Mikel Arteta sends message to bruised Arsenal stars after painful Bournemouth defeat

Mikel Arteta sends message to bruised Arsenal stars after painful Bournemouth defeatMikel Arteta has made it crystal clear to his Arsenal players that they need to be ready to fight for the Premier League title after they opened the door for Manchester CityCommentsSportSamuel Meade Sports Brand Writer16:35, 11 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesArsenal's loss against Bournemouth could prove pivotal in the title raceMikel Arteta has told his Arsenal stars to "stand up and go for the fight or you're out" after their loss to Bournemouth which blew the Premier League title race wide open.‌The Gunners came into Saturday's lunchtime kick-off having lost two of their last three games, which had seen them miss out on the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup. Those defeats have ramped up the pressure but Arsenal failed to produce the desired response.‌They fell behind early on against the Cherries, who took the lead for a second time through Alex Scott. His 74th minute strike would prove to be the winner as fans exited the Emirates before the final whistle.‌Arteta is still trying to deliver the title in north London after a number of near misses. They have held a huge advantage but, despite being nine points clear, they could see Manchester City leapfrog them inside the next fortnight if results go against them.The Spaniard has continued to face criticism for failing to get over the line and has told his Arsenal players to find the stomach for a difficult final stretch or face being dropped.READ MORE: Arsenal player ratings vs Bournemouth as FIVE stars score 2/10 in horror showingREAD MORE: How Man City can go top in ELEVEN days after massive Arsenal slip upHe told TNT Sports: "It has to hurt. They have to take it on the chin. You stand up and go for the fight or you're out. It's a big week. A lot at stake. We're still in a good position in both competitions."‌Arsenal face City next weekend in a game that could well decide the destination of the tit...