Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal needed to take the blame for his or her damaging 2-2 draw in opposition to Aston Villa after sloppy defending value them an opportunity to maintain tempo with Premier League leaders Liverpool.
After Liverpool’s 2-0 win at Brentford earlier on Saturday, the Gunners have been left with no margin for error once they confronted Villa on the Emirates Stadium.
Arteta’s facet have been on target to maneuver again inside 4 factors of Liverpool after Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz scored to construct a two-goal lead by the fifty fifth minute.
However Arsenal collapsed halfway by way of the second half as Youri Tielemans lowered the deficit earlier than boyhood Gunners fan Ollie Watkins bagged the equaliser eight minutes later.
It was a hammer blow to Arsenal’s hopes of a primary title since 2004, with Liverpool now six factors clear and holding a recreation in hand over the second-placed north Londoners.
Arteta conceded Arsenal have been culpable for the defensive errors that allowed Villa again into the sport.
“Satisfaction on the approach the boys performed and competed, the third time in six days. To ship that dominance, that efficiency, they have been excellent. We deserved far more, that is clear,” he mentioned.
“However the best way we defended, particularly the second aim, cannot be a part of our recreation.
“Conceding the 2 objectives can’t be a part of our recreation if you wish to consistently win. It is nowhere close to the requirements of what we demand.”
Arsenal have received solely considered one of their final 5 video games in all competitions in a dismal streak that features an FA Cup third spherical exit in opposition to 10-man Manchester United and a 2-0 League Cup semi-final first leg loss to Newcastle.
Wednesday’s 2-1 win over north London rivals Tottenham appeared to have revived Arsenal, however as soon as once more their inconsistent type this season reared its head on the worst attainable time.
‘One thing was lacking’
Arteta praised his gamers for pushing laborious after Villa’s equaliser, however Mikel Merino’s late winner was disallowed for handball by Havertz.
“They have been distinctive. There have been gamers that have been lifeless and carried out like this for 97 minutes. They do not search for excuses or to the bench wanting what to do,” Arteta mentioned.
“It was the very best recreation we performed in opposition to Villa since I have been right here. They seem to be a good facet. In assault and defending, the extent we’re taking part in is so excessive.
“However one thing was lacking. The road is so skinny and we have now to seek out it. At this time we can’t concede the 2 objectives we did after the whole lot we did.”
Arsenal have dropped 12 factors from profitable positions within the Premier League this season, their most in a single marketing campaign since 2019-20.
However Arteta did not complain in regards to the disallowed aim, saying: “It seems to be like handball in one of many cameras.
“It is troublesome as a result of we have now a lot emotion, the celebration and it is taken away from you. Not simple.”
Villa’s escape act left them in seventh place, simply two factors adrift of the highest 4 as they give the impression of being to qualify for the Champions League for a second successive season.
Their boss Unai Emery as soon as once more haunted the Gunners, who sacked him in 2019 after lower than two seasons in cost.
Villa’s two wins in opposition to Arsenal final season performed a key function in stopping his former membership from catching Manchester Metropolis and the Spaniard might get pleasure from placing a dent of their newest title bid.
“Sensible how the gamers reacted after the 2 objectives, it was implausible. In our mentality, at the moment we by no means gave up and we tried to attain,” Emery mentioned.
“Arsenal have been pushing and creating some probabilities, however even with that we had one other aim.
“Arsenal are very highly effective at residence. That is the extent we wish to be near, however we nonetheless have work to do as they’re very sturdy. To finish like we did is the one method to get one thing right here.”
