Bournemouth came into today's game with Arsenal on the back of two consecutive defeats and were desperate to get back to winning ways. Arsenal, on the other hand, were unbeaten in their last ten matches in the Premier League and looked to keep that record intact.
The match was nicely poised with neither team managing to create any significant chances on either end until a freakish own goal by Lerma at the stroke of half-hour gave Arsenal the lead. The Gunners looked set to go into the halftime break with a one-goal lead, but at the last second of the stoppage time Josh King came up with a blinder to make it all square after the first 45 mins
In the second half, Arsenal looked the better side from the word go. Both Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan got numerous chances to get the second goal, but the final product let them down. However, in the 67th minute, Aubameyang latched onto a Sead Kolašinac's cross to score the match-winner for the Gunners.
Late in the game, Bournemouth came close with Lerma hitting the post. It was the Cherries third defeat on the trot in the Premier League. Meanwhile, for Unai Emery, Arsenal's unbeaten run extends to 17 matches in all competitions.
Here the three takeaways from the game.
#3 Unlucky Bournemouth?
Bournemouth has been the surprise package this season impressing everyone with their performance and ambition. The Vitality Stadium is a difficult place to visit for any opposition. Like they generally do, the Cherries started the game in an attacking fashion creating a few good chances in the process.
However, luck was on Arsenal's side in the first half as Brooks was adjourned offside on two occasions which looked marginal and the decision could have gone either way. It turned worse for Eddie Howe's side after Lerma deflected the ball into his own net while trying to clear Kolašinac's cross.
Towards the end of the second half, Lerma hit the post, which summed a frustrating day at the office for Eddie Howe and Bournemouth
#2 Dominant second-half display from the Gunners
It's fair to say that Bournemouth were the better team in the first half with the number of chances created and a goal ruled out for offside. However, Lady luck was with Arsenal in the opening 45 minutes as they got the lead through an own goal from Lerma.
Unai Emery's side has performed better in the second half in most of their games this season. Even if they went a goal down in the first half, the desire and intensity were always there to come back and win the game. It was no different today as well.
Bournemouth struck just before the halftime to make it all square at the break. However once the second half resumed, Arsenal were on the front foot from the word go, creating numerous goal-scoring chances. Just when it looked like the strikers had left their shooting boots at home, Aubameyang tapped home from a Kolašinac's cross to win all three points and maintain their seventeen matches unbeaten streak in the process
#1 Huge confidence booster ahead of the North London derby
Matchday fourteen will host one of the mouthwatering fixtures in the Premier League as the two North London sides - Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur square off in a battle for supremacy. Earlier this weekend, Spurs had one of their best games of the season as they outplayed Chelsea 3-1 at Wembley stadium.
The pressure was on Unai Emery' side after a string of winless games to get a confidence booster ahead of the London derby. Arsenal started the game slowly, but as the match progressed, the Gunners gradually began to display their authority and eventually ran out 1-2 winners at the end.
The victory has taken them just three points off Pochettino's side, meaning a win next weekend could take them above their North London rivals. Arsenal have got only one point so far from the top six teams, and Unai Emery will be hoping he can get a taste of victory in his first North London derby next weekend.