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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described the club’s 2-1 loss to Bournemouth on Saturday as a “big punch in the face,” urging his squad to show resilience as their Premier League title bid falters.
Despite a first-half penalty from Viktor Gyokeres, the Gunners were unable to overcome goals from Junior Kroupi and Alex Scott.
This second home league defeat of the season marks a significant downturn for the club, which was pursuing a quadruple only a few weeks ago but has now suffered three straight domestic losses.
While Arsenal still hold a nine-point lead at the top of the table, Manchester City loom dangerously close with two games in hand.
Arteta acknowledged that his team performed well below their usual standard, particularly in critical areas of the pitch.
He emphasised that the pressure of ending a 21-year title drought adds to the difficulty, but insisted the players must focus on the consistent form they have displayed over the last nine months rather than attempting to reinvent their approach.
Looking ahead, the manager highlighted the urgent need for his squad to return to full strength, noting the impact of missing key starters like Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.
Arsenal must quickly regroup for a crucial week that includes a Champions League quarter-final second leg against Sporting Lisbon, followed by a potential title-deciding showdown at Manchester City next Sunday.
Arteta maintained that despite the “painful” result, the club remains in a position he would have gladly accepted at the start of the season.
