Mikel Arteta says William Saliba’s first-half red card cost Arsenal the game after they lost 2-0 to Bournemouth on Saturday.
The French defender was sent off a half hour into the match for denying a goal scoring opportunity when he took down Evanilson as the striker ran in behind the backline.
Ryan Christie broke the deadlock off a clever corner routine in the 70th minute, before Justin Kluivert converted from the spot to secure the Cherries’ second ever Premier League win over the north London outfit.
It’s the third time Arsenal have had a player sent off in the league this season, the most of any top-flight side.
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Declan Rice was sent off for knocking the ball away as Joel Veltman was about to take a free kick for Brighton, and Leandro Trossard was red carded for kicking the ball away during the 2-2 draw with Manchester City.
Arteta admits Arsenal red cards are ‘accident waiting to happen’
“It’s very difficult to win in the Premier League with 10 men for 60-70 minutes, it’s just an accident waiting to happen,” Arteta told BBC Match of the Day. “We have had to go through it in three games and that cost us the game.”
Gabriel Martinelli was through on goal in the 69th minute, but saw his effort saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga. Bournemouth went right down the other end and scored moments later.
“We had the big chance and the moment in the game to score and have a different result and then we conceded a goal.
“We try to stick to the rules. The three [red cards] have been different ones and three very different outcomes.
“The team tried, the effort with 10 men was fantastic but today it was not enough to win the game. It took us a while to understand what we had do in the first 15 minutes to start with, then we grabbed the game but after 30 minutes the game changed.”
Asked if he felt the right decision had been made with regard to Saliba’s sending off, Arteta said: “The decision has been made. It was made on the pitch and then it was changed. After that they are not going to change it.”
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