Arsenal 3-0 Bournemouth: Danny Welbeck and Alexandre Lacazette fire Gunners into life as Alexis Sanchez comes off the bench in latter stages

  • Alexis Sanchez was on the bench for Arsenal, with Danny Welbeck and Alexandre Lacazette preferred
  • Arsenal went ahead in the opening minutes through Welbeck, who headed home Sead Kolasinac's cross
  • Home side grabbed a second just before half-hour mark when Lacazette curled past Asmir Begovic in goal
  • At the start of the second half, Welbeck collected the ball from Aaron Ramsey before slotting in another goal
  • Sanchez then came off the bench with 15 minutes remaining, to a mixture of cheers and boos from the crowd 
  • AS IT HAPPENED: Recap on Arsenal's impressive victory with Sportsmail's minute-by-minute live blog 

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Crisis averted, for the time being at least. It would have been carnage if Arsenal had lost this one.

Instead, Arsene Wenger has bought himself some time with Arsenal routinely disposing of Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium. But for some disgruntled fans this win merely papers over the cracks.

Indeed, the fractured Arsenal fanbase was prevalent yet again when supporters jeered Alexis Sanchez as he was introduced in the second half.

Danny Welbeck does well to direct his header goalwards, beating Asmir Begovic to put Arsenal ahead against Bournemouth

Danny Welbeck does well to direct his header goalwards, beating Asmir Begovic to put Arsenal ahead against Bournemouth

Welbeck (left) is joined by team-mates Granit Xhaka and Sead Kolasinac to celebrate the Gunners' opener at the Emirates

Welbeck (left) is joined by team-mates Granit Xhaka and Sead Kolasinac to celebrate the Gunners' opener at the Emirates

Alexandre Lacazette doubled Arsenal's lead on Saturday, slotting past Begovic for his second goal at the Emirates Stadium

Alexandre Lacazette doubled Arsenal's lead on Saturday, slotting past Begovic for his second goal at the Emirates Stadium

French striker Lacazette roars with delight in front of the Arsenal faithful after doubling his side's lead against Bournemouth

French striker Lacazette roars with delight in front of the Arsenal faithful after doubling his side's lead against Bournemouth

Welbeck was in inspired form as the striker - preferred to Alexis Sanchez on Saturday - slotted in his second of the match

Welbeck was in inspired form as the striker - preferred to Alexis Sanchez on Saturday - slotted in his second of the match

Welbeck runs towards the corner flag in celebration after netting his second goal of the game - and third of the season

Welbeck runs towards the corner flag in celebration after netting his second goal of the game - and third of the season

Sanchez, meanwhile, sat on the bench watching events unfold as speculation surrounding his future continues to swirl

Sanchez, meanwhile, sat on the bench watching events unfold as speculation surrounding his future continues to swirl

Sanchez was introduced late on, producing a mixed reaction from the crowd as some fans booed and some cheered

Sanchez was introduced late on, producing a mixed reaction from the crowd as some fans booed and some cheered

MATCH FACTS, UPDATED TABLE AND MATCH ZONE

Arsenal (3-4-2-1): Cech 7; Mustafi 7, Koscielny 7, Monreal 6.5; Bellerin 6.5, Ramsey 7.5 (Coquelin 67, 6.5), Xhaka 7, Kolasinac 7; Ozil 7, Welbeck 8 (Sanchez 75, 6.5); Lacazette 7.5 (Giroud 75, 6) 


Subs not used: Mertesacker, Ospina, Walcott, Iwobi

Wenger - 7.5 

Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Begovic 6.5; S. Cook 6, Ake 5, Mings 5 (Francis 46, 5); Smith 5, Arter 5, Gosling 5.5, Fraser 5 (Ibe 38, 6); Daniels 5.5; King 5; Defoe 5.5 (Mousset 71, 5)

Subs not used: Boruc, Surman, Pugh, L. Cook

Howe - 5 

Booked: Francis 

Referee: Anthony Taylor - 6.5

Attendance: 59, 262

Man of the Match: Danny Welbeck

Season at a glance

  • Premier League
  • Premier League
  • Championship
  • League One
  • League Two
  • Scottish Premiership
  • Scottish Div 1
  • Scottish Div 2
  • Scottish Div 3
  • Ligue 1
  • Serie A
  • La Liga
  • Bundesliga

 

Danny Welbeck's opening goal included seven different Arsenal players

Danny Welbeck's opening goal included seven different Arsenal players

Mesut Ozil worked hard across the pitch during the win. Click HERE to see more from Sportsmail's excellent Match Zone service.

Mesut Ozil worked hard across the pitch during the win. Click HERE to see more from Sportsmail's excellent Match Zone service.

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Sanchez's attempts to engineer a move to Manchester City clearly haven't gone down well.

The Chilean cut a frustrated figure as he trudged off the pitch at full-time; strange given his side had just cruised to victory.

Penny for your thoughts, Alexis?

How Wenger manages Sanchez's situation will have a significant impact on how Arsenal's season develops.

Will the Chilean, unquestionably Arsenal's best player, put his heart and soul into what will almost certainly be his final season at the club? Similarly, with City set to launch another effort to land the South American in January, can Arsenal truly rely on their talismanic forward?

