Arsenal fell victim to their first loss in the Premier League this season against Bournemouth. The game ended 2-0 at the Vitality Stadium as Arteta probably hadn’t expected such a result even without their two key players.
We are obviously very disappointed with the result and gutted because we have to play again in that context. This time was even more difficult than the previous two we faced this season.
-Mikel Arteta
The Gunners had two key players on the sidelines, Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka and pundit Jamie Redknapp felt that this was one of the crucial factors in their loss.
I can’t remember Arsenal giving the ball away this many times at this stage of a game in a long time. They were wasteful, no-one was really getting hold of the ball.
And it does make you think, and I really like Ødegaard, and he gives Arsenal a sense of control, how much they missed him today.
-Jamie Redknapp via Sky Sports
Mikel Arteta on the other hand had other opinions regarding the issue stating that Arsenal should take the blame on themselves even without their key players.
Again, it’s just about using the pain that we are feeling at the moment for Tuesday. We are missing our captain and one of our best players. That’s it. That’s not going to take us anywhere.
-Mikel Arteta
William Saliba’s red was probably the turning point in Bournemouth vs Arsenal
William Saliba’s was the turning point in Bournemouth vs Arsenal
The Spanish manager agreed that playing for so long with just 10 men is kind of an impossible task at this level. Arteta feels that Saliba’s red card was probably the turning point of the game.
Playing for 65 or 68 minutes with 10 men at this level is just an impossible task. It’s an accident waiting to happen, not to get the points.
The striker is on his back. Obviously, he doesn’t expect the ball suddenly to be coming his way. He just made a decision and that’s it.
-Mikel Arteta
Midfielder Declan Rice was as frustrated as anyone but was still proud of the team for giving their best even with 10 men. However, he also pointed out that Arsenal must stop making such mistakes because they can’t get lucky every time.
We’ve kicked ourselves in the foot now three times in eight game. We’ve got away with it twice – at home to Brighton, away to Man City – but luck doesn’t always go your way.
I am proud of us for continuing to fight and believe. Thought we played really well even with 10 men. The naivety of it is, we need to stop making mistakes.
-Declan Rice
Rice agreed with Arteta regarding the difficulty of playing with 10 players. He claimed that 11 players for 90 minutes win football matches.
We want 11 players for 90 minutes and that wins football matches. That wins football matches. With 10 men we showed a lot of character and personality.
-Declan Rice
