Arsenal's unbeaten start to the Premier League season came to an end as Bournemouth secured a 2-0 win over the 10-man Gunners. William Saliba's early red card in the first half left Arsenal battling with a numerical disadvantage for over an hour, and Bournemouth took full advantage.
Saliba's dismissal came in the 30th minute after a misjudged pass from Leandro Trossard put him under pressure. With Bournemouth's Evanilson pressing, Saliba's challenge was mistimed, leading to his sending-off and leaving Arsenal to fight uphill for the remainder of the match. This was the Gunners' third red card of the season, continuing a worrying trend that has already cost them valuable points.
The home side capitalised on their advantage in the second half, breaking the deadlock in the 70th minute. Ryan Christie found space inside the box and calmly slotted the ball past the Arsenal goalkeeper to put Bournemouth ahead. Just nine minutes later, Justin Kluivert made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after Declan Rice conceded a foul inside the box.
Despite some late efforts from Arsenal to get back into the game, Bournemouth held firm, securing a vital three points. For Arsenal, the result serves as a setback in their pursuit of the Premier League title, with discipline and red cards proving costly once again.
With challenging fixtures against Liverpool, Newcastle, and Chelsea coming up, Arsenal will need to regroup quickly to stay in the race for the title.
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