Mikel Arteta reacts to William Saliba red card as Arsenal boss issues new demand
Mikel Arteta has urged his Arsenal players to use their defeat to Bournemouth as fuel and told them they cannot afford to feel sorry for themselves.
The Gunners slumped to their first loss of the season on Saturday evening as they were beaten 2-0 by Bournemouth.
Arsenal were forced to play over an hour with 10 men after William Saliba was sent off in the first-half and they also had to cope without the injured Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.
Arteta, however, does not want his squad to go searching for excuses and has encouraged them to bounce back next week when they host Shakhtar Donestk in the Champions League.
“Use the pain we are feeling at the moment for Tuesday, that’s the way to do it,” he said.
“Not feeling sorry for yourself: ‘Oh it happened again, it (Arsenal had a player sent off) happened three times in eight matches, we are missing our captain and one of our best players (Saka) and Jurrien [Timber]’.
“That’s not going to take us anywhere. Leave the energy. These boys deserve it because of the way they try and how they want it. Go again on Tuesday and that’s it.”
Saliba was given his marching orders after bringing down Bournemouth striker Evanilson, who got in behind the Arsenal defence by latching onto a loose pass by Leandro Trossard.
Referee Robert Jones originally gave a yellow card, but he upgraded it to a red after VAR recommended he review his decision at the pitch-side monitor.
It meant Arsenal have now had a man sent off three times in eight Premier League games and Arteta has admitted they must cut that out.
“It was a decision made on the pitch,” he said. “That decision was changed. I don’t think it will change twice. The decision has been made.
“We are very disappointed with the result and gutted because we had to play in that context again.
“Even more difficult than the previous two that we have faced this season to do it with 65 or 68 minutes with 10 men at this level, it’s just an impossible task.
“It’s an accident waiting to happen not to get the points. I cannot fault the team for their effort, their commitment, to play in the way we had to do it.
“There was a big moment at 0-0 when we have a one-vs-one with the goalkeeper and we don’t manage to score. Then in the other end we do that.”
Asked if Arsenal will appeal the red card, Arteta said: “A decision has been made, so that’s it.”
