Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth: Arteta cuts frustrated figure as shock defeat dents Premier League momentum
Mikel Arteta cut a frustrated figure after Arsenal’s 2-1 home defeat to AFC Bournemouth, a result that dented their Premier League momentum ahead of a pivotal Champions League trip to Paris Saint-Germain.
Arteta fielded a strong starting lineup, resisting the temptation to rest key players despite the looming semi-final second leg. Declan Rice, marking his 100th Arsenal appearance, opened the scoring, but second-half goals from Dean Huijsen and Evanilson turned the game on its head.
Speaking post-match, Arteta pointed to familiar failings. “We didn’t kill the game,” he said. “We had four or five big chances to score the second goal. Then we conceded poorly from two set pieces. That’s unacceptable.”
Arsenal have now dropped more than 20 points from winning positions this season, and Arteta admitted that the issue is becoming a recurring theme.
The Spaniard accepted that Bournemouth deserved to capitalise, especially given Arsenal’s defensive lapses. “They punished us,” he said. “We lacked composure, we gave the ball away in dangerous areas, and the game turned chaotic.”
Arteta also addressed the controversy surrounding Evanilson’s winner, which appeared to come off the striker’s arm. “I’ve seen images. It looked very different to the decision that was made,” he said, though he stopped short of directly criticising VAR.
Bournemouth’s comeback left Arsenal facing renewed pressure in the league. With Liverpool pulling clear and Manchester City closing in, Arteta was asked if he sensed a dip in focus domestically.
“We prepare for every game the same,” he insisted. “Maybe there’s a lack of freshness with some players having to repeat games. But there’s no excuse. We have to be better.”
Set-piece defending was a particular source of frustration. Arsenal have now conceded 12 goals from such situations in the league this season – the third-most of any side. “It’s costing us points,” Arteta said. “That’s on everyone. Today, they put the ball in the middle of the goal and we didn’t defend it well enough.”
He added that the mood in the dressing room was “rage, anger, frustration,” and insisted that Arsenal must use that emotion to produce a “massive performance” in Paris.
Arteta confirmed that Jurrien Timber’s fitness remains in doubt for the PSG clash, and he had yet to receive a post-match update on Martin Odegaard, who appeared to take a knock late on.
