Arteta urges his players to stand up after 'punch in the face'

Mikel Arteta said Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday was a "big punch in the face", calling on his players to stand up as the club's Premier League title charge threatens to unravel.

Junior Kroupi gave the visitor a well-earned lead after 17 minutes before Viktor Gyokeres clawed a labored Arsenal back into the game from the penalty spot.

But, Alex Scott restored Bournemouth's advantage in the 74th minute and Arteta's team failed to find a response, slumping to its second home defeat in the league this season.

The Gunners remain nine points clear of second-placed Manchester City with six matches to go, but Pep Guardiola's men, who were set to face Chelsea on Sunday and have a game in hand, are right back in the title race.

The two teams meet in the next round at the Etihad in a game that could be a potential title decider.

"It's a big punch in the face, that's what I said to the boys, and now it's about how we react to that," said a disappointed Arteta.

"We were very far from the level that we're shown. That's for certain, especially in certain areas that are critical. When you play against a team like Bournemouth, they were very clear. But again, I don't want to criticize any player, especially publicly."

Arsenal, on course for an unprecedented quadruple just weeks ago, has now suffered three straight defeats in domestic competitions.

It remains a favorite for its first Premier League title since 2004, following three consecutive second-place finishes.

Mental challenge

But, Arteta admitted he faced a big challenge to lift his players mentally.

"We know what is at stake, and the fact that, as a club, we haven't done it for so long is a reason for that," said the Spaniard.

"It talks about the difficulty, but I just want to focus on the things that we can control, (areas where we can) dominate and we have done.

"It's not that we have to do a lot of new things that we haven't done. No, let's keep doing a lot of it, or almost all the things that we've done for nine months, because that's what has (brought us to where we are)."

The Arsenal boss said he desperately needed all his first-choice players back.

Absentees on Saturday included Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori.

"We need everything. First of all, we need everybody fit and available," he said.

"So, the ones that are not involved, the ones that are not with us, that are really big, important players, we need them immediately with us, because, then, we're going to be much stronger.

"And then, the other ones, they need to stand up, me (being) the first one (to do so), and embrace this challenge and go for it.

"So, today, we have to suffer. It's painful, it's a terrible feeling, but tomorrow is a different day, and if somebody would have said to me in August we are in this position right now in April, I'm sure we would all take it."

Arsenal faces Portuguese side Sporting in a Champions League quarterfinal second leg on Wednesday after a 1-0 win in the first leg.

Then, four days later comes the summit meeting at City that could make or break its season.