Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal have suffered an enormous blow after their loss to Bournemouth
Mikel Arteta pulled no punches after Arsenal’s 2-1 home loss to Bournemouth dealt a big blow to their Premier League title hopes, insisting the response from his gamers within the coming days will outline whether or not this season delivers what has eluded the membership for 22 years.
Junior Kroupi gave the guests the lead on 17 minutes with a simple back-post end after Myles Lewis-Skelly was caught out on the far submit, earlier than Viktor Gyokeres equalised from the spot shortly earlier than half-time.
However Alex Scott drove via a weakened Arsenal midfield to revive Bournemouth’s lead on 74 minutes, and regardless of a closing surge from the house facet, the Gunners couldn’t discover a means via. Boos rang across the Emirates at full-time.
“Disappointing,” Arteta advised TNT Sports activities. “It’s an enormous punch within the face and it’s about how we react now. They’re a workforce who haven’t misplaced for 11 video games for a purpose, they did rather a lot proper.
“We have been removed from environment friendly. The primary probability they needed to assault the field, it’s a deflection, a nasty defending motion and it’s a purpose. That’s one thing we now have to recuperate from.”
A Week That Will Outline Arsenal’s Season
The timing may hardly be worse. Manchester City, 9 factors behind going into the weekend, face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and will reduce the hole to 6 – with a sport in hand and a head-to-head on the Etihad nonetheless to come back on April 19.
Arteta conceded that his facet have been nicely under the extent required, however stopped in need of panicking concerning the total image within the race for the crown.
“The second half you anticipate a distinct sport,” he stated. “We did lots of unusual issues right this moment. We have now been very constant. This will occur, that is soccer.”
On whether or not the gamers have been feeling the ache of the outcome, he added: “Loads. It has to harm. They must take it on the chin. You get up and go for the struggle otherwise you’re out.
“It’s an enormous week. Loads at stake. We’re nonetheless in place in each competitions.”
Nonetheless preventing on two fronts
That large week begins on Wednesday when Sporting Lisbon go to the Emirates for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
Arsenal maintain a 1-0 benefit from the primary leg, however the temper going into it might want to shift significantly from what was on show right here.
The league loss was Arsenal’s third in 4 matches throughout all competitions – following the Carabao Cup closing defeat to Metropolis and the FA Cup exit to Southampton – and Arteta’s use of the phrase “constant” felt deliberate.
The long term of high quality that has put them on the prime of the desk shouldn’t be buried beneath one unhealthy afternoon.
However the best way they responded then, with a bounce-back win over Sporting in midweek, is now precisely what’s required once more.
Bournemouth, unbeaten in 11 Premier League video games, have been compact, harmful on the break and totally deserving of their win. For Arsenal, the subsequent seven days will say every part about whether or not this squad has what it takes when the strain is at its biggest.
