Faced with the task of maximizing the pressure on Manchester City in the final few games of the Premier League season, Arsenal had no room for error against Bournemouth on Saturday. The Cherries arrived in great form under Andoni Iraola and would pose a different threat to Arsenal’s recent fixtures.

However, Arsenal were not phased and had Bournemouth under massive pressure from the get-go. Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Thomas Partey all went close to opening the scoring but chance after chance came and went with an air of nervousness among the home fans beginning to develop.

Those nerves were put to rest shortly before the first half when Havertz was played in behind by Martin Odegaard and went past goalkeeper Mark Travers before feeling contact and going down. The referee pointed to the spot and following a lengthy VAR check, Bukayo Saka calmy slotted the penalty home to put Arsenal ahead.

Arsenal again went close early in the second half as Bournemouth started to grow into the game. Thankfully for Arsenal, a genius flick by Rice to find Trossard allowed the Belgian to power into the corner for his fifth goal in his last eight games. Bournemouth would have an Antoine Semenyo goal controversially ruled out for a rather soft-looking foul on David Raya but Arsenal would remove any doubt over the result late on when Rice smashed home to make it three-nil in the closing moments.

The win took Arsenal four points clear at the top of the Premier League for just a couple of hours before Manchester City beat Wolves at the Etihad Stadium. With two games left of the season, Arsenal will be relying on Pep Guardiola’s team to drop points in order to win the league but will continue to focus on their final games.

"He was unbelievable today, honestly"

Despite not registering an official goal contribution, Mikel Arteta spoke highly of striker Havertz.

“He was unbelievable today, honestly. Everything that he did, intelligent, timing, the movements, how he keeps the ball, the way he goes to the press, how he links the play, understanding of the game. He was unbelievable today.”

The Arsenal manager was right to praise his striker. Havertz was heavily involved throughout the game, constantly tracking back to make key tackles, holding up the ball and creating chances for his teammates. The German undoubtedly should’ve left with at least two assists, creating big opportunities for Saka and Rice.

Bournemouth was just the latest in a string of incredible performances by Havertz during the run-in. Last week, in back-to-back London derbies against Chelsea and Tottenham, Havertz scored a brace and registered a goal and an assist, respectively. He may not have been signed directly to play up-front, but the 24-year-old is starting to look every bit of the transfer fee Arsenal paid for him in the summer.

"Big impact on the team"

Speaking on last summer’s business, including Havertz, Arteta said:

“That was what we were looking for and if you spend the money you better do it wisely and in the most effective way. We are really happy with the recruitment that we had, it’s had a big impact in the team.”

Raya was also signed in the summer and too was questioned, given Aaron Ramsdale’s positive campaign last season. The Spaniard has certainly had his moments but has undoubtedly added a calmness to Arsenal’s back-line. His clean sheet against Bournemouth was his 15th clean sheet of the season in just 30 games, securing him the golden glove.

Jurrien Timber and Rice were Arsenal’s other significant signings last summer. Timber looks to finally be fit and available again following his ACL injury on his Premier League debut in August last year. It is difficult to predict how he will return, given the remaining uncertainty over ACL injuries but he certainly excited Arsenal fans in pre-season.

For Rice, there is no discussion. The midfielder has played the majority of his minutes as a more typical six this season but has showed an incredible ability to contribute massively from the left-eight position Granit Xhaka occupied so superbly last season for Arsenal. Rice has now surpassed Xhaka’s goal contribution tally from last season, scoring seven goals and creating eight for his teammates.

Rice’s ability to drive with the ball has drawn some similarities to invincible and Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira, in the way opponents seem to bounce off the Englishman. Off the ball, Rice’s incredible tackling has won the ball high up the pitch for Arsenal on numerous occasions and the midfielder’s leadership, having captained West Ham and England has clearly had an effect for his young teammates.

Arsenal next travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United before they return to the Emirates Stadium to face Everton on the final day. Whether they celebrate a first Premier League title since 2004 on that day will not totally depend on Arsenal. They will keep an eye on Manchester City’s results, but if they can take maximum points in their final two, they will retain the chance.

In football, anything can happen and Arsenal will keep their faith in that chance.