. Let’s see what we can do."

SMS Message: Absolutely not an Arsenal fan but they do have good reason to be optimistic. Two fantastic signings - Oleksandr Zinchenko will win points for any team just with his work rate, never mind his great play, and Gabriel Jesus is much more of an Arsenal player than a City player so their gain is greater than City's loss. Also Sadio Mane is a much bigger loss for Liverpool than people realise. from James

Absolutely not an Arsenal fan but they do have good reason to be optimistic. Two fantastic signings - Oleksandr Zinchenko will win points for any team just with his work rate, never mind his great play, and Gabriel Jesus is much more of an Arsenal player than a City player so their gain is greater than City's loss. Also Sadio Mane is a much bigger loss for Liverpool than people realise.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta speaking to BBC Sport: “We expected a very difficult game from the beginning after seeing how Bournemouth started against Aston Villa and we wanted to avoid that type of game. We were really efficient in ball possession and in the box."

On Gabriel Jesus' influence on the first goal: "That is something you don’t train. He is playing with such talent. He was involved in two of the three goals."

On William Saliba and team fluency: "Saliba is training every day to improve and he is so eager and hungry to do it. The relationships are really building. They are natural and it flows in the right way. We need to continue, there are still a lot of things we need to do there."

SMS Message: I don't understand all the Arsenal slander. Liverpool drop points and City win their first 2 games and people already say the title race is over but Arsenal winning 3/3 is getting carried away? from Liam

I don't understand all the Arsenal slander. Liverpool drop points and City win their first 2 games and people already say the title race is over but Arsenal winning 3/3 is getting carried away?

Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp on Sky Sports: "Incredible. They are full of confidence. There is a great energy about the team. Jesus is magnificent right now. It's a very impressive Arsenal right now.

"A year ago the manager was under intense pressure – people said they had no real backbone. There have been lots of changes. Right now they are complete different. They are resilient, they have strength in depth, options.

"When you can bring on Emile Smith Rowe and Kieran Tierney you start to think why can’t they go on and really achieve something? It’s going to be tough. There are some challenges ahead."

Aged 21 years and 149 days old, William Saliba became the youngest Frenchman to score a Premier League goal for Arsenal since Samir Nasri in November 2008 v Manchester United (21 years 135 days).

Saliba is the 21st Frenchman to score a Premier League goal for Arsenal, with only Newcastle having as many French scorers in the competition (also 21).

Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard speaking to Sky Sports: "It was really solid from start to the end. We came out and dominated, made some good chances and scored some good goals.

"We know it’s always difficult coming to these places. We have struggled before but we were so sharp and aggressive. It was a good performance from start to finish."

On Gabriel Jesus: "He is not just about goals. He gives us so much in the play and he drops down to combine. He is brilliant and he is amazing to play with. We are lucky to have him here.

On Arsenal's 100% start: "Compared to last season we are a little bit ahead but we have to stay calm and we have to stay humble and see where it takes us."

When was the last time we spoke about Arsenal being in a title contention? Very early days but they lost their first 3 games last season and they're about to win their first 3 in a row. Arsenal will be top of the Premier league tonight.

At the very least something to be built upon by Mikel Arteta. This team is playing with confidence, some defensive errors that will be tested but a huge improvement from recent campaigns for Arsenal now.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

A straight forward victory for a mightily impressive Arsenal side, who go top of the table at this early juncture.

It's a north London one-two at the moment.

Still very early days though.

Mark Travers has kept the scoreline at just 3-0 to Arsenal, keeping out Emile Smith Rowe's shot from the angle.