Viktor Gyokeres names bizarre reason why Arsenal suffered in potential title-defining defeat

Viktor Gyokeres claimed part of Arsenal’s defeat to Bournemouth may have been self-inflicted.

Goals from Junior Kroupi and Alex Scott either side of a Gyokeres penalty helped the Cherries to a surprise 2-1 win at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

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The Gunners huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser after Scott’s 74th-minute strike, but it ultimately remained elusive.

Although Bournemouth were defensively resolute amid the late barrage of red shirts, Gyokeres was reluctant to solely attribute Arsenal’s inability on scoring a second to their opponents’ work at the back.

Life’s a pitch

Instead, the Sweden international attributed some of the blame to the pitch at the Emirates.

“We had some OK chances at the end,” Gyokeres said.

“The pitch was a bit dry there to be honest, so that didn’t help.

“But of course, we all need to do better and we need to take our chances.”

Aside from the result marking Arsenal’s fourth league defeat this season, it has heaped pressure on the Gunners in the title race.

Gunner look forward

Despite the loss, Arsenal remain nine points clear at the top of the Premier League.

However, that margin could shrink to six on Sunday should second-placed Manchester City beat Chelsea on Sunday.

If that transpires, City could then reduce the gap to just three as they host Arsenal on April 19.

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But Gyokeres remains defiant the Gunners won’t allow lightning to strike an alarming fourth-straight time.

“We are very confident [we can turn things around],” Gyokeres remarked.

“We don’t want to get stuck in what happened today.

“We need to look forward, think positively and look forward to the coming games.

Before Arsenal face City, they must get through the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Sporting on Wednesday.

The Gunners take a 1-0 lead into the clash thanks to Kai Havertz’s stoppage-time strike in the first leg.