Arsenal’s hopes of winning the Premier League took a major blow on Saturday as they suffered a disappointing 2-0 loss to Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. The Gunners were left with ten men after William Saliba received a red card for a last-man foul in the first half, marking the third time this season they have played with a reduced squad.
Bournemouth took full advantage of their numerical superiority, with Ryan Christie scoring the opener in the second half, followed by Justin Kluivert converting a penalty to secure the win. This defeat gives Manchester City and Liverpool a chance to widen the gap in the title race.
**Match Overview**
The match started evenly, but a careless back pass from Leandro Trossard shifted momentum. Saliba’s foul on Evanilson initially earned him a yellow card, but after a VAR review, it was upgraded to a red, forcing Arsenal to play most of the match a man down.
Despite their disadvantage, Arsenal had the first clear opportunity in the 35th minute, but Mikel Merino’s low shot went wide. Bournemouth quickly gained control, with Antoine Semenyo consistently threatening, forcing two important saves from David Raya and missing a golden chance right after halftime.
Arsenal appeared to gain energy after Gabriel Martinelli came on for Trossard, but he squandered a clear opportunity to score. The turning point occurred in the 70th minute when Bournemouth executed a well-timed set piece, allowing Ryan Christie to score with a fantastic strike.
Bournemouth’s second goal resulted from a defensive blunder by Jakub Kiwior, whose poor back pass led to a penalty after Raya fouled Evanilson. Kluivert confidently converted the penalty, sealing a tough night for the Gunners.
