Frustrated Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta: 'It's a big punch in the face' 

Gunners boss admits his side did a 'lot of strange things' in their shock 1-2 home loss to Bournemouth

SERIOUSLY? Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta shows his frustration as his side succumb to Bournemouth - and the pressure of the title race - at home. Pic: Glyn KIRK/AFP via Getty Images

FRUSTRATED Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admits his Premier League leaders did the basics 'extremely badly' as they opened the title door to Man City with a shock home defeat to Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium.

Arteta said: "It’s very disappointing obviously. It’s a big punch in the face and it’s about how we react now. Credit to them – there’s a reason they haven’t lost for 12 games, because they do a lot of things right. We had a lot of opportunities in the first half to open the spaces, but we were far from efficient.

"Their first goal was a deflection and a really bad defensive action. We scored the penalty and in the second half you expect a different game. But we did a lot of strange things today. 

"Normally we are very consistent. This can happen, this is football. We were far from the level today. It hurts the players a lot, and it has to. There are no grey areas now: you stand up and go for the fight, or you are out. That’s it. We are still in a really good position in both competitions. But we need to do better."

His fellow Spaniard, Andoni Iraola had every right to be very happy with and for the Bournemouth players. 

"In these games you have to rise to the occasion - we showed personality and had some good moments on the ball. Three points is massive for us. We came into this game after five draws in the row, so you are not fully enjoying it. We needed this win to put us in a better position in the league.

"[Pressing] is one of our strengths. Teams like Arsenal and Man Utd give us a chance [by playing out from the back]. Against teams who play long you can’t really play this cat-and-mouse game. It was high risk, high reward, and because we won a lot of duels we were the ones who benefitted.

"Alex Scott is in a beautiful spot. He’s played for us as a No 10, No 8 and No 6. I’m very happy because he’s becoming a complete player. He cannot do a lot more (to force England to look at him".)

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