Arsenal suffered a heavy blow in the Premier League title race after being defeated 2-1 at home by Bournemouth, completely reopening the fight for the top spot.
The Emirates Stadium fell silent as Arsenal suffered their third defeat in four games. The defeat leaves Manchester City in a position to move closer to the top if they beat Chelsea.
The visitors took the lead in the 17th minute through Junior Kroupi, while Arsenal equalised through a penalty converted by Viktor Gyökeres after a handball in the area by Ryan Christie. However, Alex Scott's second-half goal secured the three points for Andoni Iraola's side.
Gyokeres: "The field was very dry"
After the match, the Swedish striker made a statement that sparked discussion, also blaming the pitch conditions for the loss:
"They are dangerous on the counter-attack and have quality players, but we have to do better. We had chances at the end. The pitch was a bit dry and it didn't help us. We have to look ahead and stay positive."
Arteta: "A slap in the face"
Coach Mikel Arteta did not hide his disappointment, describing the defeat as a serious alarm:
"It's a big disappointment, a slap in the face. We have to react. The opponent hasn't lost in 11 games and they deserved it. We weren't efficient and made too many mistakes."
Decisive week for the season
Although Arsenal still hold a nine-point advantage, the situation could change quickly, as Pep Guardiola has two fewer games available.
In the coming days, the Londoners face a crucial UEFA Champions League challenge against Sporting CP, before a direct clash with City - a match that could determine the fate of the title. /GazetaExpress/
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