Arsenal suffer major blow in English Premier League title charge
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says his side were "far from efficient" in the Gunners' 2-1 home defeat by Bournemouth in their English Premier League clash on April 11.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – Arsenal suffered a “big punch in the face” in the English Premier League title race on April 11, losing 2-1 at home to Bournemouth to give Manchester City renewed hope they can catch the long-time leaders.
The visitors took the lead at a nervy Emirates Stadium through Eli Junior Kroupi, but Mikel Arteta’s men equalised through a Viktor Gyokeres penalty later in the first half.
The Gunners made multiple attacking changes early in the second period but struggled to create clear-cut chances against Andoni Iraola’s enterprising team.
Bournemouth were back in front in the 74th minute after a fluid move finished off by Alex Scott, who rifled the ball past David Raya.
Arsenal pushed for a leveller but slumped to just their second home defeat in the league this season.
“Disappointing. It’s a big punch in the face and it’s about how we react now. They are a team who haven’t lost for 11 games for a reason – they did a lot right,” said Arteta on TNT Sports.
“We were far from efficient. The first chance they had to attack the box, it’s a deflection, a bad defending action and it’s a goal. That’s something we have to recover from.
“The second half you expect a different game. We did a lot of strange things today. We have been very consistent. This can happen, this is football.”
On whether the players are hurting, he added: “A lot. It has to hurt. They have to take it on the chin. You stand up and go for the fight or you’re out.
“It’s a big week. A lot at stake. We’re still in a good position in both competitions.”
With six games to go, Arsenal, chasing their first Premier League title since 2004, are nine points clear of second-placed City.
But Pep Guardiola’s men – who have two games in hand – can close to within three points of the leaders if they beat Chelsea on April 12 and overcome the Gunners at home in a top-of-the-table clash on April 19.
Arsenal came into the match lifted by their last-gasp 1-0 win in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Sporting Lisbon on April 7.
But they were sluggish against a bright Bournemouth team who played the more fluid football in the opening stages.
Iraola’s side took a deserved lead in the 17th minute when Kroupi tapped in from close range after the ball fell to him following a wicked lopping deflection off defender William Saliba.
The goal followed a well-worked move, with Bournemouth captain Ryan Christie playing a sweetly measured ball to Adrien Truffert, whose cross was deflected into Kroupi’s path.
The Frenchman, 19, is the first teenager to score 10 goals in his debut Premier League season since Robbie Keane for Coventry City in the 1999-00 campaign.
Moments later, Kai Havertz squandered a clear chance to level, putting a header over the bar and the crowd became increasingly edgy as the home side struggled to settle.
But Arsenal were level in the 35th minute when Gyokeres blasted home from the penalty spot after Christie’s handball in the box.
Arteta, who has been criticised for being overcautious this season, made three attacking changes early in the second half – bringing on Eberechi Eze, 16-year-old Max Dowman and Leandro Trossard for Havertz, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli.
But the changes failed to lift the Gunners, who looked short of attacking ideas beyond long balls to Gyokeres, who fired wide from a good position in added time.
“We showed great personality to play in a big game and a big stadium. I’m very happy for the players,” Bournemouth boss Iraola told BBC Sport.
“We started really well. Physically we sustained the level of the game. We finished strong.
“Defensively, apart from the penalty we defended those (set-piece) situations well. We were quite brave. A complete performance.”
Just weeks ago, Arsenal were on track for a unique quadruple, before defeat by City in the League Cup final and a shock loss to Southampton in the FA Cup.
They remain favourites for the Premier League title but Guardiola’s side, with their two games in hand, will travel to Stamford Bridge with renewed hope. AFP
