‘I’m not so sure’ – Kieran Gibbs questions Mikel Arteta decision after Arsenal’s defeat to Bournemouth

Ex-Arsenal star Kieran Gibbs says he ‘likes the look’ of Mikel Merino, Declan Rice and Thomas Partey, though believes Mikel Arteta could have played a more attacking midfield three against Bournemouth at the weekend.

Arsenal travelled to the Vitality Stadium as the overwhelming favourites for victory but suffered a major setback as second-half goals from Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert consigned Arteta’s men to a 2-0 loss.

William Saliba had earlier been shown a red card for hauling down Evanilson while chasing a poor back-pass from Leandro Trossard – the Gunners’ third card at this early stage of the Premier League campaign.

The result leaves Arsenal four points off top-of-the-table Liverpool ahead of their trip to Anfield on Sunday, where they will be without the suspended Saliba in central defence.

Defeat on Merseyside would come as a significant blow in Arsenal’s hopes of securing the title but Gibbs is confident it is not ‘complete doom and gloom’, with Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard closing in on their returns.

‘They have to capitalise because it’s not like previous seasons. I think it’s going to still be wide open throughout this whole season so it’s a frustrating one, it really is,’ the former Arsenal and England left-back told ESPN FC.

‘It’s not complete doom and gloom. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that they’ve lost two games… I’m not sure how long Saka and Odegaard are out for but how he plays with that midfield three is going to determine how successful the team are.’

Gibbs feels Arteta could have opted for a more attack-minded midfield against Bournemouth, who had picked up just eight points before their clash with Arsenal.

‘I like the look of Merino, Rice and Partey at Anfield or in Europe or against Manchester City. But Bournemouth away? I’m not so sure,’ he added.

‘I didn’t really see it enough but I’m not so sure.

‘I think they just need to take this one on the chin, though, and move on quickly. I think they will.’

Gibbs has some sympathy for Saliba over the red-card incident considering the the time he had to react to Trossard’s wayward pass was ‘so small’.

‘When you’re not expecting it because it’s your own player making that pass, that reaction time that you have to make a decision is so small,’ he continued.

‘I agree that he was on the wrong side but in that instance, when that ball is played, that reaction to make that decision happens so fast that it’s a defensive reaction that happens all the time. You see that all the time.’

Arsenal will look to return to winning ways at home to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League this evening.

Arteta’s side remain unbeaten in Europe’s premier competition after following up a goalless draw at Atalanta with a convincing 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates.

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