They were diving into the challenge too soon. Sokratis almost got caught twice

Willock has started very well

Seems to know his role and is very direct

That's two perfect 50 yard diagonal passes now - by Mustafi out to Saka on the left. Blimey.

Eddie! Lovely move.

Edddiiiieeeeeeee

Agreed. Looking excellent. But Bournemouth are absolutely terrible.

Credit to Mustafi there. He’s playing very well.

This first 20 odd minutes must be the most perfect we’ve had all season, and for a few seasons possibly. Kept the ball so well, passing, movement and crucially for me there is a clear tactic to have Saka as the spare man wide left and both goals have come that way. This is stuff that is happening on the training pitch actually happening in a game!

Mustafi is looking like a classy ball playing CB full of confidence.

Team playing brilliantly

Bizarre game

Bournemouth look like they wish they never had to play this fixture

Mustafi has been sensational so far.

If he’s not smashed it into his own net then he’s been superb

Wand of a right foot!

Away support chanting his name!

We have the pièce de résistance of underhit pass backs coming up surely folks !

Think they will bring on Callum Wilson at halftime, they have posed zero threat

Saka or Kolasinac ?

Really there’s not much in that. Saka is way better going forward and looks like he could understand the art of defence.

Really good half to see. I said after the second goal the most pleasing part is there is an obvious game plan and tactic of shape and how to move the ball and create the space. The players need to put it in to action but it’s so nice to see a gameplan that our opponents struggle to work out how to stop.
Xhaka in as a left centre back, Saka pushed very high, Harry Wilson on bmouth’s right isn’t the best defensively and hasn’t got a clue of whether to press Xhaka and get passed around easily or sit off him and let him dictate the game.
Some plays straight out of the Pep playbook, overload one side of the pitch, usually the right, ensure the left winger (saka) stays as high and wide as possible and then switch the ball to him once you’ve sucked in enough of their players. Both goals came that way

Listen up Kazkh Boy ....wouldn't it have been a lot quicker to say ... " Gosh Kiwi you really nailed that .....that was such a visionary comment "
...... instead of giving it the Exiled cut and polish .

Struggling to see how Pépé is worth 72 million ; on tonight's performance I'd think Willock is worth more .

Please don't be injured Martinelli

well that would be the first time since George Graham was manager that anyone thought like this about games at the club.

Mustafi has hurt his bonce properly.

Get that Brazilian to turn his plane around.

That's a pity for Mustafi. Not too serious I hope.

I think it's his ankle.

If that’s a big one the club will have to act.

Down to 3 in that position

Martinez flapping at a corner and getting nowhere near - should have been a goal. He's looked a bit dodgy tonight.

Saka has been my man of the match so far.

Having a player at left back who is so good on the ball is such an advantage. He’s been outstanding since he’s been covering and could pose problems.

Good effort by the travelling support. It’s important.

Sokratis with another towering header from a corner, gets totally clattered after, and no foul from the ref. He only stops the game as both players down with head injuries.

A minute ago he gave us one of those uncontested drop balls as we were in possession when the game was stopped but dropped it for us on the edge of our own box and allowed Bournemouth to have two players 5 yards away to press as soon as the ball was dropped so all we could do is give it an almighty hump back to them. Not really the spirit of an uncontested drop ball

Holding is a worry. Unconvincing.

Looks like a good night, with a 5th round tie at Portsmouth to come. Overall, plenty of positives.

Edit - 2-1. Sorry for posting that. I should have known better.

See what I mean?

Shocking defending. Totally bog standard and as bad as anything Mustafi would do

Guendouzi has been good though.

Hang in there time

Got there in the end.

Bossed the first half, though Bournemouth never really turned up until the second.

Saka and Guendouzi excellent.

We are still very suspect when teams do manage to get at us, thankfully Bournemouth rarely did until the latter stages.

Sokratis excellent at the back
Guendouzi fantastic in midfield, barely missed a pass, was a pest for them and had the crowd booing him like every good CM should do away from home
Saka brilliant, to think he’s barely played much first team football at all let alone any at left back.

We’ll get stronger tests, especially teams who don’t sit of us like Bournemouth did first half but that first half performance must please Arteta a lot

Hi Rich,

Saka could genuinely be the new Ashley Cole. So much of the modern game is about the attacking prowess of fullbacks and he looks like he can attack and defend.

I don't think Guendouzi has had a great last few months but every now and then you see a performance like that and it reminds you what a talent he is.

I have a concern Holding isn’t the player he was before his injury. Prior he was always a progressive and mobile defender who would use his mobility to dig in try and Nick the ball ahead of the attacker. Think of how he did Mertesackers running for him in the chelsea cup final. Fast and reactive.

Now he seems almost completely immobile. He just seems to not want to move at all. When he went to chase down a ball near the corner flag he looked so tired and laboured. Just seems not to want to run or move at all and isn’t reacting because of it. I think he looks shot to pieces and fear he won’t be the same. Might need a loan to test it.

Really sad. Reckon he might be better off chugging along in training and having the odd 10 minutes here and there. Would take a long time to trust the knee and get that sharpness of turn and acceleration back. He’s a big lad. Until you’re up to speed it can feel like you’re dream running in during competitive games. Just use the rest of the season to rehabilitate and then Arteta can assess him com pre-season.

And what a strike by Saka. I love that noise where it sounds like the net rips when it skids along the inside of the roof like that. Gave it the full beans - love it.

Sorry Pete, I can't help hoping I'll come up with a line that will impress Daz. The cross I bear.

Gosh Kiwi you really nailed that about Willock...that was such a etc.

Joking aside there were two different games played out there and MoM for the first half was Willock by a country mile but having talked about his limitations recently I was really happy that Gwen was my MoM for the second half.

At the pub tonight I got asked which name I'd have on a shirt. I've never been into that because apart from anything else it costs more and most matches you've got a jacket on anyway but I got pressed. Thought about it and it had to be Sokratis. Not the best, not what I'd aspire to be in my winning the Cup Final for the Arsenal dreams. No, but he's the guy who can't give less than 100% if he tried and with that face you could take him down the casino after the game to play some poker.

Xhaka. Again.

Got to be said right now the way he slips between a midfield two without the ball and a back three with it is vital to our game.

I really can't wait to see him played up front. His close control with a few round him is often quite sensational.