Declan Rice said Arsenal’s “naivety” cost them dearly as they sank to a first defeat of the season after William Saliba was sent off against Bournemouth.
Arsenal had won 10 of their 12 previous away Premier League games in 2024 before their visit to the south coast but were undone by two goals from Bournemouth substitutes Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert in the second half. Saliba was initially shown a yellow card for bringing down Evanilson before it was upgraded to red by VAR. Television footage showed the PGMOL chief Howard Webb at the Vitality Stadium listening to an earpiece as VAR made the decision, although it is understood that he was just listening in to the comms from the match officials.
Saliba will miss next weekend’s showdown with leaders Liverpool at the Emirates after the France defender became 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,” said Rice.
“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 his side must improve their discipline if they want to challenge again for the title.
“It was an accident waiting to happen not to get the points,” said the Arsenal manager. “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 entertaining Liverpool on Sunday. Arteta – who was without injured pair Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard against Bournemouth – insisted they must recover quickly from the disappointment to try and 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.”
