Arteta furious: 'Arsenal shot themselves in the foot, risking shattered title dreams'

Manager Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal performed below their level after the loss to Bournemouth, warning the entire team must change immediately if they don't want to lose their championship chance.

Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal need "everything" to bounce back from the 1-2 defeat against AFC Bournemouth, as the Premier League title race intensifies.

Speaking after the loss at Emirates, Arteta couldn't hide his disappointment as his team dropped crucial points. The Spanish strategist stressed that Arsenal must quickly regain their spirit if they don't want to fall behind in the title race.

“We need everyone ready, especially injured players to return. Those playing must step up, accept the challenge and show character,” Arteta said.

Asked about pressure in the decisive phase of the season, he admitted: “We understand what is at stake. The club hasn't won the title for a long time, that makes things harder. But we must continue doing what helped the team reach this position over the past nine months.”

Arteta also mentioned the reaction from home fans after the disappointing performance. According to him, dissatisfaction is understandable: “That's emotion and stems from love for the team. But today is not the time to demand, it's the time we need to respond.”

Additionally, the 43-year-old manager refused to use fitness or a packed schedule as excuses. “I don't want to talk about excuses. It's the circumstance, but we must embrace this challenge. I haven't seen enough enthusiasm from the players,” he stated frankly.

Speaking professionally, Arteta admitted Arsenal didn't perform well in building play from the back and needs immediate improvement. He also updated the squad situation with no new information on injuries to Martin Ødegaard or Bukayo Saka.

Finally, asked about direct competitor Manchester City having a chance to pull ahead, Arteta affirmed: “We cannot control them. The only thing we can control is our own performance.” This defeat is clearly a heavy blow to Arsenal's title ambitions, and the response in upcoming matches will be decisive for Arteta and his team.