The surprising thing Mikel Arteta told Arsenal stars in the dressing room after Bournemouth defeat

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal suffered their first defeat of the season against Bournemouth on a disappointing evening at the Vitality.

For the first time in over six months, Mikel Arteta watched his side lose in the Premier League. 

Bournemouth got the better of the Gunners entirely, in what was an uninspired showing from the visitors.

Arsenal squandered their chance to keep up with Liverpool at the top of the table as a result, emphasising the disappointment that came from the result on the South Coast. 

• READ MORE: ‘Has to change’… Alan Shearer has spotted a serious problem at Arsenal after Bournemouth defeat

Mikel Arteta’s message to the Arsenal squad after Bournemouth defeat

Not many would have expected Arsenal to lose to the Cherries, who deserved a lot of credit for their performance against Arteta’s squad.

From start to finish the Gunners were unable to match the intensity set by Andoni Iraola’s team, with matters not helped by William Saliba’s sending off in the first half.

Arsenal recorded only six shots on goal during the contest, with Bournemouth being the better side by a long stretch however, Arteta was surprisingly unphased by his side’s lacklustre approach. 

• READ MORE: Arsenal player ratings vs Bournemouth, William Saliba sent off as one player gets 3/10

Speaking in a press conference, Mikel Merino shared an insight into what the boss said in the changing room after the defeat. 

“For us, it’s always about winning. Mikel knows that Mikel is always telling us that we have to win in any context. The thing is, we have a team capable of doing that. We have been playing in very challenging situations for the last couple of weeks.

“The coach told us that he’s really proud of us and the effort of the team to play with one player less for most of the game.”

The final statement might come as a surprise to some, as Arteta was impressed by the way his players handled the game, a view that wouldn’t be shared by many who watched.

Arsenal have to bounce back

Arteta clearly wants to see a reaction from his side, which the Gunners have the opportunity to do on Tuesday night.

Arsenal welcome Shakhtar Donetsk to the Emirates in the Champions League, giving the players the chance to right their wrongs after the nightmare evening on the South Coast.

• READ MORE: Arsenal predicted lineup, team and injury news as William Saliba and Ethan Nwaneri start vs Shakhtar Donetsk

While the Ukrainian side may not pose as much of a threat as Iraola’s inspired Bournemouth XI, the hosts must increase their performance level if they are to bounce back convincingly.

The Champions League night must be approached with redemption in mind, as confidence is required ahead of the weekend’s blockbuster clash with Liverpool.