Mikel Arteta described Arsenal’s defeat to Bournemouth as a “big punch in the face” and said his players had to “stand up for the fight” as they prepare for a crucial week in the Premier League title race.
Arsenal were unable to extend their lead at the league summit after suffering a 2-1 loss to Bournemouth at the Emirates on Saturday.
Arteta’s side remain nine points clear of second place Manchester City, who have two games in hand, and the two sides meet at the Etihad next Sunday.
“Very disappointing obviously, it’s a big punch in the face, and it’s about how we react now,” Arteta told TNT Sports after the match.
Arsenal trailed to Eli Junior Kroupi’s first-half opener, before Viktor Gyokeres levelled the scores from the penalty spot on 35 minutes. Bournemouth’s Alex Scott slotted home 16 minutes from full-time to consign the league leaders to defeat.
Arteta said his side “did a lot of strange things” during Saturday’s loss and criticised their efficiency when they created positive openings.
“Credit to them (Bournemouth) for what they’ve done,” he continued. “When we had a lot of opportunities in the first half, when we break the press, regain the ball, to run, to open the spaces, we were far from efficient.
“The first opportunity they have to attack the box is a deflection, we have a really bad defending action, it costs us the goal. That’s emotionally something we have to deal with. We try to recover, try to push them. (When) we score the penalty you expect a different game. We did a lot of strange things today I would say.”
Manchester City play Chelsea on Sunday. They could narrow the gap between them and Arsenal to three points, and have a game in hand, should they win at Stamford Bridge and beat Arteta’s side next weekend.
The Arsenal manager called for an instant response from his players ahead of a key week.
“It has to hurt, and we have to take it on the chin,” Arteta said. “There are no grey areas now. You stand up and go for the fight or you’re out, and that’s it. That’s what this level’s going to require now.”
Arsenal return to action against Sporting CP in the Champions League quarter-final second leg on Wednesday and lead the tie 1-0.
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