Arsenal faced an unexpected 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth, marking Mikel Arteta’s first loss of the season in all competitions. Defender William Saliba received a red card in the first half, forcing the Gunners to play with ten men for over an hour.
This incident was Arsenal’s third red card of the season, following Declan Rice’s dismissal against Brighton and Leandro Trossard’s controversial red against Manchester City. These decisions have sparked discussions among fans, who feel the team has been unfairly treated by referees.
Rice expressed frustration to the referee, suggesting that Saliba’s red card, like those of Rice and Trossard, was undeserved. He acknowledged that the team has made mistakes complicating their situation. “We’ve shot ourselves in the foot three times in eight games. We were fortunate against Brighton and City, but Bournemouth capitalized,” Rice said. “I’m proud of the players’ determination, but we need to avoid such naivety. You need all 11 players for 90 minutes to win.”
Former Arsenal player Theo Walcott pointed out a critical error by the Gunners in the match, claiming it was more detrimental than Saliba’s red card.
While there are questions about the red cards for Rice and Trossard, Saliba’s dismissal was clear-cut after he brought down a Bournemouth player as the last defender.
With three red cards in eight Premier League matches, Arteta and his coaching staff face a concerning trend. In the three games where players were sent off, Arsenal has only earned two points from a possible nine. To compete with teams like Manchester City, they must reduce these errors.
Pundit Jamie Carragher even suggested a conspiracy involving Saliba’s red card and referee Howard Webb.
