BOURNEMOUTH — On a nice fall day on the South Coast there was nothing good a few journey to Bournemouth for Arsenal as Mikel Arteta’s aspect have been lowered to 10 gamers and the title contenders suffered a shock defeat, their first of the Premier League season.
[ MORE: Bournemouth 2-0 Arsenal as it happened, video highlights ]
It was additionally Arsenal’s first away Premier League defeat since December 31, 2023 and first league defeat since April 14, 2024.
After William Saliba was despatched off within the first half for denying an apparent goalscoring alternative, Ryan Christie slammed dwelling a intelligent corner-kick routine and Justin Kluivert scored a penalty kick within the second half to present the Cherries a well-known victory.
[ MORE: Declan Rice, Mikel Arteta on Arsenal’s red cards ]
Andoni Iraola acquired the higher of his shut pal Mikel Arteta in dramatic style as Arsenal’s followers lamented the officers and VAR all through, nevertheless it was the Bournemouth followers you possibly can hear loudest within the clear Dorset sky lengthy after the ultimate whistle blew.
Right here’s a take a look at what we realized from Bournemouth’s shock win vs Arsenal.
Saliba pink card name unlucky, however appropriate
For the third time within the opening eight video games of this season Arsenal have been lowered to 10 gamers in controversial style. After Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard had been despatched off in opposition to Brighton and Man Metropolis, Arsenal coughed up leads and drew each video games. This time they misplaced and Saliba being despatched off after a VAR evaluate was unlucky nevertheless it was clearly the proper name. After initially reserving Saliba, VAR requested referee Robert Jones to go to the monitor. The proof was damning for Saliba. Trossard’s overhit move again in direction of his personal aim performed Evanilson clear by way of and put Saliba in a really unfortunate place. With David Raya working again to his personal aim and Ben White not ready to get round on the duvet simply, Saliba made the split-second determination to tug again Evanilson. It was a transparent denial of an apparent goalscoring alternative. All of it occurred rapidly nevertheless it needed to be a pink card as Evanilson would have been capable of run at aim and have an effort. Saliba will now miss Arsenal’s enormous dwelling recreation in opposition to Liverpool subsequent weekend and though Arsenal’s followers have been removed from glad within the away finish (chanting ‘cheats, cheats, cheats’ and singling out head of the PGMOL Howard Webb for criticism), they’ll haven’t any complaints about this determination.
Raya’s shaky outing spreads in Arsenal’s uncommon defensive off-day
From giving the ball away cheaply to flapping at crosses, misplaced lengthy passes, spilling photographs, lacking his kick on a clearance after which bringing down Evanilson to present away a penalty kick, David Raya seemed flustered all through. Bournemouth put stress on Raya and the Spanish goalkeeper, who has been so key in large moments this season, didn’t cowl himself in glory. That uneasiness appeared to unfold all through Arsenal’s protection as Kiwior made a poor error which led to Bournemouth’s penalty kick, switched off from a nook kick, the normally unflappable Ben White couldn’t deal with Semenyo and Outarra and there was normal panic earlier than and after Saliba was despatched off. This was a really un-Arsenal show. With accidents piling up and Arsenal now struggling for confidence within the one space, protection, which has been so essential for them during the last 12 months, Arteta will need to see a large response from his aspect in opposition to Shakhtar in midweek and Liverpool subsequent weekend. It’s powerful to place the blame on one participant and Raya has been excellent for many of this season however his off-day set the tone for the defensive unit in entrance of him.
Bournemouth lastly end their possibilities
Andoni Iraola has finished a effective job at Bournemouth and their factors tally this season doesn’t replicate how nicely they’ve performed. So usually they’ve dominated video games however couldn’t discover the crowning glory however they plugged away and one second of intelligent set-piece planning and good execution gained them the sport. The margins are so small within the Premier League and Bournemouth have Semenyo, Evanilson and Co. inflicting issues often and this win will give them enormous confidence they’ll kick on and possibly even push for European qualification this season. That’s the long-stated goal of American proprietor Invoice Foley and with their new coaching floor near completion, intelligent spending within the switch market and a supervisor on his means up, the Cherries aren’t completed plucking factors off the large boys this season.