Odegaard (right) wins the penalty from which Havertz (left) scores his first goal for Arsenal Photo: AFP/ADRIAN DENNIS Brief match description: AFC Bournemouth v Arsenal
Arsenal have scored 21 goals this season, with more to come in the coming months, but it's hard to believe any of them will be celebrated as joyfully as third goal. here against Bournemouth.
For Arsenal players and fans, Kai Havertz's first goal for his new club was the highlight of their walk past Bournemouth. It had been difficult times for the German, who had struggled since his £65 million move from Chelsea, and it seemed as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders as soon as he scored a second-half penalty.
That the fact that Havertz even converted Martin Odegaard's penalty was an indication of the significance of the moment. Odegaard and Bukayo Saka swapped penalty-taking duties this season, but with Mikel Arteta's side two goals ahead, Arsenal decided that Havertz should be given the opportunity.
“I’m very happy to win, but I’m even more happy to be part of a team that shows the human qualities they showed today,” Arteta said. “I'm glad they made this decision. Beauty is in gesture. If he [Havertz] had any questions about how we feel about him, about what he does, then I think they have disappeared.”
Were there any nerves? That must have been the case given the criticism Havertz has received in recent weeks. His finish was cool, however, and the celebration spoke volumes, with Havertz surrounded by his teammates and then pushed towards the away fans.
The Arsenal players were clearly pleased with their new partner. Photo: PA/Robbie Stevenson
After that day, there was a new soundtrack: Havertz's fresh singing of Shakira's “Waka Waka” tune. “Sixty million down the drain, Kai Havertz scores again,” the away fans chanted ironically.
“If there's a player who deserves it, it's Kai,” Arteta said. “So happy for him. Usain Bolt once said: “I need to train for four years to run nine seconds. Sometimes you have to do a lot and you don't see it.”
What does this mean for Havertz in the future? ? “It will probably change everything,” Arteta said.
Havertz was joined on the scoresheet by Saka, Odegaard and Ben White, all of whom shone against a Bournemouth side that played into Arsenal's hands. Andoni Iraola's side are yet to win a game this season and have been repeatedly exposed to opponents who were too slick and too quick to handle.
Arsenal are now unbeaten in their first seven league games for the first time this season . time since 2007. Meanwhile, results elsewhere showed them to be within one point of Manchester City.
Iraola and Arteta played for the same team as children, but it was not a happy reunion for the Bournemouth head coach. His team had energy, but they lacked efficiency, composure and attacking class. Ryan Christie's challenge on Odegaard in the second half, which gave Havertz a chance from the penalty spot, was borderline idiotic.
For Arsenal, the only problem was another strike from Saka, who again limped out of the game. The winger continues to produce in the final third, but his opponents continue to pummel him. His remarkable recovery abilities are now being tested to their limits.
Saka headed in from close range after Gabriel Jesus hit the post to take Arsenal to the next level. Odegaard added a second from the penalty spot after Max Aarons dived for Eddie Nketiah, before Havertz also scored from 12 yards after the break. After that it was little more than a training session for the visitors, who scored a fourth goal thanks to Ben White's looping header.
Line-ups: Bournemouth v Arsenal.
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