Arsenal news: Unai Emery hails David Luiz’s impact after Brazilian scores first goal for club

Defender Callum Chambers also praised the former Chelsea centre back’s dressing room impact

Unai Emery and Callum Chambers hailed the impact of David Luiz in the Arsenal dressing room after the Brazilian scored his first goal for the club.

Luiz’s early header was the only goal of the game as the Gunners edged to a nervy victory over Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium.

And while Luiz has endured early difficulties on-the-pitch since arriving at Arsenal, Emery says the centre back has had a positive impact on the dressing room since arriving from Chelsea.

“Yes, because he’s very positive,” the Arsenal manager replied when asked whether Luiz was a popular figure at the club.

“Every time he’s speaking about positive things and helping young players.

“He came late into the squad but really, his commitment is very high with us, and his behaviour is too. Everybody is happy with that.”

Callum Chambers has made the right-back berth his own over the last few weeks, and he too has been impressed by Luiz’s impact, suggesting the centre back has helped him at the start of the season.

“David has been brilliant, he has come in and no-one in the club has a bad word to say about him,” Chambers said.

“He is one of the nicest guys I have met, he talks to you, gives you advice and makes everyone feel like he is giving you his undivided attention.

“Off the pitch, he is a great guy and on the pitch he brings his qualities and is playing well at the moment.

David Luiz celebrates giving Arsenal the lead against Bournemouth (EPA)

“He brings some added experience, obviously he was won things and I haven’t won as many things as he has, so there are things I can learn from him both on and off the pitch, it is always good to have experience like that in the team.”

Arsenal moved up to third with the win over Bournemouth, just a point behind Manchester City after the champions lost at home to Wolves.

Emery’s side were excellent in the first half, pushing Bournemouth back with an organised press and winning the battle for midfield supremacy, with Luiz’s glance from a Nicolas Pepe corner putting them ahead in the ninth minute.

The Arsenal manager admitted his side perhaps felt the pressure of having a slender advantage, knowing what victory would mean.

“We knew if we won, we’d go third. For our confidence and our way, it was important, but not feeling the pressure of that.

“Maybe in the second half, we were winning 1-0, maybe in some moments we felt that pressure.”