Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice sent a message to referee Robert Jones following the Gunners’ shock first Premier League loss of the season against Bournemouth.

The Gunners faced the Cherries at the Vitality Stadium Thursday night. However, Mikel Arteta’s team was reduced to ten men in the first half after defender William Saliba was sent off for tripping Evanilson at the center circle.

Referee Jones eventually issued a straight red card to the France international after determining that he was very certainly the last man, and the Bournemouth striker would have been clear through on goal if he had not been taken down.

As the game remained goalless at halftime, Raheem Sterling was substituted for Jakub Kiwior to strengthen Arsenal’s defence.

However, the hosts took the lead 20 minutes from time when Ryan Christie fired into the top corner, and Justin Kluivert later scored from the penalty spot after Evanilson was brought down in the box by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, ensuring the Cherries’ 2-0 victory.

Arsenal is now third in the top flight league, a point behind champions Liverpool. However, Arne Slot’s team and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have games in hand over the Gunners, who play this afternoon.

City travels to Molineux to face Wolves, while Liverpool hosts Chelsea at Anfield later today.

Rice, a Gunners midfielder, protested to referee Jones that ‘every week it’s the same’ after the team’s shocking setback.

It was Arsenal’s third red card of the Premier League season, following Rice’s dismissal against Brighton and Leandro Trossard’s dismissal against City.

However, in a separate post-match interview, Rice appeared to lift his hands up and agree that the Gunners could only blame themselves for the loss and that’silly mistakes’ eventually cost them.

According to the Metro, he admitted, “We kicked ourselves in the foot three times in eight games and got away with it at home to Brighton and away to Manchester City.” Bournemouth kept probing and went up 2-0.

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“I’m happy of the players for fighting, even with ten men, but we need to avoid making mistakes because you want 11 players for 90 minutes to win football games.

“With ten men, we demonstrated a lot of character and individuality to stay in the game. The major chance was [Gabriel] Martinelli’s, and the keeper read it and made a fantastic stop, and one minute later, a routine we are so good at, had failed us.

“We cannot make foolish mistakes. You need all of your best players on the field at all times. The belief is strong, and we shall stick together.

“This is football, whatever happens the most important thing is that you stick together and stay in the right direction.”