Arsenal suffered a first defeat of the season against Bournemouth, going down 2-0 to the Cherries at the Vitality Stadium.
The Gunners were reduced to 10 men when William Saliba was sent off in the 30th minute for denying a goalscoring opportunity, before second half goals from Ryan Christie and a Justin Kluivert penalty made it a night to forget for Mikel Arteta and his men.
Here’s how the players rated this evening.
Read the Bournemouth 2-0 Arsenal match report and see the goals here
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Defeat 100% on Arteta. 3 defensive midfielders at Bournemouth, you’re having a laugh surely
Such a defensive and conservative manager, and it always costs us without fail every season. This one will be no different.
Absolutely – you can actually see Arteta demand that Trossard play that pass to no man’s land & he makes the “pull him down” signal to Saliba. But what was totally inexcusable was the text chat to Howard Webb asking for VAR to get involved. Clueless manager costing us dearly.
Even before that nonsense from Trossard we looked pathetic. Could barely pass the ball and looked clunky and rigid. That’s what happens with 3 dms playing in your midfield while players who deserve a chance are penalised for being too young.
Nobody who is honest with themselves thinks we were ever going to do anything other than nick a goal from a set piece even with 11 men, that’s what we were set up to do.
Not really what I saw – we were methodic for sure – but we’d already turned them around a handful of times in the first 30 mins. Stirling would have gotten another couple of opportunities & if he hadn’t made one count we’d have had Jesus and Martinelli to go after them in the final 20-30 mins. Gabi played IN Brasília like what 72 hours prior? Not sure if Tross looked off it or it was the double / triple teaming on that side that Bournemouth were doing that shut him down – he was getting the ball pretty far… Read more »
Sterling is 2 classes below Saka. We practically tame on the right wing.
Leaving out the mitigating circumstances of all the injuries we’ve been suffering, the red cards changing the game state and the fact we wouldn’t have a title to lose without him
It’s a small pitch, so the three “defensive midfielders,” who all have some scoring potential and passing range, made sense. Bournemouth’s press confused us and put us in danger. What sunk us was individual mistakes. I don’t have the heart to go over the crazy backpasses and errant outlet passes etc., but we all saw the errors that led to the two goals and could have cost us at least one more. A bad day at the office for almost everyone, including Arteta. They’ll just have to learn from this–quickly.
Because which of our fit midfielders would you have played instead? The 17 year old one who has yet to start a Premier League game, give him his first start in a tough away game, and if he does badly you’d be on here complaining instead about why Arteta started him?
Not saying Arteta got his tactics right in this one, but to call a manager who regularly starts essentially midfielders at full back and forwards in midfield “conservative” sounds to me like just wanting to complain about a result and finding random clichés to do so.
Those ratings look spot on
It’s funny because I said to a friend this morning that this is exactly the kind of low key game where we get reduced to 10 men in controversial circumstances with the Liverpool game around the corner. Lo and behold here we are. Not sure how you can deem that a red card with a covering defender and the attacker 20 miles from goal but let’s be honest. We all knew what the outcome was going to be didn’t we? Arsenal down to 10 men for the majority of the game against low key opposition, missing key players and their best… Read more »
We were flat from the start. Needs a hard look at ourselves rather than victim mentality
We were flat because we were missing key players and we just came back from an international break. Man Utd looked flat. Spurs started poorly. It affects everyone. We were never given a chance to improve. We need to have a little empathy for our own players sometimes.
We can blame the incompetent refs in this country, but today, we left them no choice. PGMOL didn’t ask Trossard to make an aimless pass like that to put Saliba in that kind of situation..I mean, this is not the same as the stupid reds they handed us against Brighton and City.
“abusive relationship” Get a grip!
We need to get rid of this victim and siege mentality, it’s counter productive and reeks of mediocrity.
Sorry buddy, but that comment has a whiff of boomer. Regardless of what you think of today, I am not really sure you understand fully what we are up against.
Ageist much?
Not if you read my comment properly. Also pretty sure I was the one being called out for having a victim mentality.
and what if they’re a boomer? is that a bad thing?
Oh please, if that was a Bournemouth player we all would have been screaming for a red card. The Trossard red was down to his stupidity, only the Declan Rice card was BS. We are Arsenal football club why are we moaning like victims when we have been poor offensively all season. If Arteta didnt trust Nwaneri then why did we not buy a back up seeing that we let Viera and ESR go? We always get so close and then proceed to fuck it up, hopefully this will be a wake up call.
