Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal suffered a chastening loss in the 2025/26 Premier League title race on Saturday as Bournemouth travelled to the Emirates Stadium and walked away with all three points after a 2-1 victory.
Eli Junior Kroupi drew first blood in the 17th after some brilliant work from the Cherries on the left but Viktor Gyokeres evened things up ten minutes shy of the interval.
The first half performance was far from vintage from the home side – and their laziness was undone by a Alex Scott goal late on.
Read More: Mikel Arteta made a critical error in the 54th minute vs Bournemouth that cost Arsenal
The English midfielder sunk the Arsenal ship in the 74th minute with a brilliant finish and Arteta, in the wake of his side’s defeat, has been urged to drop a player who was simply ‘not good enough’.
Jay Bothroyd implores Arteta to drop underwhelming star in favour of Dowman
There were very few players of an Arsenal persuasion that managed to cover themselves in glory in what was a terrible day at the office for the Premier League table-toppers.
None more so than Gabriel Martinelli, according to former Premier League striker Jay Bothroyd.
Speaking to Sky Sports (per The Metro) after the encounter had come to a close, he claimed the 24-year-old winger – whose future at the club remains in the balance – has not been good enough of late.
“When I looked at that starting team today, I was thinking to myself, ‘okay, Martinelli made an assist during the week. It was a great assist. But he hasn’t been good enough this year.
In terms of who could replace the Brazilian, Bothroyd believes that record-breaking Max Dowman should be given a chance to impress from the off – rather than be a late substitute.
“As far as I’m concerned, Max Dowman needs to start. I don’t care no more. Arsenal need to go over the line.
“That kid, when he plays, he’s fearless. He wants to ball. He goes at players. He might lose it, but he goes at them.”
Dowman, 16, was substituted on in the 54th minute when Arteta had seen enough from much of his forward line – but the youngster struggled to have the same effect that he did against Everton.
All eyes are on Arsenal’s match with Manchester City
For Arteta and his men, they cannot afford to wallow in the fact they dropped three valuable points against the Cherries – it’s now time to look forward to their remaining games of the 2025/26 season.
Up next, they welcome Sporting CP to the Emirates Stadium for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
But, let’s be real, this campaign all hangs on their Premier League meeting with Manchester City later this month.
| Date (Time) | Opponent (H/A) | Competition |
| 15/04 (20:00) | Sporting CP (H) | Champions League |
| 19/04 (16:30) | Manchester City (A) | Premier League |
| 25/04 (17:30) | Newcastle United (H) | Premier League |
| 02/05 (17:30) | Fulham (H) | Premier League |
| 10/05 (16:30) | West Ham United (A) | Premier League |
Two of England’s best teams will lock horns on next weekend in what could be considered a title decider. City currently hold the bragging rights because of beating Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final recently… but anything can happen.
All momentum will be lost if the Gunners failed to overcome Pep Guardiola’s formidable force and that match is followed by Newcastle United – who will put up a tough fight against the league leaders.
