It takes late for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenalwho had a chance this Saturday to become the interim leader of the Premier but lost at home to Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth (2-0). One play conditioned the match: the expulsion of the William Saliba in the 30th minute, the first of the French defender’s career. This is the first defeat of Arsenal in the current Premier and the first away from home in the whole year 2024.
But it would be very unfair for him. Bournemouth say he won thanks to playing an hour with numerical superiority. From the start, Iraolo’s team knew how to put pressure on the English runners-up, making them uncomfortable. Gabriel Martinelli’s missed chance could have changed the direction of the match.
In addition to Arteta His problems accumulated and at the Vitality Stadium he played without one of his emblems, captain in the absence of the injured Martin Odegaard: Bukayo Saka, injured playing in England.
Saliba saw red for a foul with Evanilson being the last man, but in this case, it would only mean a one match suspension and not three. Of course: the loser is at least the next match against Liverpool.
With the score 0-0 (although Bournemouth had chances) Saliba saw red for a foul on last man Evanilson. This would mean a one match suspension and not three. Of course: the loser is at least the next match against Liverpool.
The referee initially showed Arsenal’s French defender a yellow card, but, after reviewing the game through VAR, he sent him off. A bad pass from Leandro Trossard led to the play where Saliba brought down Evanilson, as the last man.
From there, Arsenal fought off Bournemouth’s attacks as best they could and went into half-time with the scoreline unchanged. Although the introduction of Gabriel Martinelli seemed to encourage the ‘Gunner’ attack after the break, it was in the second half when Iraola’s team sunk into Iraola’s team And Martinelli did not take advantage of a golden opportunity.
Bournemouth’s first goal came from a set piece, a practiced move, in the 70th minute when, following a corner and after play had been extended, Ryan Christie, who had come on for Alex Scott, struck on the left foot that beat David Raya.
Evanilson was the key: Saliba’s tackle on the said player earned the Frenchman a red card and he then forced a penalty from David Raya on him in the 79th minute. Justin Kluivert changed it, the 2-0 finals. Liverpool remain alone, with one point above Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa.
match lineup
13
22
3
4
27
5
11
8
9
16
24
22
4
33
41
2
6
30
5
29
23
19
Vitality Stadium
David Raya22
45′
Ben White4
67′
Riccardo Calafiori33
Declan Rice41
William Saliba2
27′
29′
Gabriel Magalhães6
62′
Raheem Sterling30
36′
62′
Thomas Party5
81′
Kai Havertz29
62′
Mikel Merino23
80′
62′
Leandro Trossard19
63′
Replacements
Tommy Setford36
Jakub Kiwior15
36′
80′
45′
Oleksandr Zinchenko17
Jorginho20
62′
69′
Myles Lewis-Skelly49
Ethan Nwaneri53
80′
62′
Gabriel Jesus9
80′
62′
78′
Gabriel Martinelli11
63′
81′
Ishmael Kabia46
coach
Andoni Iraola
Mikel Arteta
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
