Mikel Arteta has called Arsenal to use the “anger” caused by their surprising defeat against Bournemouth when they visit Paris Saint-Germain for a Do-Or-Die Champions League collision.
Four days after a narrow 1-0 defeat at home at PSG in the first stage of their European semi-final draw, Arsenal was hit again on Saturday at the Emirates Stadium.
Declan Rice brought the Gunners ahead in the first half, but Dean Huijsen and Evanilson hit after the break to turn the game upside down.
Arsenal has now only won one of their last five Premier League matches (three draw, one defeat) and are only three points free of the third placed Manchester City with three games.
If Newcastle United, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest win their matches on Sunday and Monday, the men of Arteta can still get a fight to secure a top five finish.
Arsenal goes to the Parc des Princes on Wednesday for their return leg against PSG, hoping to only be the third team that reached the Champions League final after losing the first stage of their semi-final draw at home, after Ajax in 1996 and Tottenham in 2019.
And Arteta wants them to draw on the pain of the loss of Saturday and BBC match of the day: “We started the game and many of the things we wanted to happen.
“We should have killed the game, and we didn't do that. Moreover, if you defend your box from two set pieces as we have done, you are in big, big problems.
“We should have put the game to bed. We really defended badly, nowhere near the standards we are used to.
“We wanted to generate the momentum and a really positive atmosphere today – we don't have.
“What we have created is frustration, anger and anger – we must ensure that we use it on Wednesday.”
Arsenal gave two goals from Set-piece situations (excluding penalties) in the same Premier League match for the first time since December 2023 against Luton Town.
It was also the first time that the Gunners lost a Home Premier League match since the break since January 2022 (2-1 versus Man City), which stopped a series of 63 such matches without defeat (53 victories, 10 draws).
It also meant that Bournemouth completed their very first competition-dubbele about Arsenal, because they had never defeated the defeat against them in all competitions during their travels, in eight attempts.
The result offers a big boost for the hope of the Cherries to claim eighth place and possibly reach the Europa Conference League, and coach Andoni Iraola knows how important the three points could be.
He said BBC Sport: “I think we needed it because we know the schedule that we have. Arsenal, Aston Villa, City … You have to get points where you don't expect.
“We recently missed a few chances and we needed to go our way this time.
“I liked the game in general. The key was the set-plays in the second half. In the end in these close games, making the difference with set-plays is the key to getting three points.”