Arsenal lost 2-1 to Bournemouth against a goalless draw on Saturday, but Michael Arteta challenged them to use the “rage and anger” from that defeat to inspire their Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
Declan Rice’s opener, his 100th appearance for the club, gave Arteta’s side the lead.
However, in the second half, Dean Huijsen scored the equalizer for Bournemouth, and Evanilson made it 2-0.
Arsenal will need a much-improved performance in the second leg of the Champions League semifinal match on Wednesday after being defeated by PSG 1-0 in the first leg of the competition.
Read more: England Defender Dier To Leave Bayern At The End Of Season
“We should have ended the game,” he said. Additionally, Arteta added, “You’re in big trouble if you defend your box in two set-pieces in the manner we’ve done,” he said.
“It didn’t live up to the standards that we have.” We didn’t want to create the momentum and a strong vibe for today.
“Frustration, rage, and anger are what we have produced.” Make sure to use Wednesday with that.
Six points, a top five finish in the Premier League, and the second-placed Gunners are also necessary for Champions League qualification for the following season.
Arteta acknowledged this week that watching Liverpool celebrate their Premier League title last weekend was “very painful.”
The Champions League is their last chance to win a trophy this season, and the Gunners finished last behind Manchester City for the previous two years.
Arteta is still awaiting the outcome of his six-year Arsenal reign, with the 2020 FA Cup being his final silverware.
Never having won the Champions League final, Arsenal reached it in 2006.
It was intriguing to see Arteta select a full-strength side for a largely meaningless game against Bournemouth because there was so much at stake in the Parc des Princes the following week.
Key players Rice, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and William Saliba made their debuts for Arsenal instead of resting.
The notable absentees for Arsenal were Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino, with Arteta revealing that the former would need to take a fitness test to assess his suitability for the PSG game.
Sucker punch,  
With a chance to advance to Europe, Bournemouth had already defeated Arsenal at the Vitality Stadium in October.
Evanilson made his debut for Bournemouth after being redone against Manchester United.
When Jakub Kiwior slipped while clearing Milos Kerkez’s cross, the Brazilian forward wasted a golden opportunity.
Leandro Trossard made a good save from Kepa Arrizabalaga as the Arsenal forward met Martinelli’s cross with a header that forced a good save from the opener.
In the 34th minute, Rice made the breakthrough by grabbing Odegaard’s precise pass and rounding Kepa to slot into the empty net before exchanging a bow to the crowd.
After the Arsenal keeper miscued a pass to the striker, Evanilson nearly threw a lob from 40 yards.
After the interval, Saka should have sprinted head-tamely toward Kepa from Martinelli’s cross.
Saka retreated a short while later, cutting nimbly inside for a curler that fizzed past the far post.
The failure, which had a significant impact on their title race surrender, saw Arsenal fail to win nine league games this season in which they held the lead.
And yet again, Arteta’s side was shook by a sucker punch as Bournemouth scored with their opening goal goal in the 67th minute.
When Huijsen climbed to loop a header over Raya from six yards, Antoine Semenyo launched a long throw into the Arsenal area.
In the 75th minute, Evanilson paid the price for the Gunners’ lack of resolve.
After a VAR check for a potential handball, Bournemouth finally had time to celebrate when Marcus Tavernier flicked the ball in the direction of the far post and Evanilson poked home.
Source: Channels TV
Leave a Reply