Mikel Arteta points finger at Arsenal star who had ‘biggest chance’ in Bournemouth loss

Mikel Arteta said Arsenal were the masters of their own downfall on the south coast after being “punished” by Bournemouth – and highlighted Gabriel Martinelli’s miss as one of the key moments in the game

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta rued missing “the biggest chance” through Gabriel Martinelli in their 2-0 loss to Bournemouth on Saturday, admitting errors cost them the game at the Vitality.

The Gunners dropped crucial points in the title race as goals from Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert from the penalty spot condemned them to an agonising defeat, with the team struggling after William Saliba’s first half red card.

Arsenal still had chances despite having ten men as Martinelli was guilty of a huge miss when he was played in by Mikel Merino before watching Bournemouth keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga thwart his effort at close range.

Arteta said Arsenal were the masters of their own downfall on the south coast after being “punished” by Bournemouth – and highlighted Martinelli’s miss as one of the key moments in the game.

“We didn’t capitalise and got punished,” he said. “We had the biggest chance in the game with Martinelli. It’s a game of errors and tonight we made two big ones and it cost us the game.”

Martinelli had started the game on the bench before coming on for Leandro Trossard in the 64th minute of the game. He has two goals and two assists from five Premier League starts this season, with three more appearances coming as a substitute.

Martinelli and Trossard are both battling to be Arsenal’s starting player on the left wing this season, with Arteta being forced to rotate the pair so far.

Arteta was critical of the whole Arsenal team after the frustrating loss, which sees them fall away from title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.

“It’s very difficult to win in the Premier League with 10 men for 60-70 minutes, it’s just an accident waiting to happen,” Arteta told Sky Sports. “We have had to go through it in three games and that cost us the game.

“We had the big chance and the moment in the game to score and have a different result and then we conceded a goal. We try to stick to the rules. The three [red cards] have been different ones and three very different outcomes.”

However, he decided against criticising referee Robert Jones for sending off Saliba, adding: “The decision has been made. It was made on the pitch, then it was changed on the pitch, now they’re not going to change it so decision made.”

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