MX23RW : Thursday, November 21 14:12:47| >> :120:6031:6031:
[monks data]
Bournemouth logo
Premier League | Gameweek 7
Sep 30, 2023 at 3pm UK
Vitality Stadium
Arsenal logo

Bournemouth
0 - 4
Arsenal

FT(HT: 0-2)
Saka (17'), Odegaard (44' pen.), Havertz (53' pen.), White (90+3')
Havertz (33')

Mikel Arteta compares first Kai Havertz goal to Usain Bolt quote

Arteta compares first Havertz goal to Usain Bolt quote
© Reuters
Mikel Arteta compares Kai Havertz's first Arsenal goal to a famous quote from Usain Bolt following the Gunners' 4-0 thrashing of Bournemouth in the Premier League.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta referenced a famous quote from Usain Bolt when lavishing praise on Kai Havertz following his first Gunners goal in their 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Bournemouth.

The Germany international had endured a slow start to life in North London since making the £65m move from Chelsea, going nine games without scoring or registering an assist.

Havertz has been acclimatising to a deeper midfield role with the Gunners, but he has failed to endear himself to the Emirates faithful owing to a spate of lacklustre performances.

Nevertheless, Arteta has pleaded for patience with Havertz, who started in a familiar-looking midfield with Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard at the Vitality Stadium amid Fabio Vieira's knock.

The Gunners dominated proceedings from the off and got to the half-time break with a two-goal advantage, as Bukayo Saka headed home before Odegaard coolly converted a penalty.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pictured on September 30, 2023© Reuters

Arsenal were awarded another spot kick early in the second period as Ryan Christie scythed down Odegaard, and Saka bestowed Havertz with the responsibility from 12 yards.

The former Chelsea man kept his cool and calmly found the bottom corner to put the game to bed, before Ben White headed home Odegaard's free kick to cap off a scintillating display.

Arteta's post-game press conference was overwhelmingly Havertz-focused, and he used a motto from the world's fastest man to explain the German's long wait for a confidence-boosting goal, after which he was mobbed by his teammates and treated to songs of affection from the travelling Arsenal fans.

"It will probably change everything, but first of all if he had any question marks about how we feel about him, how much we love him, how much we appreciate everything that he does, I think that's out," the Spaniard said.

"I think in sport, Usain Bolt said it once, I have to train four years to run nine seconds, sometimes you have to do a lot and you don't see that, but in that moment you see it, I'm sure what he's been through in the last few weeks, this moment is worth every moment of the other moments.

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring their first goal on September 30, 2023© Reuters

"I am really happy for the win but even happier to be part of something, part of a team that shows the human qualities that they have shown today, without me telling them absolutely nothing to show that and that empathy towards a player that has some question marks to resolve externally, they won me even more today.

"I'm so thankful to our supporters the way they sang his name, have made him feel in the way he has felt today and if there's a person in a dressing room that deserve that, it's Kai Havertz. So happy for him."

However, on a slightly sour note, Saka limped off towards the end for the second Premier League game running, although Arteta was none the wiser about the Englishman's issue or an apparent problem for Gabriel Jesus too.

"I don't know yet I haven't had a chance to speak to him, I think this one was a stamp, it wasn't the same area, I don't know and Gabi was limping after the game, let's see how they are," Arteta added.

Still unbeaten in all competitions this season, Arsenal sit third in the Premier League table and are back in Champions League action away to Ligue 1 outfit Lens on Tuesday.

ID:525393:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect5400:No Data Analysis info

Click here for more stories about Usain Bolt

Click here for more stories about Arsenal

Game History

How you voted: Bournemouth vs Arsenal

Bournemouth
11.8%
Draw
11.8%
Arsenal
76.4%
178
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Arsenal's William Saliba goes down injured on March 16, 2023
Read Next:
Arsenal handed Saliba, Vieira concerns ahead of Bournemouth clash
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!