Mikel Areta admitted that Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth “caused anger, frustration, frustration, anger, disappointment on Saturday afternoon,” promised to convert these emotions into the semi-finals of the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain next week.
Arsenal took over the cherries in the first half and set the fourth time in the last five Premier League games for the fourth time. A few SET -PIECE goals proved to be a Gunners returnee as Dean Huijsen -a top transfer destination for the hosts -and headed Bournemouth before Evanilson bundled a winner of the 75th minute.
The outfit in North London was emptied last Tuesday by a convincing 1-0 defeat against PSG in the first leg of its semi-finals of the Champion League. “It didn’t create the right swing,” admitted Areteta this weekend. “It created a lot of anger, frustration, anger, disappointment.”
When Arsenal prepared for the decisive draw in the French capital next week, Areteta tried to look for a positive value in this spring implosion. “Let us use it all on Wednesday,” said the Spanish boss. “We have to do that.”
The skipper of Artetas Skipper Martin Odegaard was not quite as optimistic. “Massive disappointment,” counted the Norwegian captain after the game. “I think we started the game pretty well. We got the goal and felt that we checked pretty much everything, but they score and we lose control of the game.
“We never find the rhythm afterwards, it is too chaotic and too sloppy of us. The second half is not acceptable. We have to continue because we have a massive game. We have to prepare for it and analyze this game too.”
In contrast to Arsenal’s latest setbacks against Everton, Brentford and Crystal Palace, the offset points could not be held responsible for a weakened squad. Areta effectively selected his first choice Xi for visiting Bournemouth and only made two changes compared to the line -up that started against PSG during the week.
The raging tactician could think about a few more improvements to keep Arsenal’s dream of Continental Glory alive next week.