“You have to be upset” – Arteta has no problem with reaction to Liverpool draw

Mikel Arteta says his players were right to feel disappointed by last week’s draw at Liverpool after squandering a two-goal advantage.

The Gunners were good value for their lead, given to them by Gabriel Martinelli and extended by Gabriel Jesus, but paid a heavy price when they couldn’t make it to the break with their clean sheet intact.

After Mo Salah had cut the deficit, Jurgen Klopp’s men grew in confidence and might easily have won the game in stoppage time as they mounted an onslaught following Roberto Firmino’s late equaliser.

Given the chances missed by the home side, including a penalty by Salah, a point felt like a fair result although Bukayo Saka later revealed his teammates were far from satisfied.

Asked if he was pleased at his players being upset, Arteta said: “Yeah. You should be. When you concede in the last few minutes, you have to be upset. We wanted to win the game but as well, we have to be realistic.

“We have to accept that we had an exceptional period in the first half where we should have killed the game, but the reality is in the second half we had some really tough moments where we had to dig in.

“We could have conceded a few goals as well – that was the game.”

Arteta went on to reveal that his staff had tried to ready the players for the highs and lows that often come with clashes at Anfield.

“We tried to prevent that [disappointment] in many moments against them. We actually did it because they’re going to have periods of dominance and periods where they get you into that chaotic game they’re exceptional at.

“We didn’t manage to get out of that game well enough and that’s why we suffered.”

Despite dropping two points, Arsenal retain a six-point advantage over Manchester City and know the lead could be extended to nine by the time they visit the Etihad for a title decider on 26th April.

While it’s easy to start looking ahead, the manager says his sole aim is focusing the players on taking the challenges one day at a time.

On what his “game-by-game” mantra means, he said: “Talking about it, being demanding to each other and creating an environment where nothing is more important than what is actually going to happen today.

“When that happens, everyone understands that you are present in the moment, and that is all you can control.”

His players have certainly reaped the benefits of that mentality this season. They surpassed last season’s points tally a couple of weeks back and are on track to hit the 90-goal target their manager set this time last year.

On what has changed, Arteta added: “Consistency – in every ball that we play, and the approach that we have in every home or away game that we play.

“That’s why we are where we are because we have been consistent and performing at the highest level for many months right now, and that’s something that before we didn’t do.”