Arsenal’s Worst-Case Scenario Before PSG Showdown
The last thing Arsenal needed ahead of the biggest match in their recent history was a demoralizing defeat — especially not at home, and certainly not against Bournemouth. But that’s exactly what Mikel Arteta got.
A 2-1 loss at the Emirates on Saturday — Bournemouth’s first-ever win at Arsenal — has cast a shadow over preparations for Wednesday’s crucial Champions League semi-final second leg in Paris. After a 1-0 defeat in the first leg, Arsenal now face the uphill task of turning the tie around on foreign soil.
This season, European glory is Arsenal’s last remaining hope. But their confidence took a hit as Bournemouth came from behind, cancelling out Declan Rice’s opener with two second-half goals.
Despite the setback, Arteta is looking to turn frustration into fuel.
“This didn’t give us the momentum we wanted,” he admitted. “Instead, it gave us anger, frustration, rage, disappointment — and we need to use all of that on Wednesday.”
What Arsenal Must Fix Before Facing PSG
To stand a chance in Paris, Arsenal must address one glaring issue: defending set-pieces.
They controlled much of Saturday’s match, with Bournemouth failing to register a shot on target in the opening hour. But the visitors struck from their very first attempt — Dean Huijsen heading in from a long throw. Later, a flicked-on corner found Evanilson at the back post for the winner.
Set-pieces have plagued Arsenal all season. A staggering 38.7% of their goals conceded in the Premier League have come from such situations — the highest in the division.
And while they’ve consistently started well — scoring first in each of their last five league matches — they’ve repeatedly failed to maintain control, dropping points in four of those games. In total, Arsenal have squandered 21 points from winning positions this season, equaling their worst tally from the 2019-20 campaign.
Even more worrying: after conceding Bournemouth’s second goal in the 75th minute, Arsenal didn’t muster a single shot — on or off target — for the rest of the game.
Former England keeper Rob Green summed up the mood on BBC Radio 5 Live:
“Right now, it’s hard to see Arsenal beating PSG. Without Declan Rice, this team looks drained of confidence and lacking sharpness in attack. There’s plenty to fix — and hardly any time to do it.”
Champions League Dream in Jeopardy After Arsenal’s Untimely Blip?
For most of the season, Arsenal kept pace with Liverpool, emerging as the primary challengers for the Premier League title. However, a recent dip in form has seen them struggle to maintain their hold on second place.
Currently, they sit just three points ahead of Manchester City in third, but if Newcastle secure a win against Brighton on Sunday, that gap will narrow to just two points.
Furthermore, Chelsea (fifth) could close in if they beat Liverpool at home, and Nottingham Forest (sixth) manage to win at Crystal Palace on Monday. In that scenario, Arsenal’s lead could shrink to just four points, with only three games left to play, leaving their top-five finish under threat.
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton highlighted the growing concern on BBC Radio 5 Live:
“Are Arsenal’s wheels starting to come off? They’re having a real wobble, aren’t they?”
While the situation may not be as dire as it seems, Mikel Arteta understands the urgency. His team must drastically improve to prevent the season from unraveling further.
“We have a lot of work to do, because mathematically we aren’t guaranteed a top-four finish yet,” Arteta admitted. “We haven’t earned the right to finish second, so there’s still plenty to fight for.”