EMIRATES STADIUM — Well, that didn’t go to plan.
Instead, a muddled performance followed with a renewed vulnerability from defensive set-pieces, an overlooked Achilles heel all season, rearing its head.
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There were smatterings of discontent at full-time after a below-par second half and even a few boos, making for a surly send off.
Upcoming fixtures against Liverpool (away) and Newcastle (home) could see them cede further ground, before facing Southampton on the final day.
“So, what we have created now is a lot of rage, anger, frustration and a bad feeling in the tummy.
Arsenal’s domestic form, like that of other league rivals, has suffered as their prospects of European glory have increased.
More disconcertingly, they have dropped 21 points from winning positions this season, a longstanding issue that can’t be explained away by their recent distractions in the Champions League.
Perhaps he will regret choosing option one, considering his team lost anyway, and Luis Enrique went with option two. The PSG boss made 10 changes in Strasbourg, and his heavily rotated team lost by the same scoreline as Arsenal’s A-listers.
“They won the league, so they have the luxury to do that,” Arteta said. “We haven’t because we still have a lot to do in the Premier League.”
Arsenal’s defeat left a ‘bad feeling in the tummy’ (Photo: Reuters)It wasn’t a complete disaster. Avoiding injuries to key players was paramount, even more so than the result, and it seems like Arsenal came through unscathed, bar a late worry over Martin Odegaard.
Declan Rice’s goal was nicely worked too. Odegaard wandered into space between Bournemouth’s midfield screen, Tyler Adams and left-sided centre-back Dean Huijsen, and took two purposeful touches before sliding a reverse pass through for Rice to gallop onto and score after rounding Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Arsenal’s lead was flimsy, and they couldn’t reinforce it. Huijsen equalised after 67 minutes, nodding in from Antoine Semenyo’s catapult that travelled 37 yards.
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Of the 31 league goals Arsenal have let in, almost half (48 per cent) have been from set plays or penalties, the highest ratio in the top-flight. A problem for Nicolas Jover to ruminate over in the summer.
It wasn’t until the 86th minute that Bukayo Saka, a surprise starter to most inside the Emirates, made his exit, joined by Gabriel Martinelli, another with a key role to play in Paris.
Had Arsenal won, Arteta’s decision might have been vindicated. Instead, there is a danger that weary legs got even wearier for no material benefit, while PSG’s stars had their feet up. The French champions already have a lead; now they have the added bonus of being fresher than their opponents to defend it.
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