Arteta urges Arsenal to stand up after 'punch in the face'

Mikel Arteta described Arsenal’s 2–1 home defeat to Bournemouth as a “big punch in the face”, warning his players that their Premier League title bid is in danger of stalling. Junior Kroupi put the visitors ahead after seventeen minutes, and although Viktor Gyokeres levelled from the spot, Alex Scott’s seventy‑fourth‑minute strike condemned the Gunners to a second league loss at the Emirates this season. Arsenal remain nine points clear of Manchester City with six matches left, but Pep Guardiola’s side hold two games in hand before next Sunday’s crucial meeting at the Etihad.

Arteta admitted his team fell well short of their usual standards and stressed the need for key absentees such as Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori to return quickly. The Spaniard urged his squad to embrace the pressure, insisting their position would have been gladly accepted back in August. Arsenal now turn to Wednesday’s Champions League quarter‑final second leg against Sporting Lisbon.