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Bournemouth 2 Arsenal 0: Ten-man Gunners STUNNED as they drop points in title race after defeat to brilliant Cherries
Arteta's men crash to rare away loss after contentious red card
IF Arsenal continue to shoot themselves in the foot, they will not have a leg to stand on in this Premier League title race.
And the question now stands: do they have the discipline to topple Manchester City?
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For the third time in eight Prem games this season, the Gunners were forced to play the majority of a 90-minute match down to 10 men after a needless red card.
It is also the second time this has happened inside a first half. Talk about making things unnecessarily hard for yourselves.
On the previous two occasions, Mikel Arteta’s men have salvaged a point – and probably should have earned more – after controversial dismissals for delaying the restart against Brighton and Man City.
But this could not be said on the south coast against Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth.
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William Saliba’s 30th-minute sending off – confirmed by VAR after ref Robert Jones was asked to view the monitor having originally given a yellow – was fair, and also comical, as he boldly and foolishly dragged down Evanilson just inside his own half as the last man.
Often so good on the road – unbeaten in their previous 12 in 2024 – the visitors were unable to muster a response as they huffed and puffed to a deserved first defeat of the term.
Ryan Christie finally broke the deadlock in the 70th minute, and nine minutes later another uncharacteristic mistake – this time from David Raya – gave Justin Kluivert a 12-yarder to end the contest.
Arteta’s boys are City’s biggest threat to a fifth title on the spin, yet right now seem more intent on throwing it away than ending that run with a first Prem trophy for 20 years.
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The big blow before kick-off was Bukayo Saka’s absence – clearly still not over a slight hamstring strain picked up for England on international duty last week.
It was just the fourth time the Three Lions star had missed a Prem game since the start of the 2021/22 campaign – and only the third game in all comps since December 17.
But there was good news elsewhere. Doubts over Gabriel Martinelli, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Thomas Partey and Ben White were put to one side with their inclusions in the squad.
For Arteta, this was a return to a stadium where he took charge of his first game for the club back on Boxing Day 2019 – an ugly 1-1 draw to kick off his tenure in uninspiring style?
Five years on, and a bit of déjà vu? Arteta would have hoped that days like this were behind him and his squad, one consistently now challenging for major honours.
But when you always have an early red card in you, these sorts of miserable contests are always around the corner.
Arteta unleashed a team that boasted nine of the 11 standing six feet tall and over, including a gigantic midfield of Partey, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino on his first Prem start.
On paper, that trio should steamroller the opposition, but this never materialised in the opening 20 minutes. Arsenal were clunky, loose in possession and lacking an attacking intent to unlock a well-coached Iraola outfit.
Sloppiness was creeping in. Raya’s pass out was short and Alex Scott teed up Antoine Semenyo to blaze into the stands.
Speaking of sloppy, Leandro Trossard’s 27th minute shanked, deflected back pass had Saliba scrambling and Evanilson pounced, only to have his arm dragged and twisted before hitting the deck.
The French defender, the smoothest of players, had a rare brain-dead moment, with the guilt instantly written all over his face.
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And even when Jones issued a yellow, that look of a naughty schoolboy remained, surely knowing that VAR would step in to turn his nightmare into an early shower.
Yes, it was a foul around 45 yards from goal, but a clear denial of a goal scoring opportunity nonetheless, one that would never have been recovered by Saliba’s fellow defenders.
The image of PGMOL chief Howard Webb sat on his phone in the stands, listening in on the Stockley Park dialogue, did little to appease the away end.
Instead, they chanted: “F**k Howard Webb” before serenading Saliba with their chant to the tune of Latin pop hit ‘Tequila’.
Arteta would not have been blamed had he decided to down a bottle of the stuff there and then in the dug-out. Instead, sensibly, he hauled off Raheem Sterling for Jakub Kiwior.
Arsenal player ratings vs Bournemouth
By Alex Crook
TEN-MAN Arsenal suffered their first defeat of the season as brilliant Bournemouth dealt them a South Coast setback.
