Flash back just over a year ago to when Arsenal made the trip to the south coast to play Bournemouth a matter of miles from stretches of rolling beaches. Unbeaten since the start of the season, their form made for similarly picturesque reading.
There was sunny optimism written across the young and hungry squad and Mikel Arteta, slightly weathered by his four years at the club, appeared reinvigorated. But in one corner of the dressing room, a black cloud lingered over one player.
Kai Havertz, bought from Chelsea for £65million and originally drafted in to play in midfield, had endured a difficult start to life on the other side of the capital after failing to score a goal or register an assist in his first nine games in red and white.