Arsenal saw their unbeaten start in the Premier League come to an end on Saturday with a 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth with French defender William Saliba sent off after a VAR review
Arsenal endured a damaging evening in their fight for the Premier League title against Bournemouth.
The Gunners slumped to a 2-0 defeat to the Cherries on Saturday evening. Goals from Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert sealed three points for the home side at the Vitality Stadium.
Arsenal’s task was made even harder by the dismissal of William Saliba – the Frenchman being sent off for a last man challenge on Evanilson. He will now be missing next weekend against Liverpool.
Mikel Arteta will be getting his men back to the training pitch over the coming days ahead of the Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk. Take a look at all of the headlines from North London:
Premier League explain Saliba red
The Premier League have penned a statement explaining why William Saliba was sent off against Bournemouth on Saturday. It read: “The referee gave Saliba a yellow card for a challenge on Evanilson.
“The VAR deemed that Saliba denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and recommended an on-field review. The referee then upgraded the yellow to a red card.”
Saliba was initially booked for the challenge on Evanilson on the halfway line. But following a VAR review, referee Rob Jones brandished the red card. Saliba is now the third Arsenal star to have been sent off this season after Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard.
Rice fires simple message
Declan Rice has demanded Arsenal cut out the mistakes following Saturday’s defeat. Speaking to Sky Sports after the full-time whistle, he said: “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. Bournemouth kept probing and made it 2-0.
“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. The big chance was Martinelli’s and the keeper read it and made a great save and one minute later, normally a routine we are so strong at, has done us.
“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.”
What went wrong for Arsenal vs Bournemouth? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Webb controversy clarified
The PGMOL have clarified the controversy surrounding Howard Webb and what he was doing during William Saliba’s sending off against Bournemouth. The former top-flight official was at the Vitality Stadium and was spotted with an earpiece.
But he was NOT communicating with referees as the decision was made. Webb was simply listening to the communications between the on-field team and the VAR officials.
He did not have any input or option to talk to referees during the game. The ability to listen into communications is common practice when refereeing management or coaches attend games.
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