MARTIN Odegaard was at the double and William Saliba also got in on the act as Cherries were well and truly beaten 3-0 by rampant Arsenal at Vitality Stadium.

Norwegian star Odegaard netted twice in the opening 11 minutes before centre-back Saliba rubbed salt into Cherries’ wounds nine minutes into the second half, with a superb strike which found the top corner.

Defeat left Cherries nursing back-to-back losses ahead of next week’s trip to title-chasing Liverpool. It was their first home league reverse since January.

Cherries made three changes from the starting XI which slipped to a 4-0 defeat to Manchester City last time out.

There was a first start for Argentina international Marcos Senesi, while Jordan Zemura returned from missing out due to COVID-19 a week ago.

Philip Billing also came back into the Dorset club’s midfield. Jack Stacey, Ryan Christie and Lewis Cook were the trio to drop to the bench.

Arsenal, who went into the contest off the back of two Premier League wins, named an unchanged XI for the third game in a row.

And it was the Gunners who took the advantage after just five minutes. A high ball forward was not dealt with by centre-back Senesi up against Gabriel Jesus.

That allowed the Brazilian to slip through Gabriel Martinelli, who saw his low shot saved by Mark Travers before Odegaard tapped in.

And it was not long before Arsenal were celebrating a second. Jesus was the provider on this occasion after Poole-Born Ben White had found him on the right.

The striker pulled the ball back for former Real Madrid man Odegaard to fire into the bottom corner.

Arsenal continued to toy with Cherries in possession for the opening 30 minutes. Jordan Zemura went into referee Craig Pawson’s book for a challenge from behind on Bukayo Saka.

Cherries had just 26 percent possession during the opening period against the north London outfit.

Cherries boss Scott Parker opted for a double change at the interval with Cook and Jaidon Anthony coming on in place of Senesi and Ben Pearson. Anthony was making his Premier League debut against his former club.

The hosts also reverted to a back four for the first time this campaign – and the alterations looked to spark improvement shortly after the break. Chris Mepham had a header on target.

But that sign of life was short-lived as the Gunners added a third on 54 minutes. After a free-kick into the box was only half cleared by the hosts, Frenchman Saliba arrowed an effort into the top corner to put the game beyond doubt.

Arsenal thought they had a fourth when Jesus tucked home Odegaard’s though ball but, following a VAR review, the goal was chalked off for offside.

Cherries spurned a clear opportunity with 11 minutes of the contest remaining. Kieffer Moore’s turn and pass found the run of substitute Ryan Christie, who drilled wide of the far post.

Moore himself then worked returning keeper Aaron Ramsdale with a looping header. Travers denied Jesus after Arsenal had carved open Cherries again late on.

The Irishman also got down low to deny Eddie Nketiah in the 90th minute.

Cherries: Travers; Mepham, Senesi (Anthony, h-t), Kelly; Smith, Lerma, Pearson (Cook, h-t), Tavernier, Zemura; Billing (Christie, 65); Moore.

Unused subs: Stacey, Hill, Marcondes, Dembele, Lowe, Neto (g/k).

Booked: Zemura, Smith.

Arsenal: Ramsdale; White (Tomiyasu, 75), Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka (Tierney, 88); Saka (Lokonga, 88), Odegaard (Smith Rowe, 75), Martinelli (Nketiah, 75); Jesus.

Unused subs: Holding, Elneny, Vieira, Turner (g/k).

Booked: Jesus.

Referee: Craig Pawson.

VAR: Paul Tierney.