Danny Murphy has informed Arsenal to “make some different decisions” after Viktor Gyokeres made an excuse in regards to the pitch of their 2-1 loss to Bournemouth.
A Gyokeres penalty cancelled out Eli Junior Kroupi’s early opener for the Cherries as Arsenal struggled to indicate their finest kind in opposition to Andoni Iraola’s males.
And Alex Scott gained the match for Bournemouth on 74 minutes with a cool end because the Gunners misplaced their third match in 4 matches in all competitions.
Arsenal stay 9 factors forward of Manchester City, who play Chelsea on Sunday, however the Citizens have two video games in hand and face the Gunners on the Etihad Stadium on April 19.
Gyokeres blamed his aspect’s lack of fluency in opposition to Bournemouth on a dry pitch however Murphy thinks that excuse from the Arsenal striker is laughable.
Murphy mentioned on Match of the Day: “Funnily sufficient, even it the pitch was dry I don’t assume they performed sufficient lengthy balls.
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“Bournemouth pressed them excessive and went man for man on the again. You’ve bought Martinelli and Madueke who began the sport I didn’t see them hit any lengthy balls, play some percentages and attempt to spin them round.
“So if the pitch is dry, you’ve got international players make some different decisions.”
Reacting to his aspect’s efficiency and the affect on the Premier League title race, Arsenal boss Arteta mentioned: “It’s a giant punch within the face, and very disappointing. That’s what I mentioned to the boys.
“There are not any gray areas. Today there have been some very staple items that we did extraordinarily badly. When you do this, they’re going to capitalise, and it turns into very chaotic and really troublesome to regulate.
“We have to look at ourselves. We have to suffer. It’s painful. It’s a terrible feeling. But tomorrow is a different day. And if somebody would have said to me in August, we are in this position right now in April, I’m sure we would all have taken it.”
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Arteta on lacking Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber, Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori, he added: “We can’t management that. What we will management is our performances over the final 9 months.
“Anything that’s mentioned when you could have a defeat at house, you need to settle for that. There are not any excuses. It’s about how we’re going to face up, to begin with, individually, after which as a crew to vary that instantly on Wednesday (in opposition to Sporting within the second leg).
“So, we’d like every thing. We want all people match and obtainable. The ones that weren’t concerned in the present day are actually large, essential gamers, and we’d like them instantly with us as a result of then we’re going to be a lot stronger.
“And then the other ones, they need to stand up. Me, being the first one, and embrace this challenge and go for it.”