Bournemouth keeper Begovic can only watch on as Welbeck's header plants itself into the back of the net after six minutes

Bournemouth keeper Begovic can only watch on as Welbeck's header plants itself into the back of the net after six minutes

Lacazette puts his hands to the sky in celebration as Welbeck's header nestles into the net to put Arsenal on the front foot

Lacazette puts his hands to the sky in celebration as Welbeck's header nestles into the net to put Arsenal on the front foot

Shkodran Mustafi leaps on top of his team-mates to celebrate Welbeck's opening  goal against Bournemouth

Shkodran Mustafi leaps on top of his team-mates to celebrate Welbeck's opening goal against Bournemouth

There was some frustration in the Bournemouth defence as Begovic and Tyrone Mings argued over a poor backpass

There was some frustration in the Bournemouth defence as Begovic and Tyrone Mings argued over a poor backpass

Lacazette looks a picture of concentration as he watches the ball carefully before slotting in his second goal at the Emirates

Lacazette looks a picture of concentration as he watches the ball carefully before slotting in his second goal at the Emirates

The Frenchman spreads his arms wide in celebration after helping his side towards victory in north London on Saturday

The Frenchman spreads his arms wide in celebration after helping his side towards victory in north London on Saturday

'We have to accept responses from people,' said Wenger.

'I don't know why [Sanchez was booed], but the best way to get people on your side is to perform.

'I don't know if it affected him. I had a chat with him after the game and he didn't look unhappy.'

Perhaps Wenger was relieved the vitriol wasn't aimed at him this time, this victory providing at least a shred of respite from what has been a tumultuous few weeks.

Two Premier League defeats, offloading Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Liverpool and agreeing to sell Sanchez and Shkodran Mustafi only for the pair to remain in north London has pushed some supporters to the limit.

The crowd went wild as former Lyon striker Lacazette headed for the corner flag, jumping in the air following his goal

The crowd went wild as former Lyon striker Lacazette headed for the corner flag, jumping in the air following his goal

Arsene Wenger has been a man under intense scrutiny recently, but a commanding win will put his mind at ease slightly

Arsene Wenger has been a man under intense scrutiny recently, but a commanding win will put his mind at ease slightly

Hector Bellerin goes flying under pressure from Mings as Bournemouth look for a way back into the game at the Emirates

Hector Bellerin goes flying under pressure from Mings as Bournemouth look for a way back into the game at the Emirates

Then, of course, there's the fact they haven't signed a single player since their record £52million capture of Alexandre Lacazette on July 5.

The natives are restless; they were primed and ready to vent here at the Emirates.

But for now, at least until Thursday when they face Cologne in the Europa League, the glare isn't so intense thanks to Danny Welbeck's brace and Lacazette's second goal for the club.

Despite Wenger's issues, you'd imagine Eddie Howe would swap his problems for the Frenchman's in a heartbeat. Four defeats in four league games make worrying reading.

Bournemouth have been a breath of fresh air since their arrival in the top flight in 2015, but keeping the Cherries up this season will be Howe's greatest achievement.

It was three against Arsenal; but it could have been more. Way more.

There's no great shame in losing to Arsenal. But it was the manner of this defeat that will concern Howe. Even with Jermain Defoe leading the line, Bournemouth were toothless. The fact they've scored just once so far in the league illustrates those deficiencies.

'That was very disappointing from our perspective, we were poor from start to finish and we can't hide away from that today,' said Howe.

Begovic dives desperately to his right, making a save from a free-kick, but Bournemouth could not get back into the game

Begovic dives desperately to his right, making a save from a free-kick, but Bournemouth could not get back into the game

Welbeck looks down at the ball as he controls before firing home Arsenal's impressive third in a convincing victory

Welbeck looks down at the ball as he controls before firing home Arsenal's impressive third in a convincing victory

Welbeck watches on as his shot flies past Begovic and into the bottom left-hand corner of the Bournemouth net

Welbeck watches on as his shot flies past Begovic and into the bottom left-hand corner of the Bournemouth net

'The first half especially was uncharacteristic from us. We were a bit passive and too reactive.'

Howe may have breathed a sigh of relief when he first caught glimpse of Arsenal's starting XI, with Sanchez named on the bench after only returning from international duty on Thursday. Any encouragement was short-lived, however, as Welbeck converted Sead Kolasinac's seventh-minute cross with his shoulder. It was the perfect pick-me-up for Wenger, who knew the chances of the crowd turning would grow with every passing minute without a goal.

Such is life for the Arsenal manager nowadays.

Their second arrived 20 minutes later, Lacazette expertly firing beyond Begovic from 16 yards after exchanging passes with Welbeck. The finish was sublime, but Howe will agonise over how easy it was for the Gunners. Why was Mesut Ozil afforded the freedom of the Emirates to find Lacazette? How did Nathan Ake mistime what looked like a routine interception in the build-up?

No doubt the Cherries boss sought answers at half-time.

Had Defoe's header from Jordon Ibe's cross not struck the post in the 47th minute then perhaps Bournemouth may have mustered a comeback.

Instead, it was a damage limitation exercise after Welbeck fired home his second from Aaron Ramsey’s pass in the 50th minute and Arsenal cruised to victory. 

Wenger celebrates his side's impressive performance at the Emirates on Saturday, relieving some of the pressure on his job

Wenger celebrates his side's impressive performance at the Emirates on Saturday, relieving some of the pressure on his job

Mesut Ozil, fresh from international duty with Germany, flies down the wing as Mings turns to try and catch the midfielder

Mesut Ozil, fresh from international duty with Germany, flies down the wing as Mings turns to try and catch the midfielder

Welbeck puts a foot in on Bournemouth's Adam Smith as the pair each try to win the ball back for their side on Saturday

Welbeck puts a foot in on Bournemouth's Adam Smith as the pair each try to win the ball back for their side on Saturday

Eddie Howe, clutching notes in his hand, barks instructions at his players, but his side were unable to score at Arsenal

Eddie Howe, clutching notes in his hand, barks instructions at his players, but his side were unable to score at Arsenal

Jermain Defoe uses the break in play to have a drink as Bournemouth team-mate Ryan Fraser receives medical attention

Jermain Defoe uses the break in play to have a drink as Bournemouth team-mate Ryan Fraser receives medical attention