Heres a question, genuinely do you think a Bournemouth player would have gotten a red card under the same circumstances? Or a City player for that matter? Please try to answer honestly.
Bournemouth (and 17 other PL teams) Yes
City – No
Honestly.
No. Not even if they were playing Liverpool next. These officials ffs
Yes they would, have you seen how many red cards were handed out this weekend? The refs are shit but do you really think the PGMOL as shitty as they are, sit behind a round table having secret meetings on how they can screw up our season? Come on man we were awful before the red card, own it.
We really were. It was a terrible setup for a game likely to amount to us trying to break down a low block. We didn’t need three industrious midfielders, we needed creativity. This would have been a Zinchenko/Nwenari start, given the marginal threat this opponent posed.
I don’t think they need a round table. I think they need one discreet conversation with Sheik Mansoor, a significant financial payment and literally any on field opportunity, no matter how small. And why wouldn’t you think that? This isn’t just about today. The referees are literally being invited to Abu Dhabi to ‘consult’. This is a club who benefit from an extraordinary amount of generous on field decisions vs a club who set the precedent for novel ways to receive red cards. This is a club who are up against 150 charges for fraud. What makes you think any… Read more »
We have visit Rwanda on our shirts and what is the name of our stadium again? Please stop with victim mentality and look how under par we have been this season. As much as i agree that 115 charges fc are dodgy this bribery chat Is all tin hat stuff, show me the proof that Sheikh Mansoor are paying off these refs , otheewise look at our inadequate transfer window and impotent attack.
Unfortunately i will never have the evidence and if i did I’d probably be a dead man walking. There is enough circumstantial evidence out there for you to surely put 2 and 2 together though? If it stink of shit, it’s probably shit. In this case it positively reeks.
Also how have we been under par? Sure we haven’t played as well as we know we can but top teams don’t hit top form typically until the business end. City do this every year and get the plaudits. We’ve had the toughest fixture list I can remember for the start to this season and we’ve been utterly heroic in the face of scandalous refereeing decisions and injuries and suspensions to our best players. I’m sorry we don’t have two 60 million pound players to cover every position but that’s what happens when you follow the rules everyone except city… Read more »
Nothing stays secret forever. Even City’s cheating was exposed in stolen email. I do think refs have biases. They are human beings. And I think some refs have a certain bias against Arsenal. I think the ref should have stuck with yellow since that’s what he gave at first. Nothing in the replay that was clear and obvious. His gut said one thing. Slow-motion said another. It reminded me of when Arteta got a red for making a tackle at midfield, although I can’t remember the match. Nobody was paying off refs back then. That call is a 50-50 red… Read more »
If you genuinely think it’s all fixed then why on earth do you continue watching?
Ps. It isn’t fixed. No one has taken a bribe.
I don’t think VAR would’ve called the referee to the screen if it was a Bournemouth player, I think it would’ve stayed a yellow. City probably wouldn’t have been given a card at all. Unfortunately an Arsenal player will be more likely to get the ultimate punishment in most instances, which is why it’s important not to give them any opportunity. All our red cards have been for stupid things.
Bournemouth have had shocking decisions go against them this season. Do your homework. This loss was on us. End of.
It is very depressing, and I agree with everything you’ve said – it seems to be stacked against us.
Try to enjoy the fact that we are one of the best teams around, we dominate almost every game and we win most of the time.
If you can enjoy that week to week (not this week..) it makes up for the fact that winning the league is practically an impossibility.
Think about where we came from recently (late Wenger and Emery eras) and be thankful!
Also, know that you are not alone! We’re all suffering in the same way 😭
Great comment, such a shame you and many of us feel the same way, it’s fucking draining! All we want is an equal playing field. It was bad enough during the fergie era when we had to beat everybody else as well to win things (Man Ure, the refs, the sports media, other clubs with ex man ure managers…and so on, the whole agenda and narrative against us). This is on a whole different level. I truly believe that man city and it’s money are behind it all (as exemplified by 115 charges) they will do absolutely anything in my… Read more »
I appreciate many people feel the same way. Somehow it makes me feel a little better. Sadly, some still can’t see through the bullshit and prefer to rag on our own players/fanbase. Regardless of what people think of today, I struggle to understand why some can’t empathise with the wider context of my point.
