Saliba sees red as Bournemouth end Arsenal's unbeaten start
MIKEL ARTÉTA’s early season Premier League title challenge suffered a double setback as they suffered their first defeat and William Saliba became their third player to be sent off only eight matches into the new season.
This latest first-half red card not only changed the flow of the match but also inflicted a possibly tougher penalty on Arsenal in the form of Saliba’s ban for the visit of title rivals Liverpool next Sunday.
Bournemouth substitute Ryan Christie completed an evening of shocks when he drove in from a 70th minute set piece corner.
That telling finish came only seconds after Gabriel Martinelli missed a great chance to give Arsenal the lead. A 77th Justin Kluivert penalty sealed Arsenal’s fate.
It will be a tough defeat for manager Arteta to swallow as he bids to pick his side up for Tuesday’s Champions League visit of Shakhtar Donetsk and then Liverpool five days later.
Arsenal edged the opening 30 minutes without really impressing when Saliba was sent off. The French defender pulled back Bournemouth forward Evanilson as they both chased a misplaced Leandro Trossard pass that was hurtling toward the Arsenal goal from the halfway line.
Referee Robert Jones initially showed only a yellow card, possibly mindful of the fact another Arsenal defender, Ben White, was in a position to cover the breakaway threat.
VAR Jared Gillet – with PGMOL boss Howard Webb watching from the stands - sent him to review his decision pitch side and change it to a red card and reduce Arsenal to 10 men.
A foolish risk by Saliba marked the first red card of his career. The vocal travelling Arsenal support chanted for their fallen defensive hero before a prolonged ironic chorus of ‘10 men again, ole, ole’ and then assorted more forthright attacks on Webb.
The cheers were slightly muted when Arteta reacted by withdrawing Raheem Sterling for the defensive cover of Jakub Kiwior.
And it was the Polish international defender who indirectly gifted Bournemouth their second goal.
Bournemouth's Justin Kluivert (centre) celebrates scoring their side's second goal. Pic: Steven Paston/PA Wire.His under-hit back pass sent Evanilson clear with only Raya to beat. The Spanish keeper made contact on the edge of the area and the rest was inevitable.
Bournemouth fans were calling for another red card and sang ‘can we play you every week’ after Kluivert tucked away the spot kick with just over ten minutes to go.
Contentious decisions from an Arsenal perspective but not an unfair result based on how they played and how little they created.
How Arteta must have wished he could have been able to select injured stars Bukayo Saka and captain Martin Odegaard Speaking before the match of Saka’s injury, the Arsenal manager said: "We tried the last few days [to get him fit].
"He didn't have the right feeling, so we decided there was no point pushing him. That's why we have various options. It is a good test for the team."
Bournemouth: Kepa 6, Araujo 5 (A Smith 46), Senesi 6, Zabarny 6, Kerkez 6, Scott 6 (Christie 63), Cook 6, Ouattara 5 (Sinisterra 63), Semenyo 6, Tavernier 6 (Kluivert 63), Evanilson 6 (Unal 82). Subs: Travers, Huijsen, Brooks, Adams.
Arsenal: Raya 7, White 7, Saliba 5, Gabriel 7, Calafiori 7, Rice 6, Partey 6, Merino 6 (Nwaneri 81), Sterling 5 (Kiwior 37, Jesus 81)), Trossard 6 (Martinelli 64), Havertz 7. Subs: Setford, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Kabia.
Referee: Robert Jones 5
