Mikel Arteta and Arsenal need to put their defeat to Bournemouth behind them quickly as they prepare to return to action in the Champions League
Viktor Gyokeres had a frustrating afternoon as Arsenal lost to Bournemouth(Image: Getty Images)
Arsenal face a real test of their mettle this week as they welcome Sporting CP to the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night. The Gunners won 1-0 in Lisbon in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final but followed it with a league loss at home to Bournemouth.
Manager Mikel Arteta has been given a damning verdict on members of his squad after the weekend reverse. Viktor Gyokeres scored from the penalty spot but has come in for some criticism, though youngster Max Dowman impressed in a cameo from the bench.
“We have to look at ourselves which is the most important thing, and after getting punched, it’s about how you react,” Arteta said. “There’s no more moment to protect anything, it’s a moment to go and attack, and to be very aggressive.”
The Gunners boss will have some big selection calls to make in midweek. That’s where our attention lies as we bring you the latest from north London.
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Gyokeres gets damning verdict
Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres suggested the dry pitch at the Emirates Stadium hampered his team’s chances of success against Bournemouth. However, former Premier League frontman Jan Aage Fjortoft questioned the excuse and used it to attack the Sweden international.
“I guess the best strikers in the world will score on dry pitches, wet pitches, snow, rain, wind, everything,’ Fjortoft said on ESPN FC. “I don’t want to re-open that debate over Arsenal lacking a top, top striker because Gyokeres just sent Sweden to the World Cup but he did miss some chances today.
“If you see last season with (Erling) Haaland and (Mohamed) Salah, have there been any champions without that player who can save them on a bad day? Gyokeres scored today and his form is okay but it seems it’s not good enough to shoot you to a championship.”
Dowman message sent
Jay Bothroyd was impressed enough by Max Dowman on Saturday to believe it’s time for the 16-year-old to come into the starting XI. The former England international knows what it’s like to come through Arsenal’s academy and called for Dowman to come in for Gabriel Martinelli.
“As far as I’m concerned, Max Dowman needs to start,” Bothroyd told Sky Sports. “I don’t care no more. Arsenal need to go over the line.
“That kid, when he plays, he’s fearless. He wants to ball. He goes at players. He might lose it, but he goes at them.”
Another former Gunner, Martin Keown, recognised the teenager’s impact. “Even when Dowman came on, we were all screaming give him the ball, but they didn’t have enough good control of the ball in the midfield and that is all down to Bournemouth and Arsenal not mixing up their game enough,” he told TNT Sports.
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