Arteta: Bournemouth Defeat a 'Big Punch in the Face' for Arsenal
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| Arteta's Arsenal face crucial tests ahead |
Mikel Arteta described Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth as a “big punch in the face,” urging his players to stand up and fight as the Premier League title charge hangs in the balance.
Arsenal's Premier League title hopes suffer blow after 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth, with Mikel Arteta calling for team to stand up and fight....
Mikel Arteta is urging Arsenal to react after a 2-1 loss to Bournemouth, with Junior Kroupi's goal giving the visitors the lead before Viktor Gyokeres equalized from the spot.
But Alex Scott restored Bournemouth's advantage in the 74th minute, and Arteta's team failed to find a response, slumping to their second home defeat in the league this season.
The Gunners remain nine points clear of second-placed Manchester City with six matches to go, but Pep Guardiola's men, with two games in hand, are right back in the title race.
The two teams meet next Sunday at the Etihad in a game that could be a potential title decider.
“It's a big punch in the face, that's what I said to the boys, and now it's about how we react to that,” said a disappointed Arteta.
“We were very far from the level that we're shown,” he added.
“That's for certain, especially in certain areas that are critical, and when you play against a team like Bournemouth, they were very clear.
“But again, I don't want to criticise any player, especially here, publicly.”
Arsenal's title hopes took a hit after suffering three straight domestic defeats, snapping their quadruple pursuit. Despite this, they remain top of the Premier League table, nine points clear of Manchester City, with six games to go.
Mikel Arteta's side have been inconsistent, and their recent struggles have reignited the title race. Their next match against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium will be a crucial test.
Mikel Arteta is facing a tough task in motivating his players after Arsenal's 2-1 loss to Bournemouth, with the Premier League title race hanging in the balance. Arteta admitted that lifting his team's mental state is a big challenge, especially after back-to-back cup defeats. He's urging his players to channel their frustration into motivation, focusing on the Champions League quarter-final against Sporting and the crucial Premier League clash with Manchester City.
“We know what is at stake, and the fact that as a club we haven't done it for so long is a reason for that,“ said the Spaniard.
“It talks about the difficulty, but I just want to focus on the things that we can control, dominate, and we have done.”
"After that body of work you can't throw it all away"@martinkeown5 and Owen Hargreaves talk pressure, nerves and Arsenal opening up title race after defeat to Bournemouth...
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“It's not that we have to do a lot of new things that we haven't done, no, let's keep doing a lot of it, or almost all the things that we've done for nine months, because that's what has taken us all the way there.”
Arsenal face Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League quarter-final second leg on Wednesday, aiming to build on their 1-0 first-leg lead.
Four days later, they'll host Manchester City in a Premier League clash that could define their season – a huge test for Arteta's side.
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