Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta celebrates after the match with Bournemouth March 4, 2023. Photo: The Telegraph
Football manager of Arsenal FC, Mikel Arteta says the club must improve ‘massively’ to compete with top teams in Europe after Sporting Lisbon setback.
Arsenal in a match on Thursday had to fight to earn a 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.
It was the second game in a row that Arsenal had conceded after giving up a free header from a corner.
Marcos Senesi scored for Bournemouth in Saturday’s dramatic match at the Emirates to double the Cherries’ lead.
It was Goncalo Inacio’s turn to be almost gifted a goal in Lisbon.
Arsenal’s No 2 goalkeeper Matt Turner hesitated and was left in no man’s land, allowing Inacio to easily head home.
Arsenal have conceded five goals from set pieces in their last 10 matches in all competitions.
The Gunners, who made six changes on the night, went ahead in the 22nd minute through William Saliba but were held back by Goncalo Inacio’s equalizer 12 minutes later, before Paulinho acted, making it 2-1.
Writing by Muzha Kucha; Editing by Adeniyi Bakare