October 19th 2024.
Former Arsenal player Emmanuel Petit was taken aback by Mikel Arteta's demeanor on the sidelines during their match against Bournemouth. He noticed that the Arsenal manager seemed out of character and not quite himself. It was a crucial game for Arsenal as they had the opportunity to climb to the top of the Premier League table, but instead, they suffered their first defeat of the season.
The Gunners have been playing at a level that could potentially challenge top teams like Manchester City and Liverpool for the title this season. However, their hopes were dealt an early blow when William Saliba was shown a red card for stopping Evanilson from scoring a goal. Initially, he was only given a yellow card, but after a VAR check, the referee Robert Jones changed it to a red card.
Even though Arsenal was down to ten men, they were still in the game until Bournemouth's Ryan Christie scored the first goal on the 70th minute from a well-executed corner. 10 minutes later, Justin Kluivert sealed the deal with a penalty goal after Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya brought down Evanilson following a backpass from Jakub Kiwior. This defeat was a missed opportunity for Arsenal to put pressure on Liverpool and Manchester City, who were playing the next day.
Petit admitted that it was an off-night for Arsenal, a team that is aiming to win their first Premier League title since 2004. He also pointed out that Arteta was unusually quiet on the sidelines, in contrast to his usual energetic and vocal self. Glenn Murray, a former Premier League striker, also noticed that Arsenal lacked their usual mentality under Arteta, and it was almost like they were back to their old ways.
On the other hand, Arteta acknowledged that Saliba's dismissal in the first half had a significant impact on the game and ultimately cost them the match. He also mentioned that it is difficult to win a game with only 10 men for such a long time. They had their chances, but they couldn't capitalize on them, and Bournemouth took advantage of the situation. Arteta also addressed the fact that this was their third red card in three different games, each with a different outcome.
Saliba's red card means that he will be suspended for their next game against Liverpool, which is a significant blow for Arsenal. However, for Bournemouth, this win was a statement that they can improve on their 12th place finish from last season under their impressive manager, Andoni Iraola. Lewis Cook, a key player for Bournemouth, acknowledged that Arsenal is a top team, but their hard work and control of the game helped them secure the win. They were prepared for Arsenal's attacking players and took advantage of the red card. Cook also mentioned that even though Arsenal is known for their attacking style of play, they can also adapt and be a compact team.
In conclusion, it was a disappointing night for Arsenal, but it was a significant win for Bournemouth. Both teams have shown their potential and will continue to fight for their respective goals this season.
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