Three things we learned from Arsenal loss as Mikel Arteta makes costly mistake | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta’s rallying pre-match cry ultimately falls flat as Arsenal lose control of Premier League title race

The unthinkable is becoming a very distinct possibility for Arsenal.

A 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth was a fair result. From the very first whistle Arsenal had no energy, no impetus and no sort of attacking threat.

That ability has deserted them at the worst possible time. Arteta issued a rallying cry to the supporters on Friday - to produce that performance a day later was unforgivable.

Arsenal threatening to fall apart

The afternoon Arsenal's season came apart at the seams?

A Carabao Cup final defeat and an FA Cup exit were compartmentalised on the understanding that it was the Premier League where Arsenal's priorities lay.

Now those defeats feels like the start of something much more significant. A run that could leave the one-time quadruple hopefuls empty-handed come May.

Arsenal deserved nothing from this match. A penalty was one of just three shots on target. They were sloppy on the ball and panicky at the back all afternoon.

Arsenal just never got going against Bournemouth

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Victory would have moved them 12 points clear of City, who travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday. It would have been a huge moment in the title race. Perhaps Chelsea will still do Arsenal a favour, but they do not deserve it.

Instead, it's currently a nine point advantage and City have two games in hand. They host Arsenal next weekend and the Gunners have the chance to put these wrongs right at the Etihad. However, there is no current evidence to suggest Arsenal are ready to go there and deliver.

The margin for error has gone and so too has all confidence in Arsenal ending their 22-year trophy wait.

Arteta makes costly mistake

As has been the case so often this season when they have played together, the trio of Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres did not work.

Gyokeres was sharp and by far the pick of the bunch, but Martinelli and Madueke offered absolutely nothing. There is not enough technical quality with that front-line to keep the ball and sustain attacks.

Kai Havertz was fine at No10 against Kairat when he could play pretty much as a second striker, but he cannot get on the ball and control play in matches like this.

Mikel Arteta made a early triple change in the second half

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Arteta not starting at least one of Eberechi Eze or Max Dowman was a mistake. That he made a triple sub to replace all three of those behind Gyokeres within ten minutes of the second-half was an admission of such.

The subs did not have a significant impact, but Eze and Dowman still offered something more of a direct threat.

Bournemouth already had a strong foothold in the match by that stage, adding to the task of those coming on. The starting lineup did not help Arsenal's cause.

Injury situation now desperate

Arsenal need to find a way to get Martin Odegaard back on the pitch.

The midfield was devoid of all creativity. Arteta spoke on Friday of Odegaard being the player to glue this side together and in his absence they were a ragged bunch of underperformers.

Odegaard was not at his best against Southampton or Sporting, but it is painfully apparent how much he is missed when not on the pitch.

Havertz is not the answer at No10 and there are problems out wide. Bukayo Saka has not been at his best but he would at least offer some security on the ball, with all the other Arsenal wingers badly out of form.

Absent: Martin Odegaard

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The pair are needed back for the trip to City next weekend for Arsenal to have any chance of a result they now need to pick up.

The injury problems were added to by Riccardo Calafiori's latest setback. He has not played consecutive league matches since the start of December.

Myles Lewis-Skelly was decent in only his second league start of the season, but Calafiori offers something very different. That X-factor is especially needed when the wingers are struggling so much.

This Arsenal side need an injection of energy from somewhere. Saka and Odegaard could be the last hope.