Mikel Arteta fumes over 'big punch in the face' as Arsenal blow title race open following Bournemouth loss

Ed Griffiths
Sat, 11 Apr 2026 15:51:09 +0000

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said it felt like "a big punch in the face" when speaking on Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League.

The hosts went behind in the 17th minute due to teenage sensation Eli Junior Kroupi, who fired a close-range volley in the back of the net after Ryan Christie's incisive pass released Truffert down the left flank.

Viktor Gyokeres brought the tie level from the penalty spot in the 35th minute, firing powerfully into the bottom corner after Christie was penalised for handball.

However, Alex Scott, who was the outstanding performer throughout, struck the decisive blow in the 74th minute, sweeping home emphatically after Evanilson's clever through ball.

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The result leaves Arsenal nine points clear of Manchester City at the summit, though Pep Guardiola's side have two matches in hand.

Speaking after the game, Arsenal boss Arteta described the result as "extremely disappointing".

He said: "It's a big punch in the face, it's about how we react now.

"Credit to them for what they did, they haven't lost in 11 games for a reason. They got a lot of things right."

Arteta added: "When we had anticipation in the first half, when we regained the ball, we were far from efficient.

"The first opportunity they had to attack the box, it was a deflection, a really bad defensive action and it cost us a goal.

"That's something we have to deal with emotionally, we tried to recover and push them, we scored from the penalty and you expect a different game.

"But we did a lot of strange things today."

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The Cherries dominated proceedings from the outset, pressing aggressively and forcing Mikel Arteta's side into uncomfortable situations throughout.

Arsenal appeared anxious in possession, with goalkeeper David Raya making several risky passes that nearly proved costly.

The home supporters grew increasingly frustrated with their team's laboured approach, prompting Arteta to gesture for calm from the touchline.

Manchester City travel to Chelsea on Sunday before hosting Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium next weekend, a fixture that has become even more pivotal.

Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola told TNT Sports: "Pressing is one of our strengths. Playing against Arsenal, Man Utd the other day, they give us chances to recover the ball.

"Sometimes you play against teams who go direct early, and you cannot play this cat-and-mouse game. If you go man to man, they will go direct. We leave them a little bit and then go, sometimes it works, sometimes you want to keep an extra man at the back.

"Sometimes it's a matter of a duel, one-v-one. If you win that, it's a chance for you and if you lose a chance for them. It's a high-risk, high-reward game.

"In most of the situations, I think we won a lot of the duels, we were the ones benefiting more."