There were to be no Reiss Nelson-style heroics against Bournemouth this time around for Arsenal, with the Premier League leaders slumping to a third defeat in four games on Saturday afternoon.
Alex Scott’s close-range finish ultimately proved the difference after Viktor Gyokeres had initially cancelled out Eli Junior Kroupi’s opener, with the Gunners largely second-best amid a tense atmosphere at the Emirates.
While Mikel Arteta’s men did record 15 shots in total, opposition stopper Djordje Petrovic was forced into making only two saves, having largely remained untroubled throughout the 90 minutes.
That highlighted what was another desperately poor performance from the home side’s forward line, with the north Londoners against found wanting at the top end of the pitch.
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Let’s start with the positives, with that man Gyokeres scoring for the second Premier League game in succession, having converted from the penalty spot after Ryan Christie’s handball inside the area.
Now up to 18 goals for the season in all competitions, the Swede was a threat all afternoon, it must be said, running the channels and stretching the Cherries’ defence, albeit while notably firing wide after making space for himself late on.
The 27-year-old did his best, although little help came from those on the flanks, with Gabriel Martinelli producing a particularly egregious performance after recording just eight touches in 54 minutes on the left wing.
The Brazilian had played his part in Kai Havertz’s winner in midweek, yet this was a reminder of why he has just one league goal to his name this season, having been lifeless in the final third.
On the opposite side, former Chelsea man, Noni Madueke, wasn’t much better, the understudy to Bukayo Saka having been hooked himself just after the break after losing the ball 12 times from his 30 touches.
Considering both he and Martinelli have scored just three league goals between them in 2025/26, it’s difficult to know why Arteta has persisted with them, particularly with clamour building regarding 16-year-old sensation, Max Dowman.
Problems out wide then for the Gunners, while the number ten berth also remains a key talking point in north London.
Arsenal star looked like Ozil in his later years vs Bournemouth
With Martin Odegaard absent and out of form, and with Eberechi Eze only just making his return to the matchday squad, Saturday looked like a chance for the aforementioned Havertz to nail down that starting role behind Gyokeres.
The pair had notably combined for the striker’s goal away at Southampton in the FA Cup, while Havertz was on target himself against Sporting CP last time out, showcasing real composure to slot home in added time.
There was merit then to Arteta’s decision to deploy the German from the start against Andoni Iraola’s side, although frustratingly for the Gunners, that move backfired, with the 27-year-old looking off the pace prior to his own 54-minute withdrawal.
Indeed, there was a Mesut Ozil feel to his performance, and not in a positive sense, with Havertz looking so at odds with the rough and tumble of the away side.
That was very much the case with regard to Ozil in his latter years at the Emirates, the World Cup winner requiring something of a free role in an era where such a luxury was rarely afforded to anyone.
In his final Premier League campaign in 2019/20, for instance, the now-retired playmaker was dribbled past 1.1 times per game, winning just 44% of his total duels and winning back possession just 0.4 times per game in the final third.
Against Bournemouth, meanwhile, his compatriot Havertz had a similar feel to his muted display, dribbled past three times – more than any player on the pitch – while having won just three of his 12 total duels.
In possession too, the ex-Chelsea man was also rather laboured, giving the ball away ten times from just 37 touches, a tally that was well below teammate David Raya in the sticks (60).
Those of a Gunners persuasion may have been demanding a change in personnel, amid Odegaard’s woes, yet Havertz didn’t seize his chance, having been something of a passenger in truth, neither aiding the attack nor supporting the midfield.
He very much felt integral to the disconnect between both of those departments, with this experiment likely to prove short-lived.