For the third time in eight games this season, Arsenal had to navigate a large chunk of a Premier League match with 10 men — but for the first time it really cost them as their unbeaten start to the campaign came to an end at Bournemouth.
William Saliba’s 30th-minute dismissal — given after a VAR review — for bringing down striker Evanilson meant Mikel Arteta had to adapt his game plan, something he had to do in draws with 10 men against Brighton & Hove Albion on the opening day and Manchester City last month.
This time, though, the outcome was very different.
Arsenal have built themselves a reputation as set-piece kings but it was a bit of magic from the hosts that proved their undoing, a beautifully-worked corner routine ending with Ryan Christie finishing powerfully to give Bournemouth the lead.
Gabriel Martinelli had a clear chance to equalise but struck tamely at Kepa Arrizabalaga and within minutes Bournemouth doubled their lead. David Raya brought down Evanilson in the box after a mistake by Jakub Kiwior and Justin Kluivert converted from the spot.
The result means Arsenal, who were without the injured Bukayo Saka, missed the chance to move top of the table. They remain a point behind leaders Liverpool, while second-placed Manchester City will go three points above them if they win at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.
Saliba’s red card also means he will miss their next Premier League game, against Liverpool next Sunday.
Jordan Campbell and Anantaajith Raghuraman analyse the key talking points.
How did Saliba’s red card affect things?
Arsenal were still finding their feet in the game when they were put into an unfavourable but familiar situation. In the 27th minute, Leandro Trossard attempted a backpass to his defence that went over Saliba and was latched onto by Evanilson. Saliba instantly tugged at Evanilson’s shirt to send him tumbling just beyond the halfway line.
Referee Rob Jones took his time before cautioning Saliba but remained in touch with VAR Jarred Gillett. Gillett instructed him to review the incident on the pitchside monitor and a second viewing — which confirmed that the recovering Ben White was some distance away from Evanilson and that David Raya was back-pedalling — resulted in Saliba’s dismissal.
Do you agree with the decision? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/pXF9sUqHR7
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 19, 2024
This prompted a change of shape, with White dropping into central defence while Raheem Sterling filled in at right-back. However, after Antoine Semenyo left both in his wake before seeing his powerful shot saved by Raya, Arteta replaced Sterling with Kiwior.
After another Bournemouth attack, in which Semenyo accelerated past White and Kiwior to cross into the box, Riccardo Calafiori briefly filled in at right-back, with Kiwior switching to left-back. However, by the end of the half, White was back on the right side with Calafiori on the left, while Kiwior joined Gabriel in the middle.
In the second half, Semenyo switched wings, with the more direct Dango Ouattara going up against White and Kiwior on Bournemouth’s left. It resulted in their best chance of the game up to that point less than two minutes later as Ouattara got in behind both defenders to set up Semenyo, who skied an open shot from close range.
Much of Bournemouth’s second-half attacking was focused down their left flank, with Arsenal’s defence having to clear multiple crosses from Ouattara.
Anantaajith Raghuraman
Arsenal get a taste of their own set-piece medicine
Arsenal have been the Premier League’s most proficient team from set pieces of late, having scored 26 goals from such situations, including 19 from corners, since the start of last season. However, Bournemouth pulled a trick right out of the Gunners’ book to open the scoring at the Vitality Stadium.
As Lewis Cook readied himself to deliver a corner from the left, substitute Kluivert ran past Kai Havertz, who was guarding the near post, before backheeling it to fellow substitute Christie, with Semenyo making a clever dart into the box to open up space and get out of the way. Christie’s first-time strike was beautifully struck and found the top left corner as Raya stood rooted to his spot.
Ryan Christie’s well-worked goal helped Bournemouth move up to 10th in the table (Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Bournemouth have been no slouches from dead-ball situations themselves, it should be noted. This was their 12th goal from corners since Andoni Iraola’s arrival — the joint third-highest tally in that period — and they created it using a routine Arsenal’s set-piece coach Nicolas Jover would have been proud of.
Anantaajith Raghuraman
Martinelli’s costly miss
There were just 95 seconds between Martinelli spurning Arsenal’s best chance of the game and Bournemouth scoring their opening goal.
It proved to be a pivotal moment in the match.
Kepa passed the ball straight to Mikel Merino who, on his full league debut, showed great awareness to recognise that Havertz was in an offside position.
Instead, he performed a Cruyff turn and slipped in Martinelli in the centre of the goal, just 12 yards out.
He opened his body up to curl the ball into the far corner but it was so telegraphed that Kepa read it in advance and was able to parry the shot away. Given Arsenal had been down to 10 men for 38 minutes by this point, it was a gilt-edged opportunity.
These are the moments in games when Arsenal cannot afford to lack a ruthless edge. Avoidable red cards have put them on the back foot in three games and an individual error by Kiwior led to Bournemouth’s second from the spot, but had Martinelli converted, Arsenal may have left with at least a point.
With Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea up next, this was a game they could not afford to drop points in, never mind lose.
Jordan Campbell
What impact did Saka’s absence have on Arsenal?
Despite Arteta saying on Friday that Saka was hopeful he would be available to face Bournemouth, the winger was not in the matchday squad.
It is one of the rare occasions Saka has not recovered from the many knocks he suffers and it meant Arsenal’s line-up looked very different.
With no Saka, Martin Odegaard or Jurrien Timber on the right flank, it was down to White, Merino and Sterling to fill the void.
In the first half Arsenal struggled to create any clear chances but their most promising moments did come down the right. Sterling was hesitant when it came to the final ball though and Saka’s efficiency in those moments was missed.
Saka’s absence affects more than just one area of the team. Arsenal were not able to press as aggressively down that flank and, without his left-footed delivery, they changed their corners from his side to outswingers.
If Saka had been available he may have been sacrificed when the team went down to 10 men, as he was against Manchester City, but his security in possession would have been a big help to Arsenal in getting some respite.
As it was, they ended the day having suffered their first away league defeat of 2024.
Jordan Campbell
What next for Arsenal?
Tuesday, October 22: Shakhtar Donetsk (H), Champions League, 8pm UK, 3pm ET
Recommended reading
(Top photo: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
