Declan Rice pointed out Arsenal's 'naivety' as the key factor in their first defeat of the season, which came after William Saliba was sent off against Bournemouth. Prior to their visit to the south coast, Arsenal had secured victories in 10 of their 12 away Premier League games in 2024. However, they were defeated by two goals from Bournemouth substitutes Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert in the second half. Saliba initially received a yellow card for bringing down Evanilson, but VAR later upgraded it to a red card. Television footage showed PGMOL chief Howard Webb at the Vitality Stadium, seemingly listening to an earpiece as VAR made the decision, though it is understood that he was merely monitoring the match officials' communications. Saliba will miss the upcoming showdown with league leaders Liverpool at the Emirates, becoming the third Arsenal player to be sent off in their first eight league matches of the new campaign.
'We've kicked ourselves in the foot three times in eight games and we got away with it at home to Brighton and away at Manchester City,' Rice commented. 'I'm proud of the players for fighting, even with 10 men, but the naivety... We need to stop making mistakes because you want 11 players for 90 minutes and that's what wins you football matches. With 10 men we showed a lot of character and personality to stay in the game. We can't make silly mistakes. You need all your best players on the pitch at all times. The belief is so high and we will stick together. This is football, whatever happens the most important thing is that you stick together and stay in the right direction.'
Mikel Arteta acknowledged that his side must improve their discipline if they aim to challenge for the title again. 'It was an accident waiting to happen not to get the points,' the Arsenal manager said. 'We have to fault ourselves – football is a sport where errors are a part of it and two big errors have cost us unfortunately. But obviously we have to play 11 against 11 if we want to be in the position that we want to be.' Arsenal face Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday before hosting Liverpool on Sunday. Arteta, who was without injured duo Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard against Bournemouth, insisted they must recover quickly from the disappointment to get their season back on track.
'Using the pain we are feeling at the moment for Tuesday, that's the way to do it,' he said. 'Not feeling sorry for yourself – 'Oh it happened again'. 'It happened three times in eight matches.' 'We are missing our captain and one of our best players and Jurrien [Timber]'. That's not going to take us anywhere. Leave the energy. These boys deserve it because of the way they try and how they want it. Go again on Tuesday and that's it.'
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