I don’t think many here are disagreeing with you that things are somewhat rigged against us. What I think some here are arguing with you about is the defeatist attitude. What good is that sort of nihilism going to do? We almost did win the title even despite everything being stacked against us, and we might still pull it off, and if we do it’s because we’ll have dedicated our attention and energy to what we can control rather than what we can’t. So if you’re thinking about picking up a banner and going to the streets to protest this… Read more »
Honestly Ebo, I really wish I could get behind your never say die attitude. I want to, I really really do. And at the end of the season we may defy all the odds and come though as champions. But it won’t change how I feel about the integrity of the system. It won’t change how much I despise cheating. I think the only way we can make a stand is if all fans come together from different clubs, put tribalism aside and protest what City are doing, what PGMOL are doing just like we did for the super league.… Read more »
Conspiratorial bullshit. Arsenal were poor, period.
I think it was a red, we can have zero complaints.
I love arteta and certainly think he is the best man for the job, however I feel like at times he goes too defensive at times, I don’t think we needed to bring kiviwor on for Sterling, all it did was spur Bournemouth on. Anyway we move.
Agree. We are so negative when we go down to 10 men under Arteta. It’s like it now really psychologically affect the team. We should still be good enough to beat most teams with a player down, or at least give it a good bloody go!
Don’t agree Sterling was the obvious choice to come off: think we were fine with 3 CBs and could have gone for it at least until HT.
I am almost certain Pep would never have made a move like that. He’d be planning to win the game with the ball at his team’s feet.
115 charges says Pep would make use of more than just the ball to win the game.
My point was, if Arteta was going to make a change, Sterling was the obvious one. I think he should have just dropped Rice back in to CB and kept everyone on though.
Nobody was great today. We seem to start games much slower this season.. the thinking should probably be more along the lines of: hurry up and get a 2-0 lead before we inevitably have someone sent off. On a separate note I know you can’t stop players representing their countries but I do think if we’re serious about winning something our players need to take responsibility for their own fitness and get out of these pointless internationals. Calafiori, Odegaard and now Saka missing after injuries on duty just 8 games in. Havertz did the right thing this time… I love… Read more »
Just so
We started games (and played most of the 90 minutes thereafter) slowly last season. We were fucking awful until 2024. At least we were doing our ‘control’ thing then by passing the ball around so the opposition didn’t get it. This season we just seem to be stodgy as hell. The only game I can remember us playing well is Leicester, where we should’ve been about 4-0 up before they got a fluke and a wonder-goal. The other results have just come about through grit and determination, which I suppose is not a bad thing, but I wouldn’t mind us… Read more »
The upcoming anti-Arsenal “ill-discipline” narrative conveniently ignores the following:
https://www.myfootballfacts.com/stats/premier-league-by-season/premier-league-2023-24/premier-league-red-and-yellow-cards-2023-24/
Corporate “journalism” is a disease, stop consuming it.
The refs got us good today, didn’t they.
PGMOL 1-0 Arsenal.
I think the red card was a red card but there were loads of niggles and barges that Bournemouth were getting away with. The calls against Havertz and Nwaneri for absolutely nothing were typical, it did seem that the referee generally favoured the “underdog”. The players must be sick of it by now, but they need to keep their heads and give the referees no excuses. I’m sure Howard Webb was lapping it up.
For as clear that red may have been it still reeks of the PGMOL having decided to do what they can to prevent us from winning the title. This season as well as all future ones.
Yes I totally agree. I’ve been called a conspiracy theorist for years because I see too many things that have convinced me that PGMOL is bent. That’s why I say that Howard Webb will be loving it that we gave them the perfect excuse. We’ve lost this one and made the Liverpool one harder, all by shooting ourselves in the foot. I do think though, that the players are panicking because there’s an absolutely stupid level of pressure on them this season, and they’re basically expected to go unbeaten the whole season because that’s the only way to beat City.… Read more »
When people say “such and such shouldn’t have done this or that” they fail to recognise that it’s about how others get away with it while we see red every fucking time without fail. We’ll never win shit until the PGMOL, the corrupt fucking organisation of corrupt fucks to end all corrupt fucking fucks, has been abolished and replaced by a professional and accountable body. The way things stand now I’m reaching the end of my tether. I’m beginning to not see the point of even bothering with English football anymore. It’ll just be more if the same rigged shit… Read more »
And just so you know, I’m in total agreement with everything you’ve said here.
