IT’S A JUMP START
New Gunners boss Arteta happy despite opening with a draw
AT FULL-TIME, Mikel Arteta marched off, Pep Guardiola style, to applaud the travelling fans. On his way, he was deep in conversation with Reiss Nelson, who had run himself into the ground for his new manager.
They walked over almost arm in arm, the Spaniard trying to pass on some wise words amid the noise and the young winger seemingly hanging on every one of them.
His gesture of thanks was greeted with one of the biggest cheers of the afternoon from the visiting support.
After the confusion that dogged Unai Emery’s reign and the disconnect that developed between manager and fans, Arsenal looked a picture of unity at the Vitality Stadium under his successor.
This might not have been the spectacular managerial debut Arteta had dreamed of and he ended it drenched after a south coast downpour. But there was plenty to encourage both him and those who had made the Boxing Day journey to Bournemouth.
They fell behind to Dan Gosling’s opener but regained composure, and a spirited response was crowned by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s equaliser.
Arsenal displayed control in possession; zip and intensity in attack.
There was a much greater determination to protect their goal and perform for their manager. That was summed up by the recalled Mesut Ozil, who was at the heart of some of Arsenal’s best moments, and Nelson, who found the energy to limp on despite looking out on his feet.
‘I felt comfortable... and wet!’ Arteta smiled, reflecting on his first game in charge. ‘I was very pleased with some of the things I’ve seen in terms of attitude, character, the passion we showed, the fight and the spirit.
‘Spot on. Probably better than I expected over 90 minutes. A lot of things that we prepared, they understood. They tried to take them on board and we liked the final product. I was worried what would happen if we conceded a goal and we did. I was very pleased with the character they showed.
‘How they came in at half-time, their faces, their reaction, showed how much they wanted it.
‘Normally, when you are in this process and you concede a goal, belief goes down.
‘That didn’t happen. It was completely the opposite, so that is a positive to take on board.’
Arteta was casually dressed and incredibly animated, just like his former Manchester City mentor Guardiola.
He also adopted some of his tactical tweaks, encouraging fullback Ainsley Maitland-Niles to push inside and give them an extra man in midfield.
Arsenal’s persistence with playing out from the back cost them in the 35th minute when they failed to get the ball far enough from their goal. Callum Wilson sent Jack Stacey to the byeline and he crossed for Gosling, who got himself ahead of Lucas Torreira to convert.
But Aubameyang scored his 14th goal of the season, turning in Nelson’s scuffed shot, as Arteta passed his first test.
His second may be to find a way to deal with Granit Xhaka, who started and played well but looks eager to leave. He has agreed terms with German outfit Hertha Berlin and, according to his agent, has told Arteta he wants to go.
As for Bournemouth, despite beating both Manchester United and Chelsea this season, they are two points outside the drop zone.
Boss Eddie Howe said: ‘We’ve done well against the big teams this year. It’s quite strange.
‘We’ve struggled against the teams around us in the league.
‘We have to deal with the pressure of playing here against the teams we’re expected to beat.’
BOURNEMOUTH (4-3-3): Ramsdale 6; Stacey 8, S Cook 8, Mepham 7, Simpson 7; Gosling 7 (Billing 70min), L Cook 7, Lerma 6; Fraser 7, Wilson 6.5, King 6 (H Wilson 66). Subs not used: Boruc, Surman, Solanke, Stanislas, Kilkenny. Booked: Lerma, Mepham, L Cook, C Wilson. ARSENAL (4-3-3): Leno 7; Maitland-Niles 6, Sokratis 7 (Mustafi 77), Luiz 7, Saka 6; Torreira 6, Xhaka 6, Ozil 7 (Willock 75); Nelson 7 (Pepe 82), Lacazette 7, Aubameyang 6.5. Subs not used: Martinez, Mavropanos, Guendouzi, Smith Rowe. Booked: Torreira, Maitland-Niles, Aubameyang, Lacazette. Man of the match: Steve Cook. Referee: Stuart Attwell. Attendance: 10,234.