CHERRIES slipped into the relegation zone for the first time this campaign following a dreary 4-0 defeat at home to Arsenal.

Spot-kicks in each half from Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz followed Bukayo Saka’s opener, Cherries punished for sloppy play at the back on three occasions.

Poole-born Ben White made it four in stoppage time, rising highest to head home at a free kick.

It means Cherries’ wait for a first Premier League win under Andoni Iraola stretches into October, after three points from seven games to start the season.

Talismanic striker Dom Solanke survived an injury scare after coming off with an ankle concern in Wednesday’s EFL Cup win over Stoke City, whilst Tyler Adams, a debutant off the bench, missed out on the matchday squad entirely.

Whilst there were seven changes from the midweek victory, there was only one swap from Cherries’ last Premier League outing against Brighton, the injured Lloyd Kelly replaced by Marcos Senesi.

Chances were at a premium for both sides, with neither goalkeeper truly troubled in the opening quarter of an hour.

But a confusing moment at the back led to the away side taking the lead on 17 minutes.

Gabriel Jesus attempted to nod the ball back into the danger zone with Saka lurking in the six-yard area.

However, the Brazilian’s header awkwardly flew goalwards, clanging off the post and dragging Neto out of position.

That allowed the unmarked Saka to nod home and open scores.

Max Aarons’ full stretch to attempt to win the ball of Eddie Nketiah was ill-advised, the full back instead deemed to have caught his man.

That caused referee Michael Salisbury to point to the spot, allowing captain Odegaard to roll the ball into the bottom left corner and double Arsenal’s lead.

Like Solanke earlier in the half, Philip Billing took too long to fire a shot of inside the box, his effort blocked away for a corner.

Shortly before the break, Cherries tested David Raya in the Arsenal goal for the first time, Ryan Christie’s snapshot just about held by the Spaniard.

Cherries’ panic whilst defending the Gunners’ first sustained attack of the half led to Christie giving away a needless penalty, the Scot chucking himself into a tackle on Odegaard inside the area.

The charitable theme was continued when Odegaard allowed summer signing Havertz the chance to open up his account for Arsenal, the German taking the second spot-kick of the game.

He also opted for the bottom left, sending Neto the wrong way to put the game beyond doubt with over 30 minutes remaining.

Cherries struggled to muster much of note up the other end, with Arsenal cruising to the three points with the same scoreline they inflicted upon their hosts in this fixture last term.

Late on Neto smothered Jesus’ attempt at close range, the Brazilian goalkeeper denying his compatriot with his feet.

Neto had to produce another stop to keep the scoreline low, the keeper palming away substitute Smith Rowe’s effort from close range following Marcos Senesi’s unsuccessful attempt to foul Jesus in the build up.

But the captain’s efforts were in vain, White nodding home Odegaard’s wide free kick to add further gloss to the scoreline.

There was another good save from Neto to round off the action, the former Barcelona man at full stretch to push away Smith Rowe's powered effort.

Luton’s first victory of the campaign lifts them above Cherries, with Iraola’s side now 18th in the Premier League table.

Cherries: Neto, Aarons, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez (Smith, 83); Cook, Billing (Rothwell, 75), Christie (Semenyo, 83); Tavernier (Sinisterra, 59), Kluivert (Ouattara, 59), Solanke.

Unused subs: Radu (g/k), Brooks, Traore, Moore.

Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko (Tomiyasu, 69); Odegaard, Rice (Jorginho, 81), Havertz (Smith Rowe, 81); Saka (Vieira, 76), Nketiah (Nelson, 69), Jesus.

Unused subs: Ramsdale (g/k), Kiwior, Trossard, Elneny.

Booked: Havertz.

Referee: Michael Salisbury.