Mikel Arteta labelled Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat at Fulham as their “worst performance of the season” whereas Sky Sports activities pundit Jamie Redknapp mentioned the outcome should act as a wake-up name for the title hopefuls.
The Gunners appeared primed to finish 2023 on prime of the Premier League desk when Bukayo Saka scored from shut vary simply 5 minutes into the competition at Craven Cottage.
However Arsenal didn’t capitalise on that begin and objectives from Raul Jimenez and Bobby De Cordova-Reid sealed a comeback win for Fulham.
It means it’s back-to-back defeats for Arteta’s males after the loss at house to West Ham.
They’ve received simply one in all their final 5 within the Premier League and this outcome leaves Arsenal in fourth place, two factors behind leaders Liverpool, who play their recreation in hand towards Newcastle at Anfield on Monday Night time Soccer, and only a level above Tottenham in fifth.
“We weren’t good enough. Simple as that,” mentioned Arteta to Sky Sports activities afterwards.
“We misplaced the sport three days in the past [against West Ham] we totally deserved to win as a result of we had been so good. And at this time we had been nowhere close to the extent.
“We conceded two very similar goals, we gave the ball away and then the organisation in our box and set-plays… we didn’t generate enough today, our rhythm wasn’t good enough in attack, and defensively we were second best in every action.
“It’s a must to play 100 minutes within the league so it isn’t sufficient to play a number of actions. It is a actually unhappy day as a result of at this time we did not need to win the sport.
“We never got going [after changing to 3-5-2 late on in the second half] because we gave every ball away, and we could not dominate the direct play so we didn’t do any of those two and it’s very difficult to generate any momentum. Credit to Fulham as well.”
Requested in regards to the consecutive losses which have seen Arsenal give up their benefit on the prime of the desk, Arteta mentioned: “We had a great performance against Liverpool [in the 1-1 at Anfield]. We had a great performance against West Ham and didn’t win. Today was the one you have to isolate, because that was the worst performance of the season.”
‘This is likely to be the truth examine they want’
Sky Sports activities pundit Redknapp mentioned: “This might be the reality check they need. Because they’re right off it at the moment.”
Reflecting on Arsenal’s latest poor run of outcomes, he mentioned it illustrated issues throughout the pitch, not simply the much-discussed about goal-scoring points.
“It’s like the run [of results] they had at the end of last season,” mentioned Redknapp, referring to the streak of two wins in eight matches which in the end price Arsenal the title.
“It’s almost good news, they’re getting this form out of the way, because they’re not right at the moment. They’re not good enough, they’re not sharp enough, they’ve not got good enough options in defence, midfield, going forward. It’s just not clicking.
“Arteta mentioned they did sufficient to beat West Ham. I am not satisfied by that basically. They’d a number of possibilities and created quite a bit with out actually wanting like they had been going to attain objectives. It was the identical at this time. All the things was off. That typically occurs in soccer. They have to shortly get again on it.
“They’ve got a bit of a break now with the FA Cup and that might just help them. He says there aren’t players coming in I’d be surprised if he doesn’t try to bring a couple in to freshen it up. It’s not just in matches but in training everything goes up a level.”
Arsenal nonetheless amongst prime three title favourites
Nevertheless, Redknapp says Arsenal stay among the many title favourites, if they’ll resolve these points.
“I don’t think they’re far off,” he mentioned. “It’s just not quite clicking at the moment. They’re losing their way a little bit.
“Do I put them within the equation to win the league? Completely. I nonetheless suppose there are solely three runners: Liverpool, Man Metropolis and Arsenal. The title will come from a kind of three groups. Arsenal proper now, this may do them somewhat little bit of a favour.
“This time last year they were playing so well and everyone got a little bit carried away, a bit excited and when the end of the season came they fell off a cliff. This might be the wake-up call they need.”
Rice: The mentality must be higher
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice to Sky Sports activities:
“Very disappointing. Very tough to take. Not good enough again from us today. The last two results have not been what we’ve required or what we’ve been setting over the course of the season. We’ve been performing very well up until the last few games, especially off the back of the draw at Liverpool we felt like we could really kick on. Two defeats, it’s a tough one to swallow.
“In opposition to West Ham we had 30 pictures, so many touches within the opposition field and simply could not put it away. In the present day once we go 1-0 up we have to take extra management. We have to have extra self perception, need, the mentality must be higher and demand extra from one another while you’re pushing up that finish of the desk.”