Martin Keown criticised Arsenal players for not passing the ball to Max Dowman enough as they fell to a devastating defeat at home to Bournemouth.

The Gunners had the chance to move 12 points clear of the summit of the Premier League and tighten their grip on the title in front of their own fans on Saturday afternoon.

But an insipid display led to their third defeat in their last four matches with Bournemouth sealing a 2-1 victory.

Viktor Gyokeres drew his side level after 35 minutes following Junior Kroupi’s early strike but it failed to spark the hosts into life.

Seeing no improvement from his side in the opening nine minutes of the second-half, Arteta decided enough was enough and made three changes with Eberechi Eze, Leandro Trossard and Dowman replacing Gabriel Martintelli, Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke.

The changes had little effect on the game with Arsenal still labouring. Arteta’s side were punished again after 74 minutes; coming up short in three second-ball situations before Alex Scott produced a fine finish to beat David Raya.

Despite only turning 16 in December, Dowman has looked at home in the first-team squad and was instrumental off the bench in Arsenal’s previous Premier League game, helping set up one and scored the other in dramatic 2-0 win over Everton.

He could not replicate that impact on Saturday with Keown frustrated Arsenal did not look for their young teammate more often.

‘Arsenal fixed the play and the picture never changed,’ Keown told TNT Sports. ‘Arsenal then couldn’t develop the play into their midfield players.

‘Even when Dowman came on, we were all screaming give him the ball, but they didn’t have enough good control of the ball in the midfield and that is all down to Bournemouth and Arsenal not mixing up their game enough.’

Manchester City face a tough test away to Chelsea on Sunday but if they come through that, they can reduce the gap at the top to just three points when they play Arsenal at the Emirates next weekend.

City will then have a game in hand on their rivals.

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