Mikel Arteta has called on Arsenal to move past the disappointment of Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth by focusing on starting a new unbeaten run when they face Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday night.
Hampered by William Saliba’s first-half red card, Arsenal’s uncharacteristically sloppy performance at the Vitality Stadium brought an end to their 17-game unbeaten streak.
However, in his pre-match press conference, Arteta made it clear that there’s no value in dwelling on a bad result, urging his team to respond with a strong performance at the Emirates.
“It’s very clear, put a bit of perspective into the situation,” said the boss when asked what his message is to his players.
“Obviously, we want to win in any context. The reality is that we have made that context very difficult for ourselves. It was very difficult already with the amount of players that we had out, the schedule and the games that we had to play. But that’s the reality. And for that game, we didn’t get away with it. We could have done, and it could have been a very different narrative. The reality is we didn’t.
“Now, the context is that we have lost one game in six months. And, OK, now we have to win again, win in the context, that we have lost for the first time in six months. So let’s show it.”
Having earned three red cards in eight games in the league, there has been much discussion about Arsenal having a costly disciplinary problem. While Arteta was quick to point out the circumstances behind each dismissal was different, he admits that his side can’t afford to keep getting on the wrong side of the officials.
“Playing with 10 men, obviously there is an issue,” he said. “The truth is, when you analyse the three very different actions and the outcome of them, the reasons are very different. Regardless of that, we cannot continue to play with 10 men, especially at this level. And you see how we’re struggling.
“All the teams have to win football matches. When you want to do it against 10 men for 65 minutes the tax becomes almost impossible. So we need to eradicate that, it’s clear. Why, the reason and how. It doesn’t matter. We have to focus on that, it has to happen.
He added: “I think we are already aligned that we cannot continue to play with 10 men. That’s fine, it’s easier to say it than get it done because they are very specific moments that adjust that situation, but it’s reacting. Defeat is part of the game, part of the sport. It happened in very specific conditions as well. Let’s move on, take that pain that we still have in the tummy and use it for tomorrow night.”
While it seems unlikely Arsenal will appeal the decision to red card William Saliba for his foul on Evanilson, the fact a similar situation in Sunday’s clash between Liverpool and Chelsea was treated differently by the officials has raised eyebrows. At Anfield, Blues defender Tosin Adarabioyo tangled with Reds striker Diogo Jota but only earned a yellow card.
If the Gunners do appeal, something the manager will leave to those above him, it sounds like it could be cited as evidence of double standards.
“I’ll leave that more the club to understand the circumstances and other examples that are clear in the same position and they will have to decide that,” said Arteta.
I’m not saying “throw this Shaktar game” but please don’t play anyone who is not fully fit.
Fucks sake
I stand corrected, the loss was annoying but not damaging, first loss relatively early in the season. We will now have a proper run of games and matches without interupotions.
Most our players will be back by crucial December, except for Liverpool who have been okay, no team has been exceptional. I like how we are pacing ourselves, red cards needs of course some management, but in my estimate we are likely champions, the team who has most settled.
The overreaction is baffling
People are saying stupid stuff like our title race is over. Interesting.
I don’t think our title race is over, but it is damaging. Losing Saliba vs Liverpool is a big problem. Throwing away points to mid-table teams is what lost us the title last year. People watch what happened Saturday and it reminds them of Fulham and West Ham etc. last year and that’s why they’re stressed. I get it. Teams that win titles don’t just shit the bed like that for no reason.
I recall City losing to Wolves this time last year. Every team shits the bed. When it’s Arsenal though, the knives come out quicker.
Losing Saliba is not ideal, but if Timber is fit then we are good. White or Timber can fill Saliba’s shoes for the day and do fairly good. We just pray Timber can make it. Can’t afford another Kiwior at RCB for this one.
“Do fairly good” won’t cut it against the Liverpool attack I fear
The damage is that we have to beat both Liverpool and City the next time we face them.
And we can.
And we will.
Saliba’s absence (if the card is not overturned) might lull Liverpool into a false sense of hope. We’ll sucker punch them!
This is a back-to-the-wall moment and I am backing our boys to deliver.😄
If we win every other game other than those 3 against City and Pool, we still win the league with like 99 points. But I still take your point, we probably do. I just think this season is even tougher than last, and 90 points may well win the league.
I thought Saliba’s foul was on the border between yellow and red. I thought it was a matter of judgment and I don’t have a big problem with close matters of judgment being a little inconsistent in different games; that’s what judgment necessarily means. But if that is true, then I have a big problem with VAR being involved. When something happens off the ball, or when the referee cannot possibly have a good view because there are four sets of legs blocking him, then VAR should intervene (as if the VAR were a linesmen/Assistant Referee–only with technology). There is… Read more »
Agreed. The ref saw it clearly and dealt with it. That should have been the end of it.
That’s my issue as well. It’s hard to shake the feeling that we tend to be on the receiving end of these. Maybe someone can remind me of some instances when referees haned us a big break? I just remember the Kovacic no-call, the Bruno elbow to Jorgi’s head no call, Joelinton standing on Gabi’s back, Norgaard’s offside goal where they “forgot to draw the lines” and now the 3 red cards this season and it’s hard not to wonder WTF is going on with referees and this club.
Tommy’s face being stamped on was a nailed on red card!
A Liverpool fan on the VAR machine smelt an opportunity to suspend our best defender against Liverpool next week, it was more juicy for him to ignore. I wonder if the same VAR official would have VARed the decision if we were to play Ipwich next week. There is no way anyone can convince me that these ref don’t have conscious or unconscious bias. The patterns do not shoe they are honest. See the way O’Neil is complaining about it now after what happened against City. And it is the truth. Why would the ref go over the 7 minutes… Read more »
I meant 7 minutes or 6 min 58 seconds.
For the red cards, it seems Arteta tried to implement the technical foul tricks used by Man City at a time where the league decided to crack down on that. Also, our players don’t know how to do it. If you don’t know how to lie, do not try to cheat on your wife.
Maybe not the metaphor to apply to a Frenchman!
It’s a different competition with no PGMOL, so lets all enjoy it. A top eight finish is well within our capabilities, and hopefully a good result and a bit of respite from the Premier League will set us all up nicely for the weekend. Come on you beautiful Gunners!