'Sick of it' - Arsenal get transfer reminder as Mikel Arteta priority becomes crystal clear

The national media have urged Mikel Arteta to sign a new striker following Arsenal's win over Bournemouth. While the Gunners managed to eventually put three past Andoni Iraola's side at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon, they struggled to translate dominance into goals.

Despite numerous chances, Arsenal couldn't break the deadlock until they were awarded a penalty in stoppage time. Shortly before the break, Bukayo Saka put the north Londoners ahead from 12-yards.

Leandro Trossard doubled the home side's lead a little under half an hour into the second-half before Declan Rice put in the final nail in the coffin in injury time. While the Gunners strolled to victory in the end, they had a nervy first-half which on another day could've gone pear-shaped.

Ultimately, Arteta has been warned that his team won't always be bailed out by a spot-kick. So, football.london has taken a look at how the national media have reacted to Arsenal's victory and how it's impacted the Spaniard's summer transfer window plans.

The Mirror – Jacob Leeks

"It was honestly a mystery how Bukayo Saka's penalty was the only difference between the teams come half-time. Arsenal had an astonishing 16 shots in the opening 45 minutes as they also dominated possession.

"But as has happened so often this season, the Gunners struggled to convert that dominance into clear-cut chances. Just five of their shots were on target, highlighting what is likely to be Arsenal's biggest focus in the transfer window.

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"Boss Arteta looks likely to target a new striker in the summer, with Kai Havertz playing through the middle against the Cherries. A proven goalscorer will be at the top of his list, given his side's struggles to convert their chances."

The Express – Fraser Watson

"Arteta's team are the league's top scorers, and yet he will by now be sick of the argument that his side lack the clinical finished required to elevate them to the next level. Despite a 3-0 win, he’s about to get sicker of it yet.

"At one point in the first-half, the hosts had commanded 96 per cent of possession in a five-minute period. They battered the Bournemouth goal as Trossard had two efforts blocked – Saliba, Saka, and Thomas Partey were denied by Travers – and Takehiro Tomiyasu and Declan Rice were off target from point blank range.

"The relentlessness of the pressure was matched only by the wastefulness of the finishing. Finally, Saka calmed nerves from the spot but further chances went begging before the second goal went in.

"Forget the stats, deep down the Spaniard will know that you don’t get away with botching that many opportunities on a regular basis. Title or not, he must pursue a No.9 in the summer."

The Independent – Barney Ronay

"This was a Premier League game that posed all kinds of existential questions. If Kai Havertz falls in a crowded penalty area and nobody touches him, but someone does also kind of touch him, is that a penalty?

"Is simulation still simulation if the thing you’re simulating would have happened anyway because of things like legs, tangles, space, slide, path of run? And most importantly, is there any way of not having to talk about things like this ever again?

"The answer to the last of these questions is, of course: no, don’t be ridiculous. By the end of this fun, sunlit 3-0 Arsenal win against a game Bournemouth the word “cheating” was trending on social media.

"The Premier League had moved a little further along its inevitable journey into full-blown conspiracy-as-entertainment. And the most interesting part of this match seemed a bit lost in the shouting."

The Telegraph – Jeremy Wilson

"The match was into the 97th minute, victory was already assured, plenty of fans were already making their way to the exit, and a fair few players were probably also contemplating a warm shower. But in one single action, there was still time for Declan Rice to sum up why he looks more like football’s first £105 million bargain by the week.

"It had been an individual performance to again prompt comparison with some of the great all-round Premier League midfielders – men like Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Patrick Vieira and Steven Gerrard – not just for the purely technical influence, but the obvious on-field leadership.

"Rice’s versatility to play either in a screening role in front of the defence or with more freedom in search of goals also becomes more striking by the game, especially with Thomas Partey back alongside him over recent weeks at the heart of Arsenal’s midfield."