After the 0-2 defeat away to Bournemouth in the 8th round of the Premier League, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta attended a press conference to give an in-depth analysis and reflection on the match.
On whether the game was changed by the red card, Arteta was outspoken and said that the red card did change the course of the game. He emphasized that playing with 10 men for 65 to 68 minutes was an almost impossible task for Arsenal. Although the team had no problem with effort and commitment, the numerical disadvantage caused by the red card made it difficult for Arsenal to turn the game around. Arteta also pointed out that the team failed to capitalize on an important chance in the first half while conceding at the other end, which was one of the key factors that led to the loss.
Speaking about the red card itself, Arteta said he was surprised that the call was changed. He believes that once a call is made on the field, it should be respected and enforced, not changed. On how the red card issue will be resolved, Arteta said it's hard to predict and plan, but Arsenal need to play 11 v 11 to get where they want to be.
Speaking about the impact of small gaps on the game, Arteta admitted that mistakes happen despite the good intentions of the players. He emphasized that Arsenal must accept these mistakes and move on. Regarding his team's performance in the second half when playing with 10 men, Arteta believes that it has been quite impressive as playing away from home with 10 men in this league is very difficult in itself.
In response to Saliba's decision to release Evanilson, Arteta said he didn't know if it was the right decision. He explained that Saliba just made a split-second judgment when the striker was behind him and the ball suddenly came to his side. On the question of whether or not the red card was appealed, Arteta said that the penalty had been handed down and he accepted the result.
Apart from the red card, Arteta also admitted that it wasn't Arsenal's best performance of the season. He mentioned that missing key players such as Odego and Saka had an impact on the team. However, he was unable to assess the team's performance after playing with 10 men for 65 minutes on the road.
On how to bounce back from such a tough result, Arteta said that Arsenal will use the pain felt at this moment to prepare for Tuesday's game. He emphasized that the team must not feel sorry for themselves but retain their energy as the players deserve a better result because of their hard work and desire. Arteta believes that Arsenal need to go out again on Tuesday and respond to the loss with a solid performance.
Finally, on the question of whether VAR should have intervened in the red card call, Arteta said he didn't know. He respects VAR's process and decisions and believes it's part of the game.
