Bournemouth 2–0 Arsenal: Saliba handed first half red card as Gunners lose controversial clash 

William Saliba's initial yellow card is upgraded to a straight red after VAR intervenes 

Two second half goals from Ryan Christie, and a Justin Kluivert penalty, were enough to inflict the first defeat of Arsenal’s Premier League campaign on a contentious afternoon on the south coast.

Controversy reigned on Saturday evening, after Arsenal’s William Saliba was sent off in the first half.

In a pivotal moment on the half hour, the Gunners French centre-back was initially fortunate to only be handed a yellow when tussling with Cherries No9 Evanilson - prior to VAR instructing referee Robert Jones to check the monitor, with the official changing his mind and correctly expelling the French centre-back.

However, many Arsenal supporters, as well as perplexed neutrals, questioned the process that led to the decision, with Howard Webb shown in the stands texting moments before VAR instructed Jones to head to the touchline monitor.

The travelling support certainly let the world know their dissatisfaction with PGMOL, and Webb, aiming a series of chants at the beleaguered body.

Earlier, the Gunners boss selected Raheem Sterling to start on the wing, while Arteta also reinstated Ben White to right-back, with Mikel Merino making his first start, as the visitors also aired their purple and mauve third kit for the first time this term.

The 28-year-old Merino fired narrowly wide on 34 minutes, as Arteta reshuffled his pack, by withdrawing the unfortunate Sterling, in favour of Jakub Kiwior in a bid to shore up the depleted backline.

As the game opened up, Antoine Semenyo tested David Raya with a fierce drive, as the visitors reeled in the aftermath of Saliba’s sending off. Moments later, the Spanish keeper spilt the Cherries’ No24’s drive, before the ball was eventually cleared, after Raya blocked Marcus Tavernier’s follow-up. 

At the half time whistle, a visibly furious Gabriel berated the officials, with many in the away end incandescent at the decision to upgrade Saliba’s yellow to a red.

Andoni Iraola’s side were intent on erasing memories of Arsenal’s 4-0 rout at the same stadium last term, with Arteta’s former Basque schoolfriend, determined to capitalise on the extra man, that saw Semenyo fire over sixty seconds after the restart.

In a hard-fought match, Gabi Martinelli saw his shot blocked by Kepa, after the former Chelsea keeper lost possession in the box with 22 minutes remaining.

Two minutes later, Christie steered his left-footed shot past Raya to put the Cherries 1-0 up with 20 minutes remaining.

As the Cherries dominated, Semenyo fired over with a powerful drive after Partey lost possession.

Moments later referee Jones awarded a second penalty after Raya brought down an onrushing Evanilson, after Kiwior lost possession.  

Up stepped Justin Kluivert to cooly send Raya the wrong way with his spot-kick to double the home side's lead on 79 minutes and seal victory for Iraola’s side on an evening to forget for the Gunners.