This archive report was first published on 6 October 2019.
On a night where attacking flair was in short supply, Arsenal secured a narrow 1-0 win over Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium on October 6, 2019.
David Luiz scored the only goal of the game, glancing home Nicolas Pepe's ninth-minute corner for his first goal since joining the club from Chelsea in the summer.
Despite dominating the first half, Arsenal's performance faded badly in the second half, with Bournemouth applying pressure in the closing stages.
However, the Gunners held on to secure their fourth win of the season, moving above Leicester, Burnley, and Crystal Palace in the process.
Unai Emery's side will be pleased with the way they battled to the win, but the manager will know there is still room for improvement, particularly in front of goal.
Emery made a double change in the second half, bringing on 18-year-old Gabriel Martinelli for Pepe, who has struggled to find his footing since his £72m move from Lille in the summer.
Martinelli showed flashes of quality, but this was an attritional victory rather than one built on attacking flair.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, remain without a clean sheet this season and have just one shutout in their last 12 top-flight matches.
Despite the loss, Eddie Howe's side will take heart from their reaction in the second half, with Callum Wilson and Joshua King going close to scoring.
However, the Cherries' attacking threat was largely nullified by the Arsenal backline, with the Gunners' defense holding firm to secure the win.
