Arsenal‘s disheartening 2-1 loss to Bournemouth in the Premier League saw the Gunners set a new unwanted club record as they let another lead slip in the top flight.
With a top-five finish not yet assured and the impending trip to Paris Saint-Germain coming up, regaining some momentum was of paramount importance for Mikel Arteta‘s team on Saturday evening.
The Spaniard’s team selection was that of a man who was desperate for three points, as nine of his 11 available regular first-teamers started the match, the exceptions being Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber.
Arteta’s bold decision initially paid off, as Martin Odegaard‘s slick reverse pass found its way to Declan Rice, who skipped past Kepa Arrizabalaga and comfortably finished into an empty net.
However, the visitors were not short of chances to try to level before half time, and even though their profligacy cost them in the first period, Bournemouth made their pressure tell in the second 45.
Arsenal let lead slip in 10th Premier League game this season
Andoni Iraola‘s men levelled matters when Antoine Semenyo‘s long throw found the head of Dean Huijsen, the rumoured Arsenal target who nodded home into the far corner past David Raya.
The hosts’ defensive lapses cost them dear once again later in the second period, as Marcus Tavernier headed Alex Scott‘s corner to the back post, where Evanilson won his tussle with Odegaard and bundled the ball home.
Evanilson’s goal was checked for a potential handball, but the Brazilian’s unorthodox strike was allowed to stand, as Arsenal failed to win a Premier League game in which they had been leading for the 10th time this season, a new unwanted club record.
In total, the Gunners have now let 21 points slip from their grasp from winning positions in the current campaign, also a joint-record alongside the 2019-20 season, when they finished eighth.
What is going wrong for flimsy Arsenal?
Not a single Arsenal fan should have been comfortable with their side only a goal ahead on Saturday, as the outcome summed up the story of an extremely frustrating Premier League season.
Arteta may justifiably point to injuries, PSG and the suspected handball on Evanilson’s winner, but with so many points dropped from winning positions, their problems run much, much deeper.
Teams have largely figured out how to contain Arsenal; sit in a low block, double up on the wingers and beat Arteta’s men in the air. Do those three things successfully, and the Gunners are stunted.
It does not help Arsenal that so many of their players simply refuse to shoot first time or shoot at all – Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli are particularly guilty of that – and one wonders whether that is simply a lack of confidence from them or an instruction from the coaching team to always look for an extra pass.
Arteta’s position as Arsenal boss has not seriously been called into question since 2021, but if disaster strikes and the Gunners miss out on Champions League football for next season, he will have serious questions of his own to answer.
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