Arsenal thrash Bournemouth to go top as Arteta maintains 100% start

• The Gunners won their opening three Premier League games for the first time since the 2004/2005 season
• Odegaard scored twice as Mikel Arteta maintained a flawless start to the campaign
• Gabriel Jesus also found the net, but his goal was ruled out by a marginal VAR decision

Arsenal continued their scintillating form as they brushed aside Bournemouth to go top of the table, at least for the next 24 hours.

Martin Odegaard was the star of the show as the Norwegian bagged a brace, with Willian Saliba rounding off the scoreline in the second half with a beautiful curling strike.

How it happened

Mikel Arteta went into the game having secured wins against Crystal Palace and Leicester City in his side’s opening two games.

For this reason, it only made sense for the gaffer to name the same starting XI that secured victory in both those games.

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The last time the same Arsenal squad was selected for three straight matches was in 2004-04, when they won the league unbeaten.

It only took five minutes for Arsenal to once again pounce on their opponents with a goal, as Odegaard tapped in an easy finish after keeper Mark Travers saved Gabriel Martinelli’s strike.

The Norwegian then got his brace soon after, this time nabbing the ball off Jesus’ feet to sweep home a clinical left-footed strike.

That strike came in the 11th minute, and Arsenal took their time before finding a third, but it was worth the wait.

Young France centre-back Saliba found the top corner with a beautiful strike from a Granit Xhaka cutback to secure all three points and further establish himself in Arsenal fans’ good books.

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Bournemouth boss Scott Parker responded to defeat against Manchester City last week by naming a more physical side, with the likes of Ben Pearson, Jefferson Lerma and Kieffer Moore brought on to put off the Gunners.

However, it is Arsenal’s sleek and quick passing that proved to be the tactical difference between the two sides as the Cherries walked away without scoring for a second successive game.