Not only did Ozil provide the assist for Gabriel to score the first and then personally add the second but he also created at least five other clear chances with his selfless and utterly precise passing.
He has now created 16 Premier League goals this season; more than double any other player. An even more significant record was also being quietly inked into the history books. Petr Cech’s clean sheet was his 170th in a Premier League career that now spans 11 years at Chelsea and Arsenal to go one clear of David James on 169.
Gabriel heads the opener for Arsenal
Cech’s sustained brilliance, though, is perhaps best underlined by the fact that he has needed more than 200 fewer games than James to reach his landmark. Amid the performances of Ozil and Cech, it went almost unnoticed that Arsenal are also now one point clear at the top of the Premier League, where they will stay until at least Saturday should Manchester City beat Leicester City on Tuesday night.
After the unexpected rout at St Mary’s on Saturday, Wenger responded by rotating four of his outfield players, with Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal, Mathieu Flamini and Joel Campbell all rested and rare starts for Kieran Gibbs, Gabriel, Calum Chambers and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Mesut Ozil celebrates scoring Arsenal's second
The biggest test was for Chambers in an unfamiliar holding midfield role that he last performed for Arsenal in the defeat to Southampton back on New Year’s Day. Bournemouth made only two changes and there was more initial fluidity and cohesion about their play, albeit without posing a serious threat to Cech’s goal.
With Chambers holding his position well, Bournemouth were restricted to a curling Harry Arter shot that was comfortably saved by Cech. Arsenal were generally slow into their rhythm but had the considerable advantage of Ozil soon finding his range. He twice spotted runs in behind the Bournemouth defence by Theo Walcott but the accuracy of his through-ball was not being matched by the finishing.
Mesut Ozil scores Arsenal's second
Oxlade-Chamberlain then won a corner, from which Ozil’s floated cross was headed past Artur Boruc by Gabriel. It was another Ozil assist, although the way that Charlie Daniels subsequently held his head in his arms suggested that he knew that he was also culpable for having lost Gabriel’s run.
Arsenal then suddenly shifted up a gear and should really have scored a second goal before half-time. Walcott was put clear twice more by Ozil but had his shots blocked by Boruc, while Bournemouth were also rescued by the post when Gabriel again found space from an Ozil corner. Per Mertesacker was following in on Gabriel’s glancing header but, from a distance of no more than one yard, somehow headed his subsequent chance wide.
Arsenal's Per Mertesacker misses from close-range in the first-half
Arsenal then had a penalty appeal turned down after Simon Francis tangled with Olivier Giroud, although Bournemouth also felt aggrieved following a Gabriel challenge on Dan Gosling.
The second-half was following a similar pattern of Bournemouth pushing forward with plenty of industry but Arsenal always looking more incisive and their extra quality proved decisive in the 63rd minute. Ozil broke from midfield and passed into the feet of Giroud, who duly delivered what has become almost a trademark with an exquisite backheel to open Bournemouth’s defence.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain wins a header for Arsenal
Ozil had continued his run and calmly finished a quite brilliant team goal past Boruc. It was full reward for Ozil’s towering wider contribution and seemed finally to settle Arsenal, who missed a flurry of chances to add a third. Hector Bellerin teeed up Walcott, who shot narrowly wide, while Giroud also tested Boruc before Oxlade-Chamberlain’s shot was deflected into the post off Daniels.
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