Prior to the most important match in their recent history, Arsenal needed momentum.
They didn't need to lose to Bournemouth at home for the first time ever with a full-strength squad.
Unfortunately for Mikel Arteta, the Gunners' 2-1 defeat to the Cherries on Saturday inflicted a setback to their preparations for Wednesday's crucial second leg of the Champions League semi-final at Paris St-Germain.
Success in Europe is crucial to Arsenal's hopes for the rest of the season, and they must overcome a 1-0 deficit from the first leg when they go to the French capital.
Bournemouth fought back from Declan Rice's opening goal with two goals in the second half, making that job seem much more difficult today, but Arteta thinks that kind of setback may eventually be advantageous for them.
"It didn't create the right momentum," he said. "It caused a great deal of resentment, disappointment, frustration, and anger.
"On Wednesday, let's make use of everything. We must take that action.
What must Arsenal do in order to defeat PSG?
The Gunners must first improve their set-piece defence.
Despite not playing at their best against Bournemouth, they controlled the game since the visitors failed to register a shot on goal throughout the opening hour.
On their first effort, however, Dean Huijsen headed in from Antoine Semenyo's long throw to equalise the score.
Once again, Arsenal lost the match due to a set-piece, as Evanilson bundled in after a corner was deflected into the far post.
Set-piece goals have accounted for 38.7% of Arsenal's goals this season, the highest percentage in the English Premier League.
In order to avoid losing to PSG, who have scored a league-high 42 goals in 16 home Ligue 1 games this season, Arsenal must score on Wednesday.
Arsenal had taken the lead in four of their last five Premier League games, but they were unable to maintain that position.
They have lost 21 points from winning spots in the Premier League so far this season, which is tied for the most in a single season (they also lost 21 in 2019–20).
The second issue with Saturday's loss was that the Gunners failed to make a single on- or off-target shot after Bournemouth seized the lead in the 75th minute.
Rob Green, the former custodian for West Ham, said on BBC Radio 5 live, "Looking at that right now, you just cannot see it [Arsenal beating PSG]."
"If you remove Declan Rice from this team's equation, you're left with a set of guys that lack self-assurance and creative ideas for how to score goals and have an offensive edge.
"There's work to do and so little time to do it."
"A major wobble" for Arsenal at the wrong moment?
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Arteta says, "Arsenal is 'nowhere near' their standards."
Arsenal was Liverpool's primary rival for the Premier League championship for the great portion of the season, but they are now holding onto second place due to a poor recent run of play.
In third place, they lead Manchester City by three points, but if Newcastle defeats Brighton on Sunday, the difference will be only two.
Fifth-place Chelsea would fall four points behind if they defeat Liverpool at home and sixth-place Nottingham Forest at Crystal Palace on Monday.
With three games remaining, the Gunners may potentially risk finishing in the top five.
Chris Sutton, a former Premier League striker, said on BBC Radio 5 live, "Are the wheels off at Arsenal?"
"They are having a major wobble, aren't they?"
Though it may not be quite so dramatic, Arteta is aware that the Gunners must significantly improve on their recent performances in order to prevent their season from ending even sooner than it is now in danger of.
"We have a lot to do, yes, because mathematically we are not qualified [for the Champions League]," he said.
"We haven't had the right to finish second yet, so we still have a lot to do."
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