Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says his side must eradicate their discipline issues if they are to win silverware this season.
The Gunners were stunned by Bournemouth on Saturday, who inflicted their first Premier League defeat of the campaign on the South Coast.
William Saliba was sent off in the first half for a last-man challenge that would have seen the Cherries through on goal, meaning the visitors had to play nearly 70 minutes with 10 men.
It is already Arsenal’s third red card in eight games this season, with Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard already being dismissed.
And while there has been a fair amount of controversy surrounding the decisions, Arteta believes his players must be smarter on the pitch.
Speaking ahead of their Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk, he said: “Playing with 10 men always is an issue.
▶️ LIVE: Mikel Arteta’s pre-Shakhtar Donetsk press conference
📺 Watch here 👇
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 21, 2024
“The trust is, when you analyse it, three different very actions and the outcome of them, the reasons are very different. Regardless of that we cannot continue to play with ten men at this level.
“We need to eradicate that, it’s clear. The reasons, how – it doesn’t matter. We have to focus.
“We cannot continue to play with ten men, easier to say it then to get it done.
“Specific moments. Reacting, we have a defeat. Very specific conditions as well. Let’s move on, take that pain we have and use it tomorrow night.
“We want to win in any context. Very difficult. The players that we had out, the schedule, the games we had to play but that’s the reality.
“It could have been a very different narrative but the reality is we didn’t and now the reality is one game in six months.
“Now we have to win again in the context that we have lost for the first time in six months.”
A chance to quickly turn the page on Tuesday.
Let’s get Emirates Stadium rocking, Gooners 📣 pic.twitter.com/GxNRdJWvCq
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 20, 2024
Take the positives
The good news for Arsenal is that Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka are progressing well in their rehabilitation, according to Arteta.
Odegaard has been sidelined since September and Saka picked up a knock on international duty with England.
They may both miss Tuesday night’s clash but Arteta still believes his side can pick up three points, if they earn the right to win.
He added: “”We have to start tomorrow. The desire is there. We are desperate play this kind of match.
“The atmosphere will be terrific tomorrow night so let’s produce that and earn the right to win the game.
“I think they [Shakhtar] have decided to use football with a lot of positive things that brings to life in a really powerful way and it is remarkable that they are managing the situation and the unity of the country.
“The capacity of the sport as well to bring joy to people’s life and that’s something we have to be conscious of.”
