Arteta feels Arsenal players lack confidence
Arteta rued being unable to take their two chances to win in stoppage time and was unhappy about sloppy mistakes
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta fears that doubts are creeping into his Arsenal squad after another frail defensive performance cost them two points in the Premier League title race.
The Arsenal manager insisted they have to beat Manchester City at the Etihad on Wednesday to revive their faltering challenge after they came back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with bottom club Southampton thanks to goals from Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka in the final two minutes.
Arsenal were unable to force a winner in nine minutes of stoppage time and they are now five points clear of City, having played two extra games.
“City is not a final because there are still six games to go,” Arteta said. “The concern is turning around these moments especially if the players in some moments are in doubt.
Obviously the task is even bigger but now we have to do the simple things better and cut out mistakes. We are down and they are more willing than anybody to win it.”
Arteta rued being unable to take their two chances to win in stoppage time and was unhappy about sloppy mistakes, which included Aaron Ramsdale gifting Southampton the opening goal after only 26 seconds when he played a pass straight to Carlos Alcaraz.
Only Leeds United and Southampton have conceded more goals at home than Arsenal, who have let in the two quickest goals in the league this season including after nine seconds against Bournemouth in March.
Theo Walcott, the former Arsenal winger, made it 2-0 and Duje Caleta-Car scored in the second half to make it 3-1. Arsenal had one shot between the 45th and 77th minute and ten thereafter.
“At the end, I feel empty,” he said. “It was a very emotional game, I’m disappointed that we didn’t get the three points. We have to look in the mirror. We gave three easy goals away again. We have to do defensively things better.
“When that’s the case it’s really difficult to win this league. I cannot love them more. I don’t see a lack of confidence. The magic moment was there to be taken.
“We were so, so, so close to winning. I didn’t see anybody hiding, everyone was going for it and really wanted it.
“I cannot wait [for Wednesday], these are the games you want to play. When everything is at stake you have to go there to win. The game will be prepared to that. We will have an incredible trip to Manchester and we will prepare really well.”
Arsenal conceded 14 goals in their opening 18 matches and 20 in their past 14 matches and are waiting on whether William Saliba can return from a back injury to play at centre back against City.
The midfielder Granit Xhaka was absent with an illness. Gabriel Jesus, who missed two chances, said that they can beat his former side.
“City have two games in hand but if we want to be champions we have to go there to win the game — that is all,” Jesus said. “We dropped a little bit of our level and focus. We are still there, we are still fighting.”
