So, when it does happen, there’s the typical meltdown. A meltdown after losing 2-0 on the road to Bournemouth was perhaps justified.
William Saliba was sent off, Arsenal’s third red card of the season, and from that moment onwards you sensed it was a bridge too far for the Gunners.
They held on against Brighton, dug deep to draw with Manchester City but the Cherries were too mighty on this occasion.
William Saliba
It’s likely that Arsenal may look back at this period in the season and wonder what if. You can’t afford to drop many points when battling Man City but they have already surrendered seven due to red cards. They cannot afford to drop too many more.
How can they improve? Well, discipline is key but there are a couple of areas up for debate.
Why was Saliba sent off?
Arsenal have been on the end of some shocking decisions already this season with Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard sent for early baths for having delayed the restart.
There was a delay this time too, although not to prevent a restart. This time it was on the end of the officials.
Trossard’s hospital pass back towards his own goal caught Saliba out and he felt the right thing to do was to bring down big Brazilian striker Evanilson.
William-Saliba-Ben-White-Gabriel-Arsenal
It’s worth noting at this point that the Cherries striker still had some way to go and you sense the referee brought that into consideration when the French defender was initially handed a yellow.
But hold up..what’s this? It’s the rotten VAR once again and the decision was overturned to a red card. In truth, Saliba was the last man, he denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity. It certainly made more sense than the Rice and Trossard decisions but Evanilson still had plenty of distance to march towards the goal.
Saliba will keep his place for the Champions League tie with Shakhtar in the week but will be suspended when Arsenal welcome Liverpool to the Emirates next weekend. Gulp.
He’s not the only one who should find themselves out of the team though.
He was the unfortunate sacrificial lamb and was withdrawn shortly after Saliba’s red card.
We’re still yet to truly see the best of him in Arsenal colours and as such he will miss out against his former employers.
Raheem-Sterling-Arsenal
There should also be a change on the left flank too where Trossard certainly didn’t cover himself in glory at the Vitality Stadium.
His telling contribution came in the 30th minute. With the game fairly even poised in the first half, the Belgian attempted a first-time ball back towards his defence. Who it was intended for is anyone's guess, but it certainly wasn't intended to find a Bournemouth body.
That's exactly what would have happened had Saliba not brought down Evanilson. It went against everything Arteta preaches. Arsenal aren't a safe side but they do ensure they keep possession as well as they can. After all, the opposition cannot score if they don't have the ball at their feet.
Trossard-Arsenal-Bournemouth
Alas, Trossard's error was ultimately fatal and he could struggle to get back into the team as a result.
Handed a dismal 4/10 rating by GOAL, they wrote of how it was 'a poor showing from the Belgian who played a part in Saliba's red card.'
From a statistical point of view, the former Brighton man didn't have a great evening. Hauled off in the 64th minute, he left the pitch having had far fewer touches (31) than goalkeeper David Raya (64).
Furthermore, Trossard lost the ball on 11 occasions, once every 2.8 touches of the ball and failed to register a single key pass, dribble or cross.
To make matters worse, the 29-year-old also won just two of his seven contested duels. Gabriel Martinelli may have missed a colossal chance to score at 0-0 but expect to find him back in the team in the Champions League this week at Trossard's expense and quite possibly even against Liverpool next weekend.
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