Related items

• Mikel Arteta delighted to see Arsenal’s ‘human qualities’ after Kai Havertz goal

  Mikel Arteta hailed the “empathy” of his Arsenal players after what he hopes was a game-changing goal from Kai Havertz in their win at Bournemouth.

  The £65million summer signing from Chelsea had not registered a goal or assist in his first nine games for the Gunners but finally hit the target as he converted a penalty in a 4-0 victory at the Vitality Stadium.

  Arsenal were already two goals to the good through Bukayo Saka’s header and a Martin Odegaard penalty when an on-field decision handed responsibility for a second spot-kick of the afternoon to under-fire Havertz.

  He tucked away his chance to break his duck, as his team-mates and the away end greeted the goal with jubilant celebrations.

  “I’m really happy for the win, but I’m even happier to be part of a team that shows the human qualities that they did today,” Arteta said.

  “Without me telling them nothing, to show that empathy to a player that has some question marks to resolve externally, they warmed me even more today. They’ve done it in a really natural way.

  “I’m delighted they made that decision. And so thankful as well to our supporters for the way they sung his name and made him feel today. If there’s a player who deserves that it’s Kai Havertz, so happy for him.

  “We have all tried to give him support and the right tools. He’s doing so many great things in the game. It was about that moment, that was the question that had to be resolved and today he has done it.

  “To show that level of empathy and understanding, worrying and caring for somebody is just great.”

  Arteta referenced Olympic champion Usain Bolt when discussing how Havertz deserved his moment in the south coast sunshine following his hard work in recent weeks.

  “Probably it will change everything,” the Spaniard replied when asked what the goal could do for Havertz.

  “If he had any question marks about how we feel about him, about what he does, I think they are out.

  “I think in sport – Usain Bolt said it once – ‘I have to train four years to run nine seconds’. Sometimes you have to do a lot and you don’t see that.

  “In that moment you see it. I think after everything he’s been through in the last few weeks that moment is worth all of it, so really happy for him.”

  The one sour note for Arsenal came as Saka limped off injured for the second game in a row, raising the possibility he could miss next Sunday’s showdown with champions Manchester City.

  Bournemouth, meanwhile, remain winless in the Premier League under new head coach Andoni Iraola.

  The Cherries have come close on previous occasions but that was not the case here, with Iraola admitting the hosts did not deserve a result.

  “It was the first time we were not at the level the competition required and we did not finish the game well,” he said.

  “For sure this game leaves the worse sensation for me. You can lose against this type of team because they are really good but it is the first game this season where I have felt that we were not at the level.

  “You have to be at your best to compete against these teams and we weren’t after the first goal. We cannot concede two penalties and also the first goal is a bit strange, we should be there but we lost the positioning of Saka.

  “We started really well, were doing well but after 1-0 I think they were better than us.”

• Michael Beale uncertain of Rangers future after ‘terrible’ Aberdeen result

  Michael Beale looked back on a “horrible day” after a 3-1 defeat by Aberdeen left the Rangers boss admitting his future is in the hands of the Ibrox board.

  The home side missed several chances before defender Stefan Gartenmann scored his first Dons goal after 38 minutes and the Light Blues left the pitch at half-time with the boos of the Gers supporters ringing in their ears

  Dons midfielder Jamie McGrath added a second in the 68th minute before Rangers’ half-time substitute Scott Wright was sent off for picking up a second yellow card for a foul on Gartenmann.

  Abdallah Sima reduced the deficit in the 75th minute but Pittodrie defender Jack MacKenzie scored a third with five minutes left and the home fans stayed behind to vent their frustration at the final whistle as pressure piled on Beale, whose side already lie seven points behind league leaders Celtic.

  The Gers boss said: “It was a horrible day obviously, a terrible result.

  “We actually started really well. I thought Aberdeen were very compact and quite negative early on but we created three or four big chances.

  “You don’t take them and we defend a set-play as poorly as we did and go in 1-0 at half-time.

  “At that moment we could have done without Ridvan Yilmaz and Ryan Jack being injured because it compounds a light bench.

