<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1Yc8Fi_0wMWFUu000" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1Yc8Fi_0wMWFUu000" width="600" height="315" ><p>AFC Bournemouth beat Arsenal 2-0 in a Premier League match at the Vitality Stadium to inflict the first defeat of the season on the latter. William Saliba saw a red card in the first half to make Bournemouth’s job easier, as Mikel Arteta’s men are now third in the league table with 17 points from eight matches.</p><p>Bournemouth scored both its goals from set-pieces to beat the Gunners. The London side will have to play their next game without Saliba. Riccardo Calafiori might fill in for him, but Arsenal’s defence will be weakened by the Frenchman’s absence.</p><h2>Arsenal Pipped to the Title in Last Two Seasons</h2><p>Arsenal came close to winning the Premier League title in each of the last two seasons. However, Manchester City’s late resurgence helped its cause on both occasions to leave the Gunners empty-handed. The Cityzens are very much in the contention to win their fifth league title in a row this season.</p><p>Arsenal is a quality team, but the below-par performance of Leandro Trossard in the absence of its skipper Martin Ødegaard remains a concern. With Ødegaard out of action in the last few matches, Trossard has struggled to fill in his boots.</p><p>Arteta might now consider playing Kai Havertz as the No. 10 until Ødegaard comes back to action and having Gabriel Jesus upfront. However, it has to be kept in mind that the 27-year-old Brazilian is yet to score a goal from eight appearances for his club this season.</p><p>Hence, putting him in the starting line-up might be something of a risk for the Gunners. Still, Havertz is probably better suited to play as the No. 10 than Trossard. It remains to be seen as to which approach the Spaniard adopts in the next few matches.</p><h2>Arsenal has Flurry of Big Matches Soon</h2><p>Arsenal is likely to have a very intense next few weeks, as some very big matches are on the cards for it. The Gunners will play against Liverpool, Newcastle United and Chelsea in their next three league matches.</p><p>Moreover, they will also have to faces Inter Milan in their next group match in UEFA Champions League. Those sets of matches should go a long way in determining whether the current season is a success for them.</p><p>Qualifying from its group is the bare minimum the Gunners’ supporters will be expecting from their team. Moreover, high-voltage clashes with the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea should be stiff challenges for the Gunners.</p><p>It is very difficult for any team to contend with the might of Manchester City, with the redoubtable Pep Guardiola being at their helm. Hence, slip-ups like the one against Bournemouth are the last thing Arsenal needs at the moment. Dropping more points in their next few fixtures are only going to complicate things further for the Gunners.</p><p>With the Cityzens missing Rodri, this is probably the best chance Arsenal is going to have to win the title. If Arteta’s men are not able to capitalize on it, they will only have themselves to blame.</p></div></body>

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Arsenal’s Title-charge Affected by Bournemouth Defeat

AFC Bournemouth beat Arsenal 2-0 in a Premier League match at the Vitality Stadium to inflict the first defeat of the season on the latter. William Saliba saw a red card in the first half to make Bournemouth’s job easier, as Mikel Arteta’s men are now third in the league table with 17 points from eight matches.