Mikel Arteta has called on his Arsenal players to use the “anger, frustration, rage, and disappointment” of their 2-1 Premier League defeat to Bournemouth as fuel for the Champions League semi-final second leg clash against PSG.
The Gunners travel to Paris on Wednesday hoping to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg but will go into the game off the back of a first-ever home loss to the Cherries.
Declan Rice opened the scoring on his 100th appearance for Arsenal but second-half goals from Dean Huijsen and Evanilson turned the game on its head to give Bournemouth not only their first-ever away victory over Arsenal but their first league double over the Gunners.
It ends in defeat.
Attention turns to Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/NtkmjQTAEL
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 3, 2025
The result keeps Arteta’s side just three points ahead of Manchester City in third and lifts Andoni Iraola’s men, who are chasing European football next season, up to eighth in the table.
While the Arsenal boss was left frustrated by his players showing, he insisted they will need to use that anger as motivation ahead of the trip across the Channel.
“We didn’t create the right positive momentum,” Arteta admitted.
“It certainly created a lot of anger, frustration, rage, disappointment and let’s use all of that for Wednesday.
“That’s what we have to do”
Despite defeat, one positive for Arteta was that all his players appeared to come through the match unscathed.
However, the Gunners boss remained tight-lipped over the fitness of Jurrien Timber, who missed the game through an injury picked up in the first leg but may return on Wednesday evening.
