Arsenal's Premier League journey took a hit as they suffered their first defeat of the season, falling 2-0 to Bournemouth. The Gunners' performance was further hampered by William Saliba’s red card and star winger Bukayo Saka's absence due to injury.
Bukayo Saka, who has been instrumental in Arsenal’s attack with three goals and seven assists this season, missed the match against Bournemouth due to an injury sustained during international duty. His absence was felt deeply as the North London side struggled without his attacking prowess.
In place of Saka, Chelsea loanee Raheem Sterling was given a start but had to be substituted after just 36 minutes following Saliba’s dismissal. Despite his early exit, Sterling is expected to seize more opportunities in the coming weeks even if Saka returns to full fitness.
Arteta provides positive update on injured star
Before the match against Bournemouth, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta offered some hope for fans concerned about Bukayo Saka’s injury status. While he didn't provide specific details about when we can expect him back on field, his comments suggested that it may not be too long before we see him back in action.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager, said:
“It’s not a serious injury. He’s evolving really well. He wasn’t fit enough for the national team’s second game, but we are hopeful. He did some bits yesterday, so we’ll see if he can make it on time,”
Arteta also made two other changes in addition to coping with Saka’s absence; summer signing Mikel Merino replaced Jorginho in midfield for his full Premier League debut while Ben White returned replacing Gabriel Jesus.
However, loanee Neto who signed from Bournemouth over summer was ineligible for this game against his parent club. The Cherries capitalized on their numerical advantage post-Saliba’s red card incident. Ryan Christie broke through Arsenal's defense scoring the opening goal at 70th minute mark followed by Justin Kluivert sealing the victory with a penalty after another foul on Evanilson.
Arsenal's injury concerns
Looking ahead, Arteta addressed the fitness of key defenders Ben White, Jurrien Timber, and Oleksandr Zinchenko who have been sidelined due to injuries.
Mikel Arteta added:
“They’re quite close, the three of them. We’re trying to push and see how they are. Hopefully, we’ll have some positive news and players back soon,”
This statement indicates that Arsenal may soon be able to field a stronger defense line-up in their upcoming matches which will be crucial for their Premier League campaign. While this defeat against Bournemouth is a setback for Arsenal's Premier League aspirations, fans can take solace from Arteta's positive update on Saka’s injury status and potential return of key defenders in near future.