Agreed. It was a red card, but considering the entire season so far, refs are very happy to punish us for the slightest mistakes and taking out our best players for the next matches. That said, it’s laughable that a red card for something like this means our best defender being out for 3 matches, same as someone throwing a leg breaker at a player. This rule must change.
I think it’s obvious the PGMOL are on a mission to try and stop us. They’ll have anyone win the PL but us. Whether we can win it anyway I don’t know but those are some seriously shitty odds.
Darkness, I see darkness
Will Oldham agrees.
https://youtu.be/ElygSMtokAw?si=k9DXcEdD7sF7x5WT
Trossard is either fucking quality or shit. Definitely a sliding doors moment with Martinelli not taking his chance. We really need to beat Liverpool next weekend now, which will be harder without Saliba. Fingers crossed Saka is back for that one!
I usually love the Arsenal away support but just chanting 2 nil to the referee and Fuck Howard Webb is not supporting the team and is frankly embarrassing
Nah! Tear into those bent cunts more and harder. They deserve all the abuse everyone can give them.
nwaneri looked really good, very progressive and technically sound. always trying to drive the ball forward and fast. i hope he starts against liverpool. and i’m gonna save the comment about what it says about our team that a player that finally played it forward felt so exciting.
Honestly , every big team would beat that shit B#mouth side with 9 players , but we use to be little in so many moments ..
Howard Webb’s text to the VAR room: 🍌 you having a 🦒, 🛠️ it ASAP.
We start so many games so passively just passing the ball around and not looking to attack and punish teams early. We need to change that mentality and go into matches assuming we are going to have a player red carded and need to build an early lead so when we do get the inevitable red card we will have a lead. This is ridiculous having so many red cards to key players (all in the first half I believe) already this season all on really questionable calls that have caused us to drop 7 points that will come back… Read more »
can someone please tell me why the Bournemouth player wasn’t offsides?
Because Trossard played the pass, not a Bournemouth player
Yes. Because Bournemouth played against Arsenal today. Had that been any other team, bar the 115 Charge Dodgers of course, the decision would have been the reverse. You know all about the PGMOL, yeah? How they are incompetent, unaccountable and bent, right? I’m sure you do but if you don’t then it’s quite amazing how they manage to be all three at the same time. It’s even more amazing how almost everyone knows this but nothing is done to oust them for the sake of saving the game we all love. They just go on and on, year in year… Read more »
One of those nights where it all caught up to us I guess.
On another note, I can no longer stand Alan Smith. Which is sad.
Sometimes we play like a David Moyes team. That first 20 minutes before the red was so ugly, slow and boring. I read a stat in the Athletic about how frequently Arsenal play long. Certainly not Sterling’s fault, any of this, but he seems like he’s nothing more than a 20 minute sub. We really need a backup for Saka. But without Saka, Odegaard and starting three DMs we were never going to get more than a goal off a set piece or from a Bourmouth mistake. Red cards happen. Mistakes happen. But we keep digging holes for ourselves.
Trouble is I can’t stop thinking that we have got our old Arsenal back after watching that Trossard brain fart moment. We lack for quality for sure a team that has potential to win a title. Missing Saka is always a big blow and convinced today Sterling is not the answer and surprised Jesus did not start. With selecting 3 defensive midfielders it appears Trossard was not alone brain farting today. Let’s hope he gets it right against Liverpool and Newcastle away otherwise for sure we can forget about the title this season.
This loss is on Arteta. The team was grossly imbalanced with the selection and the unfamiliar positions some players appeared to be shoehorned into.
Well, it’s early season. I doubt this loss is damaging. However, we really need to stop all these red cards! It’s killing our momentum!
We need to be far more careful and wise to the shit that gets called against us. Saliba was put in a stupid situation but he ran the risk with his action. In that situation you can’t just take the man down at risk of throwing the whole game away. We’ve shown we’re more than capable of wiping teams out after going behind. It would’ve been more sensible to let the ball run, get in a footrace and try not to concede. Saliba is quick and he has a decent keeper behind him. We looked out of sorts today but… Read more »
We caused our own downfall yesterday. We were listless and disjointed in attack but that happens to all teams through a season.
Our problem was we were also careless, unusually so. This wasn’t the resolute side that stood up to City with 10 men.
Bad day at the office. Let’s just put it behind us and move forward. COYG!