Bournemouth boss shows true colours with comments after Arsenal controversy

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Bournemouth didn't think it was an Arsenal penalty. (Image: Getty)

AFC Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola showed his class despite believing his side were hard-done-by in their 3-0 defeat against Arsenal on Saturday. The Cherries felt aggrieved by two of referee David Coote's decisions at the Emirates Stadium, which involved a penalty decision and a disallowed goal.

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Arsenal maintained their charge towards a first Premier League title since 2004 with an ultimately-comfortable triumph in north London.

But Bukayo Saka's opening goal on the brink of half-time caused controversy after Kai Havertz looked to have gone down under minimal contact from Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers.

Havertz was also accused of looking for the contact by leaving his left leg trailing in Travers' path, but VAR didn't overturn Coote's decision to award Arsenal a penalty.

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Leandro Trossard doubled the Gunners' lead on 70 minutes before Declan Rice added a third at the end of stoppage time, opening a four-point gap ahead of Manchester City, having played twice more.

But in between, Bournemouth were denied a goal that would've made it 2-1 and piled on the pressure after Coote and VAR adjudged Dominic Solanke to have fouled David Raya in the build-up.

Replays showed that Solanke lost sight of the ball and slightly nudged Raya, but the decision left the visitors livid, as they thought Philip Billing was fouled before that.

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Bournemouth were also denied a goal. (Image: Getty)

After full-time, Iraola bemoaned the two major calls but took time to admit that Arsenal deserved the three points.

"First of all I would like to say Arsenal deserved to win today," the Spaniard explained in his post-match press conference.

"I don't agree with the penalty or the decision for the disallowed goal. But I want to repeat, Arsenal deserved to win and were better than us.

"For me, Kai Havertz tries to find the contact and does not try to score a goal. VAR thinks because there is contact, it cannot be overturned.

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"It's also a penalty on Philip Billing or it's a goal. I don't understand the decision. They called a foul on Dominic Solanke but the foul on Billing was before that."

Arteta is still relying on City to slip up in the run-in if he's to pip his former boss Pep Guardiola to the post rather than suffer a repeat of last season's finale.

Arsenal face Manchester United away and Everton at home in their final two games, and Arteta hopes his side can go all the way this time around.

He said: "We've done it for nine months now so with two weeks to go, we really want to get it done. We are closer than we were yesterday and hopefully we can bring that Premier League title here."

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