Bournemouth, UK (AFP) – In a stunning twist, Arsenal’s unbeaten run this season came to a screeching halt with a 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday. The match proved to be a defining moment, with the dismissal of defender William Saliba playing a pivotal role in the outcome.
After ten matches without a loss across all competitions, Mikel Arteta’s side faced a harsh reality in a match marred by controversy on the south coast. Saliba received his marching orders just half an hour into the game for a professional foul on Bournemouth’s Evanilson. Initially shown a yellow card by referee Rob Jones, the decision was escalated to a red following a VAR review, leaving Arsenal to navigate the remainder of the match a man down.
Despite the setback, Arsenal managed to hold their ground until the closing stages when Ryan Christie struck first for Bournemouth, sending the home fans into a frenzy. A penalty converted by Justin Kluivert sealed the Gunners’ fate, marking their first league loss since falling to Bayern Munich in the Champions League back in April.
The defeat proved to be a bitter disappointment for Arsenal, who could have surged to the top of the Premier League standings with a win. Instead, they find themselves in third place and four points adrift of title rivals Liverpool, who are set to face Chelsea on Sunday. With Saliba suspended for the critical match against Liverpool next weekend, Arsenal will need to regroup quickly.
The Gunners struggled to find their rhythm, particularly in the absence of injured forward Bukayo Saka, who had been sidelined following England’s recent match against Greece. The team appeared sluggish and unable to mount an effective attack, emphasizing Saka’s importance to their offense.
This defeat serves as a stark reminder of how far Arsenal has come under Arteta’s leadership, having transformed from a struggling side to title contenders. However, losing to Bournemouth, only the second time in history, represents a significant hurdle in their pursuit of a first league title since 2004.
The match showcased Arsenal’s struggles following the international break, with Leandro Trossard’s poor pass contributing to Saliba’s rush to cover for Evanilson. The chaotic moment that led to Saliba’s red card encapsulated Arsenal’s troubles throughout the game.
Even after Saliba’s exit, the Gunners nearly took the lead when Raheem Sterling’s pass found Mikel Merino, who narrowly missed the target. Arteta was quick to respond to the growing threat from Bournemouth, bringing in Poland defender Jakub Kiwior and shifting Declan Rice to fill the gap left by Saliba.
However, Bournemouth’s relentless attack finally paid off in the 70th minute. A clever set-piece from Lewis Cook resulted in Christie’s deft finish, stunning the Arsenal defense. The Cherries struck again shortly after, when Kiwior’s misplaced back-pass allowed Evanilson to win a penalty after being fouled by goalkeeper David Raya. Kluivert made no mistake from the spot, leaving Arsenal fans reeling.
As the dust settles, Arsenal will look to bounce back against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday, determined to reclaim their winning form.
