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EPL: Bournemouth condemn Arsenal to a 2-0 loss after William Saliba's red card

William Saliba was shown a first-half red card as Bournemouth stormed to a 2-0 win over Arsenal at the Vitality Stadium to condemn the Gunners to their first defeat of the season.

Saliba was initially booked for his last-man foul on Evanilson near the centre circle following Leandro Trossard's poor pass, but referee Robert Jones changed his decision to a red following a VAR check as the Gunners were reduced to 10 men for the third time this season.

Bournemouth were already making life difficult for Mikel Arteta's side, who were without the injured Bukayo Saka, and finally made the breakthrough in the 70th minute when a clever corner routine allowed substitute Ryan Christie to slam home an emphatic finish.

Player ratings
Bournemouth: Kepa (7), Araujo (7), Senesi (8), Zabarnyi (7), Kerkez (8), Scott (7), Cook (7), Ouattara (7), Semenyo (7), Tavernier (7), Evanilson (7).

Subs: Smith (7), Sinisterra (7), Kluivert (7), Christie (8), Unal (6).

Arsenal: Raya (5), White (5), Saliba (5), Gabriel (6), Calafiori (6), Rice (7), Partey (7), Merino (7), Sterling (5), Trossard (5), Havertz (6).

Subs: Kiwior (6), Martinelli (5), Jesus (6), Nwaneri (6).

Player of the Match: Ryan Christie

Arsenal substitute Gabriel Martinelli had missed a golden chance to put Arsenal in front moments earlier, shooting too close to Kepa Arrizabalaga after the Bournemouth goalkeeper gifted possession to full debutant Mikel Merino just outside his own box.

Ryan Christie fired Bournemouth ahead against Arsenal

And the visitors' evening soon went from bad to worse as Justin Kluivert, another Bournemouth substitute, coolly converted from the penalty spot after David Raya had brought down Evanilson.

The defeat, Arsenal's first in a Premier League away game since the turn of the year, means they missed the chance to go top of the table, above leaders Liverpool, who they will face without the suspended Saliba, live on Sky Sports next Sunday.

Mikel Arteta was left disappointed after Arsenal's unbeaten start to the season came to an end against Bournemouth
"There is a big moment obviously with 0-0 when we have a big opening, one against one with the 'keeper. We don't manage to score and at the other end we do that. We have to fault ourselves.

"Football is a sport where errors are part of that. Tonight we made two big errors that have cost us the game unfortunately."

On whether Arsenal have any plans to appeal Saliba's red card: "That decision was changed and now the decision is not going to change twice. So, decision made.

"We have to accept it, move on and have that pain that we are feeling at the moment for Tuesday [against Shakhtar Donetsk]."




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