Arteta on whether the red changed the game
Absolutely. We are very disappointed with the result and gutted because we had to play in that context again. It’s an accident waiting to happen not to get the points in this context. I cannot fault the team for the way they approached it. Tonight we made two big errors that cost the game.



Mikel Arteta is set to face the press after Arsenal's Premier League clash with AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

Bournemouth probably edged the early exchanges as the game struggled to really catch light. It burst into flames around the half hour mark as William Saliba was sent off in controversial circumstances.

The Frenchman was initially shown a yellow card for tugging down Evanlison just outside the centre circle as the Brazilian threatened to run in on goal courtesy of Leandro Trossard's wayward backpass. VAR intervened though to send Rob Jones to the screen and overturn his decision.

This forced the match in to a game of attack vs defence - a familiar story for Arsenal this season. The Gunners coped well for large parts and could even have taken the lead through Gabriel Martinelli.

Eventually though they were undone by a clever corner routine which saw Ryan Christie hammer home. Evanilson then surged onto Jakub Kiwior's weak back pass and was felled by David Raya in the box enabling Justin Kluivert to dispatch a penalty that made the game safe for the hosts.

You can hear everything Arteta has to say on all that and much more with football.london's chief Arsenal correspondent Kaya Kaynak in our live blog below.

20:10Kaya Kaynak
Arteta on if his side could have done more with 10 men?
More with 10 men? I don’t know what more we can do. When you play away from home in this league. What we’ve done with 10 is quite remarkable.

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20:10Kaya Kaynak
Arteta on how to stop the red cards
There are things that we have discussed in relation to certain topics. What happens today is almost unpredictable. Very difficult to plan it. We need to play with 11vs11 if we want to win at this level.

Arteta on the red itself
It was a decision made on the pitch, that decision was changed. I don’t think it will change twice.


Arteta on how to stop the red cards
There are things that we have discussed in relation to certain topics. What happens today is almost unpredictable. Very difficult to plan it. We need to play with 11vs11 if we want to win at this level.

Merino to make up for Saka's key passes/outball and Sterling to provide the penetration.

Sorry.....copied too much from that presser

Merino would have started even if Saka was fit.

With the players available and their fitness there really wasn't much doubt over the XI. Can't see any change that would have made sense.

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 minute ago
Merino would have started even if Saka was fit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I doubt it. Arteta trust saka defensively so probably would have just stuck havertz back into the mf

comment by Castor Troy (U8700)
posted 0 seconds ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 minute ago
Merino would have started even if Saka was fit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I doubt it. Arteta trust saka defensively so probably would have just stuck havertz back into the mf
----------------------------------------------------------------------
*Trossard back into mf

Ethan should have started.

Starting Nwaneri isn't happening, stop fooling yourself.

Play Trossard in midfield and leave out your new signing when the opportunity to start him for the first time??

comment by Gunnerthru (U6675)
posted 45 seconds ago
Ethan should have started.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He should have but he is clearly not the Odegaard back up as some suggested on here

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 9 seconds ago
Merino would have started even if Saka was fit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
But deeper in a two. By going to a 3 we literally changed formation to a 4-2-3-1. Rice and Partey were too deep which is why Bournemouth's press was so effective. raya was going long to Havertz.

Usually the ball goes to Saka where it sticks and we can get out to push up 15 yards. Or it goes to Martinelli who can carry the ball out.

I think Arteta tried to out possess Bournmouth today by bunging up CM with literally 3 CMs.

comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted less than a minute ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 9 seconds ago
Merino would have started even if Saka was fit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
But deeper in a two. By going to a 3 we literally changed formation to a 4-2-3-1. Rice and Partey were too deep which is why Bournemouth's press was so effective. raya was going long to Havertz.

Usually the ball goes to Saka where it sticks and we can get out to push up 15 yards. Or it goes to Martinelli who can carry the ball out.

I think Arteta tried to out possess Bournmouth today by bunging up CM with literally 3 CMs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No, the midfield would have still been Partey, Rice, Merino. No way was he dropping Rice or Partey.

Merino wasnt at the raced today.

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 37 seconds ago
comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted less than a minute ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 9 seconds ago
Merino would have started even if Saka was fit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
But deeper in a two. By going to a 3 we literally changed formation to a 4-2-3-1. Rice and Partey were too deep which is why Bournemouth's press was so effective. raya was going long to Havertz.

Usually the ball goes to Saka where it sticks and we can get out to push up 15 yards. Or it goes to Martinelli who can carry the ball out.

I think Arteta tried to out possess Bournmouth today by bunging up CM with literally 3 CMs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No, the midfield would have still been Partey, Rice, Merino. No way was he dropping Rice or Partey.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Merino would not have started imo if Saka was fit.

HqhahahaHhQA97awuib

Some people are so blind when they watch Arsenal every week

Do you think Merino was at full pace?

We lost the game today on individual mistakesl by our players.

He was at the same pace as he would have been with Saka in the team.

comment by Castor Troy (U8700)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 minute ago
Merino would have started even if Saka was fit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I doubt it. Arteta trust saka defensively so probably would have just stuck havertz back into the mf
----------------------------------------------------------------------
?

Our first choice midfield this season is clearly Rice, Merino, Rice.

Rice so good he features twice!

Obvs meant Odegaard.

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 4 minutes ago
Some people are so blind when they watch Arsenal every week
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Arteta went to Man City and gave them a game with Trossard playing no.10 with Havertz. We have been successful covering for Odegaard with that formation and personnel.

Why change dj if it were not for Saka missing?

Partey was probably our best player. Rice was also decent

Because Merino was finally fit - the man bought in to play midfield.

Partey was excellent. Merino was completely off pace. Like someone not match fit.