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Arsenal overcame struggling Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium to set up an FA Cup fifth-round trip to Portsmouth.
Mikel Arteta’s side were good value for their victory, the platform for progress into the next round built on first-half goals from Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah.
Bournemouth substitute Sam Surridge pulled a goal back deep into eight minutes of stoppage to give the scoreline a look of respectability and give Arsenal some late anxious moments, but in reality the Gunners were by far the superior team.
Saka lashed a finish past Bournemouth keeper Mark Travers after only five minutes following good work from the outstanding Joe Willock and Gabriel Martinelli, the goalscorer then turning provider to set up Nketiah for a simple finish in the 26th minute.
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe made six changes from the team that recorded a much-needed Premier League win over Brighton in their last match – but there was still enough experience in his side to perform with much greater quality than this mediocre display.
Arsenal, despite that late scare, never seriously threatened to let their lead slip in a controlled performance built around the excellence of Willock and Matteo Guendouzi plus the threat of Nketiah and Saka.
The only blot on their night was a second-half ankle injury that saw defender Shkrodran Mustafi taken off on a stretcher.
More to follow.
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