Arteta praises Arsenal homegrown duo

Homegrown duo Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah struck to steer Arsenal past Eddie Howe’s struggling Bournemouth.

The Cherries also had a player who came through their academy score as striker Sam Surridge slotted in his first senior goal for the club in added time, but the Gunners held on.

Arteta hailed young English trio Saka, Nketiah and Joe Willock.

“I’m very pleased, I knew it was going to be tough out here,” said Arteta. “We played a really young squad today and wanted to see their reaction, and I’m very pleased.

“In the first half I think we were really, really good. I’m excited that everything we planned came together in a good way.

“They are important, the core of that team at the moment. So to play with that accountability, I really like it. The young players were terrific, their work-rate, and for me as well the courage to play, to make big decisions and not just play it safe.

“You look at Nketiah on the wing and then three seconds later he’s in the middle of the goal. He’s always in the middle of the goal to score, and the way he works off the ball is terrific.”