Arsenal, known as the Gunners, faced their first defeat of the season at the Vitality Stadium against Bournemouth. Despite a promising start, the game turned difficult for Arsenal following the dismissal of one of their players, leaving them with a man disadvantage. This challenge increased when Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert scored in the second half for Bournemouth. David Raya conceded a penalty towards the end after Jakub Kiwior’s under-hit pass was intercepted by Evanilson, leading to Kluivert ensuring the victory from the penalty spot. The defeat means Arsenal will be missing a crucial player for the upcoming significant title clash at home against Liverpool next Sunday. The consequences of their key mistakes were evident as the Gunners struggled to maintain control against Bournemouth. In the aftermath of the match, opinions were widely shared on social media platforms. Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer expressed his views on the game and its incidents.
Alan Shearer said, “They got there in the end. There was no need to foul him as there’s so much more [for Evanilson] to do. There’s no way White is getting back. There’s no doubt about it. It’s a clear red card. It has to change. They’re quite clearly not going to get enough points if that doesn’t change. In the games that it has happened in already this season. They’ve had two draws and now a defeat, so that can’t continue to happen.”
Shearer pointed out that Saliba’s red card was Arsenal’s third of the season and emphasized the need for improvement if they hope to accumulate enough points for competitive success.