Mikel Arteta’s men hit a roadblock in their quest for the Premier League title after being beaten 2-0 by Bournemouth, who capitalized on a numerical advantage.
An early red card for William Saliba saw the Gunners adopt a more pragmatic approach, but they still paid the price for their lack of discipline.
This is Arsenal’s third red card of the season, one more than they had in the entire last season and more than any other team in the Premier League.
Lineups
Arsenal started without Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, but Raheem Sterling, Ben White, and Mikel Merino made it to the starting 11.
Bournemouth saw Julian Araujo and Alex Scott back in the starting lineup, with Ryan Christie and Adam Smith dropped.
How the Match Unfolded
The match began as a cagey affair between the two sides, with Gabriel’s headers blocked early on and Antoine Semenyo’s effort going over the bar. In the 30th minute, Evanilson was through on goal when William Saliba brought him down, resulting in a red card and a one-match ban for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Arsenal had a great chance to take the lead when Gabriel Martinelli’s effort was saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga against the run of play, but the Cherries responded with Ryan Christie smashing the ball into the top post following a corner.
Bournemouth made it two after David Raya was adjudged to have fouled Evanilson, and Justin Kluivert sent the Arsenal keeper the wrong way to double their lead.
Arsenal’s indiscipline is becoming a growing concern for Arteta, with three red cards already this season.
This match also showed the importance of Saliba in the defense, as his absence was keenly felt after the red card. The Gunners will need to address these issues quickly to maintain their title challenge.
For Bournemouth, this victory is a morale boost. Manager Thomas Frank will be pleased with his side’s resilience and their ability to exploit Arsenal’s weaknesses. The Cherries showed clinical finishing and solid defensive work to secure all three points.
What’s Next
The defeat leaves Arsenal with many questions about their discipline and squad depth as they look to stay in the title race.
Arsenal will be keen to bounce back as they take on Liverpool in their next Premier League fixture, while Bournemouth travels to the Midlands to face Aston Villa.
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