Mikel Arteta says Arsenal need to look themselves in the mirror after a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.
Patrick Vieira’s side were deserved winners on a night when they raced to a two-goal advantage inside 24 minutes and finished the job in the second half as the Gunners laboured in the attack.
The result, coupled with Sp*rs’ big win over Newcastle on Sunday, leaves Arsenal in fourth as the race for the Champions League hots up.
Here’s what the Spaniard had to say when he faced the Sky Sports cameras…
On the performance…
First congratulations to Palace for the game that they played. Then, I think we made it impossible for ourselves, the way we competed. We talked about that before the game, you have to compete first in this ground, you have to be physical, to be first to win first and second balls, you have to go into the challenges and then you can start to earn the right to play. When we earned it a little bit, we were really poor and inconsistent with the ball, we have given the ball away time after time and at that level, it’s just unacceptable. We have to accept that today, we were nowhere near our level, especially in the first half. I apologise to our supporters, we have to take on the challenge now.
On when his side last played so badly…
It’s been a long time. You can accept certain things, individual mistakes, that’s part of football but when you see the way that we looked, we didn’t have the presence today, we didn’t have the real composure and commitment to dominate the situation that’s what I’m most annoyed with.
On what was behind the bad performance…
I don’t know, sometimes you’re not there, you start to be late [to the ball], you lose one ball and then the pitch doesn’t help and then the second one and you’re late again and they [Palace] got on top of it, there was a good atmosphere, the first goal, the second one and we got into a situation where we could not get out in the first 40 minutes.
On putting Xhaka at left-back…
Nuno’s substitution was just a tactical decision to try to change and put players in other spaces to attack better, to try to take the game where we wanted, which we did in the second half much better. When we had the big chances, we didn’t score to give ourselves the chance to get back into the game.
On what’s the best way to deal with a night like this…
First, we have to put our hands up, me the first one, for the criticism that we deserve. We were not good enough today. Accept it, look in the mirror and tomorrow start to prepare the next game. We have to know this is not good enough for this club and it’s an opportunity to see our unity and if you are on the boat. When everything goes well, everybody wants to be there, now jump on the boat and gives us a hand.
On needing to show defiance…
100 per cent. The opportunity now is, okay, we lost Kieran, we lost Thomas today, we lost 3-0. It’s a difficult one to swallow but at the same time, we have to face the opportunity, it’s still there and it’s in our hands.
On the importance of this result not damaging a good season…
First, we have to be honest with ourselves and then what we do always, support each other and make each other better.
Oh Zaha. Why do you have to show us every time how big the mistake was signing Pepe? He’s so good. What an athlete.
Sliding doors moment.
The Nothing special about Zaha.
Not sure I buy this to be honest. Zaha wasn’t that good tonight, he largely did nothing bar the little run at the end which only opened for him fortuitously given Partey pulled up when controlling the ball. What needed to happen was one or both of Gabriel and White to absolutely smash Zaha and Mateta early doors. We gave them too much respect and that enabled them to set the tone of the Palace press. We needed a bit of an old school approach to a game like this. A couple of big tackles early on to earn the… Read more »
Tend to agree with you on a lot, but not here. Zaha is a quite good player, a diving cunt, and a guy who always seems to save his best for games against Arsenal. Aside from the last part, they can keep him. Taking all the external elements out of the Pepe deal, I’d still rather have Pepe as a player.
You’re crazy if you think Pepe Is a better option than Zaha
No. Pepe is a class above the overrated diving cheat Zaha.
Yeah….. pretty shit all round.
This has to be a reality check and a kick up the arsenal, or a collapse can be fast at this point of the season.
Let’s go again COYG
Zaha is an over-rated diving @unt.
This just means Arsenal must beat spprds and manyoo.
No problem.
At this rate we need a collapse from Chelsea also. Spurs have a much easier run in.
Arsenal at the moment is like an engine: we need all the parts working at optimum level to function well.
Tavares had a night to forget.
Partey and Odegaard were horribly off form.
I was one of those who felt Lacazette should be kept; I have changed my mind. That guy’s Arsenal career is over. Let him go and get two strikers in.
Chelsea (A), Spurs (A), West Ham (A), United (H), Crystal Palace (A).
Personally think these are our toughest remaining games. Not a good feeling we lost the supposedly easiest one out of the 5.
I knew the FA will order a replay of today’s game.
wait for the brighton game
You made it impossible for yourself. Reliance on Edu in market, January opportunities to reinforce a quality thin squad spurned. Sadly this was all avoidable but all too predictable. A couple of injuries (and we have a number of injury prone players) and we are down to poor options. not least Partey (if knock is serious), we are down to Sambi Lokonga and Elneny? Not exactly confidence inspiring. Xhaka had to play 3 positions today with Tavares once bright and promising a shadow of his former self not least Saka looking a shade off due to post covid and Odegaard… Read more »
Sometimes it’s a good, sometimes it’s a shit
and arteta cant change the shit to good in the same game
Roll on 2025/26 season
The problem was Zaha was given too much time and space to run at the defense.Someone whd have tracked him from MD bf he surged forward.
He has shown that running at defenders is what most teams are nervous about
I don’t know but some teams fllod the MD to neutralize the attacking threat of the other team.Teams have gotten wise to MA s predictable style.
If he plays like this against Conte,4th will surely be gone.
To stifle Arsenal,getin their faces.
Is it time for the Viera in conversation yet 😂😂
Cos he beat us? Maybe,we should start reconsidering Emery cos he beat us too. How has Viera fared in other big matches he has coached? Arteta is still superior.
definitely you don’t understand football if you still underrate Vieira Palace team
7-0 on aggregate against city, spurs and arsenal.
as for emery he’s got bayern in the UCL tomorrow.
these are the facts
7-0 on aggregate against city, spurs and arsenal.
as for emery he’s got bayern in the UCL tomorrow.
these are the facts
Wenger team scored 74 goals in his last season. Emery’s scored 73 goals. Arteta, this one has less than 30. The football isn’t exciting and we’re haemorrhaging talent for some group-thought goldilocks idea of what a club is. Paddy just put on a show on prime time, can’t deny the work he is doing. Guehi and Olise are only two players that he’s evolved in his first season. His development is just a bit deeper than improving Sterling & Sane. Special note to The Athletic though. After Vieira got back to back defeats for the first time, they published an… Read more »
Worst performance for a long time but hopefully just a bad night at the office. Just have to use this result to drive us into the next game. COYG!