Mikel Arteta admitted that Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon “created a lot of anger, frustration, rage, disappointment”, but pledged to channel those emotions into next week’s Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Arsenal took a first-half lead against the Cherries only to drop points for the fourth time over their previous five Premier League matches. A pair of set-piece goals proved to be the Gunners’ undoing as Dean Huijsen – a top transfer target for the hosts – headed Bournemouth level before Evanilson bundled in a 75th-minute winner.
The north London outfit were already deflated by a convincing 1-0 defeat at home to PSG in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final last Tuesday. “It didn’t create the right momentum,” Arteta admitted this weekend. “It created a lot of anger, frustration, rage, disappointment.”
Yet, as Arsenal prepare for the decisive tie in the French capital next week, Arteta tried to search for a positive amid this spring implosion. “Let’s use all of that on Wednesday,” the Spanish boss pleaded. “That’s what we have to do.”
Arteta’s skipper Martin Odegaard wasn’t quite so optimistic. “Massive disappointment,” the Norwegian captain fumed post-game. “I think we started the game pretty well. We got the goal and felt like we controlled pretty much everything, but they score and we lose control of the game.
“We never find the rhythm after that, it is too chaotic and too sloppy from us. The second half is not acceptable. We have to move on as we have a massive game coming up. We have to get ready for that and analyse this game as well.”
Unlike Arsenal’s recent setbacks against the likes of Everton, Brentford and Crystal Palace, the dropped points couldn’t be blamed on a weakened squad. Arteta effectively selected his first-choice XI for the visit of Bournemouth, only making two changes from the lineup which started against PSG in midweek.
The raging tactician may contemplate a few more tweaks if he is to keep Arsenal’s dream of continental glory alive next week.
