Declan Rice slams 'silly mistakes' as Arsenal star makes sobering title admission after William Saliba red card
Declan Rice has warned his Arsenal team-mates that they must stop making “silly mistakes” if they are to win the Premier League this year.
Arsenal fell to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at the hands of Bournemouth on Saturday to see them lose ground to other title contenders. city of manchester and Liverpool.
The Gunners' task became more difficult when William Saliba was given a direct red card for a professional foul against Evansilson in the first half, which meant the north London team had to play for over an hour with just 10 men.
That challenge proved too much for Arsenal, who were deservedly beaten by Bournemouth.
Rice, not one to mince his words, spoke to Sky Sports after the match and said: “The fact is we have shot ourselves in the foot three times this season in eight games and we have got away with it twice.
“Luck can't be with you all the time and tonight Bournemouth kept digging and ended up winning 2-0.
“I am proud that we as a group of players continue to fight and believe as we do, but the naivety is that we must stop making mistakes because we want 11 players for 90 minutes because that is how we will win football games. .
“That's how I see it today.”
Rice added: “With 10 men we showed a lot of character and personality to stay in the game, but the big chance was Martinelli's, where the goalkeeper made a great save.
“Then a minute later they got a corner and killed us.
“There is nothing to regret tonight other than the fact that we can't keep making silly mistakes, especially if we want to compete and be on top at the end of the season.
“You need your best players on the field and that gives the other players a mountain to climb when you're down to 10 men, but the confidence in this group is still very, very high.
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“We just talked there and we have a big month ahead of us and that's why we will stick together.
“This is football, it's a rollercoaster and it's what happens, but the most important thing is that we stick together.”
Arsenal are next in action against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday, before facing Liverpool on Sunday, October 27.