The Gunners travelled to face Andoni Iraola's men having won five and drawn three of their opening eight matches this term.
But their task was made a tricky one when William Saliba was shown a red card on the half-hour.
Ryan Christie brilliantly fired the hosts into a deserved lead following a well-worked set piece routine 20 minutes from time.
Justin Kluivert then sealed his side's incredible 2-0 victory from the penalty spot on 79 minutes.
Here's how SunSport rated each Gunners performer on the day.
DAVID RAYA - 5
Was lucky to get away with one poor pass out from the back early on. Made amends for another error by saving smartly with the legs to deny Marcus Tavernier after initially spilling a Semenyo cross-cum-shot before clumsily conceding the penalty.
BEN WHITE - 4
England outcast was back in the team after four games out, but did not look 100 per cent fit and found it tough going containing the lively Antoine Semenyo down the Bournemouth left in the first half and Dango Ouattara in the second.
WILLIAM SALIBA - 3
Usually calm and collected under pressure but paid the price for a rare moment of panic when he hauled down Bournemouth striker Evanilson to get himself sent off and will miss next weekend’s crunch clash at home to title rivals Liverpool as a result.
GABRIEL - 5
Given the captain’s armband in the absence of the stricken Bukayo Saka, but not at his commanding best, especially after losing centre-back partner Saliba. Did not really step up to the leadership plate.
RICCARDO CALAFIORI - 6
Did a better job containing Semenyo when Bournemouth’s dangerman switched wings at half-time than White did in the first half, but unable to have his usual influence going forward.
THOMAS PARTEY - 5
Back in his traditional central midfield berth after being used as an emergency right back in the 3-1 win over Southampton. Was second best up against Bournemouth’s impressive Lewis Cook.
DECLAN RICE - 5
Another of Arsenal’s international contingent who looked sluggish after the break from domestic duty. Struggled to impose himself on the game in midfield and unable to get forward as much as he usually does. Did his bit dropping into the back-line after Saliba’s dismissal.
RAHEEM STERLING - 4
Former England man was deployed on the right wing in place of the injured Bukayo Saka and gave the ball away a few times when in promising positions before being sacrificed after the Saliba red card.
MIKEL MERINO - 5
Finally able to make his full Premier League debut after an injury-affected start to his Arsenal career and showed some nice touches. Also fired into the side-netting with the visitors’ best first half opening.
LEANDRO TROSSARD - 4
Started the game well but sold Saliba short with a poor back pass that led to the red card and disappeared from the action after that before being subbed shortly after the half-hour mark.
KAI HAVERTZ - 5
The German cut an isolated figure up front, especially after Arsenal were reduced to ten men, but worked tirelessly for the team without ever looking like adding to his run of scoring in the previous four games in all competitions.
SUBSTITUTES
Jakub Kiwior (for Sterling, 37) - 4
Gabriel Martinelli (for Trossard, 64) - 5
Gabriel Jesus (for Kiwior, 81) - N/A
Ethan Nwaneri (for Merino, 81) - N/A
Unlike the opening stages of the first half, chances cropped up before the break.
Semenyo and Marcus Tavernier wasted good openings after Raya’s fumble, while Merino dragged an effort wide from 10 yards out.
Arsenal were unchanged at the break, their away form giving them a belief they could see this one out.
That confidence drained away almost instantly as Semenyo missed a sitter from six yards from a teasing Dango Ouattara delivery.
These title races are often defined by moments.
Saliba’s red card will likely be one, as will Gabriel Martinelli fluffing his lines with a one-on-one, failing to convert the gift provided by Kepa’s misplaced pass.
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Two minutes later, Bournemouth punished them – Christie smashing in from range from a clever short corner routine, really rubbing it in to their set-piece loving opponents.
By the time Raya clobbered Evanilson in the box from a shocking Kiwior back pass, no one was surprised. Arsenal’s heads were gone, and their unbeaten start shattered.
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