Mikel Arteta has called on Arsenal to use the ‘pain’ of their defeat at Bournemouth to kickstart another unbeaten run.
Arsenal’s undefeated record this season came to an end at Bournemouth at the weekend, as the Gunners crashed to a 2-0 defeat at the Vitality Stadium.
Arteta’s side were reduced to 10 men after just 30 minutes when William Saliba was sent off for a professional foul, with the North Londoners failing to recover from that setback.
Arsenal return to European action on Tuesday night when Shakhtar Donetsk arrive at the Emirates Stadium. Ahead of the Champions League clash, Arteta told his pre-match press conference that he wants his squad to channel their weekend ‘pain’ into another positive run of results.
“The desire is there, we want to desperately play these kinds of matches, and we know the atmosphere is going to be terrific tomorrow night so let’s produce that and earn the right to win the game,” the Spaniard said.
“The context is that we have lost one game in six months. Ok, now we have to win again with the context that we have lost for the first time in six months, so let’s show it.
“Defeat is part of the game, part of the sport. It happened in very specific conditions as well. Let’s move on, take that pain that we still have in the tummy and use it for tomorrow night.”
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