Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit has raised concerns on Mikel Arteta’s 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth

Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit was taken aback by Mikel Arteta’s unusually composed reaction during Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth, a result that halted the Gunners’ bid to go top of the Premier League.

Arsenal, enjoying a strong start to the season, faced their first loss on Saturday night at the Vitality Stadium. Bournemouth’s victory not only pushed them into the top half of the table but also dealt a blow to Arsenal’s title ambitions, leaving them behind Manchester City and Liverpool in the race.

The match took a significant turn when Arsenal defender William Saliba was sent off for denying Bournemouth’s Evanilson a clear scoring chance. Initially given a yellow card for the challenge near Arsenal’s half, Saliba’s punishment was upgraded to a red card following a VAR review by referee Robert Jones.

Despite being reduced to ten men, Arsenal held their ground until the 70th minute, when Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie broke the deadlock with a well-taken goal from a corner. Just ten minutes later, Justin Kluivert secured the win by calmly converting a penalty after Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya fouled Evanilson following a misjudged backpass from Jakub Kiwior.

Speaking to Premier League Productions, Emmanuel Petit remarked on Mikel Arteta’s unusually subdued demeanor on the sidelines. “Even Mikel Arteta seemed quiet on the bench today,” Petit observed. “Normally, he’s full of energy, shouting instructions constantly. But today, he appeared much more reserved.”

Former Premier League striker Glenn Murray echoed Emmanuel Petit’s observations, noting that Arsenal lacked their usual spark under Mikel Arteta. “From the start, they didn’t seem quite themselves,” Murray said. “Their typical energy and intensity were missing. At times, it felt like watching the old Arsenal.”

In his post-match interview, Arteta admitted that William Saliba’s red card was the decisive moment that “cost” Arsenal the game. “It’s tough to win in the Premier League when you’re down to ten men for 60-70 minutes,” Arteta told BBC Sport. “We had opportunities to score and turn the game around, but then we conceded. The team put in a fantastic effort, but it wasn’t enough.”

William Saliba’s red card—his first in 157 competitive appearances—means he will miss Arsenal’s crucial upcoming fixture against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium. Mikel Arteta acknowledged the disappointment within the team as they returned to north London without any points.

For Bournemouth, the victory marked a significant achievement, showcasing their ability to compete with the Premier League’s elite. Under manager Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth have now secured three wins from their first eight games, moving ahead of Manchester United in the standings.

Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook praised his team’s performance, telling Sky Sports, “Arsenal are a top side, but we dug deep and controlled large portions of the game. The red card helped, but we created the chances we needed to win. Arsenal are compact and adaptable, but we matched them today and came away with the victory.”