  “We reshuffled, started the second half OK and conceded from a set-play so we don’t deserve anything from the game.”

  Asked if he thought he will be given time, Beale said: “That’s somebody else’s decision. All I can do is continue with the job the best I can.

  “We felt we prepared well enough tactically. We went over and around them first half and created the chances.

  “It’s a really bad result and I feel the frustration and despair from the fans because we share it inside as staff and players, because first-half we had enough chances to win that game.”

  While understanding the frustration of the fans, Beale claimed their reaction at half-time was “harsh”.

  He said: “Listen, it’s a situation that’s escalated much faster than I thought.

  “The way we played in the first half and the chances we made, I thought it was harsh to boo them off at half-time.

  “We conceded from a set-play but we had played well enough to be 2-0 or 3-0 up.

  “I get the frustration, they follow this club all around the world.

  “It’s the fourth home game in 10 days and pretty much all of them have been sold out.

  “Sometimes the supporters could help the players but one or two could help themselves.”

  It was a well-deserved three points for Barry Robson’s side, who have now won three games in a row after a poor start to the season.

  The Dons boss was pleased for the travelling supporters who enjoyed the victory.

  He said: “It’s three points. That’s what we are in the game for. I thought in the game we were structurally very good.

  “We tried to frustrate them for the first 25 minutes then grow into the game and try and bring the things we are good at to the game and I think we did that well.

  “It’s a good feeling and it’s great for the fans. They deserve it.

  “They came here in numbers, they sell out when we are on the road, record season ticket sales and since I’ve come in as manager it’s been amazing how they have backed us.

  “That’s a brilliant performance for them. That’s what we are in it for.”

• Positives amid the frustration, says Hibs boss Nick Montgomery after Dundee draw

  Hibernian boss Nick Montgomery insists he can still take positives from the goalless draw with Dundee, despite the frustration of wasting a host of opportunities to seal a third straight victory.

  The Easter Road outfit found their visitors a tough nut to crack but only had themselves to blame at times for their profligacy.

  However, with the result ensuring he goes into next weekend’s Edinburgh derby with Hearts unbeaten since taking over from Lee Johnson, Montgomery was still satisfied with much of his team’s display.

  He said: “We are definitely frustrated, I thought we did more than enough to win the game.

  “The stats don’t win you a game of football, but 23 shots, and I think we had 10 on target to their two, so it’s definitely frustrating.

  “But we’ll take the positives – another clean sheet, a good performance from everybody, with the boys who came in after a big week.

  “I can’t fault the boys’ effort. The effort was there, the attitude was there and I thought we played some great stuff. Just a bit of luck at the end we needed, but we move on.

  “I would not say it was a bad day at the office. I think there was a lot of positives to take from the game, but of course the boys are frustrated.

  “I have to give credit to their goalkeeper, I thought his positioning was really good.

  “We attacked a couple of set-pieces and we needed one of those to deflect or bounce off the turf and go in, but he seemed to smother everything.

  “You’re going to be disappointed when you create that many chances without winning. On another day, we could have scored a couple of goals.

  “It wasn’t to be. But we move on to a big game next week.”

  Dundee manager Tony Docherty claimed his side were close to a “complete performance” after threatening to steal victory at the death.

  The proud Dens Park boss was full of praise for the way his players implemented his tactics.

  He said: “It would have been the complete performance if we had scored from the counter-attack at the end.

  “If it goes either side of big Marsh (Hibs keeper David Marshall) I think it’s a goal.

  “That would have capped off an absolutely fantastic performance.

  “But I couldn’t be any more proud of the players. I think we’re really growing as a team.

  “They executed that game plan to the letter. We carried a threat, we were organised.

  “You need to remember we only had four players out there who had played at Easter Road.

  “So to show that level of experience and maturity was really pleasing.

  “Hibs are a very good side. I came and watched them in midweek and they have a really good style of play.

  “So I suppose there is an element of disappointment, but I am delighted to come away with a point.”