The Gunners slipped to a 1-0 defeat at St James' Park on Saturday to seriously dent their title ambitions. Alexander Isak ensured the Magpies claimed all three points when he headed home Anthony Gordon's superb cross just 12 minutes in
Arsenal’s unprecedented club statement after FA alerted to Mikel Arteta comments
Arsenal dominated possesion after Isak's opener, but barely troubled Toon keeper Nick Pope. In fact they had just one shot on target during the entire game as Newcastle successfully held them at arm's length.
The visitors' struggles to get themselves back in the game left Arteta cutting a frustrated figure after the defeat. And he blasted his side for failing to adapt their gameplan once they fell behind.
"We deserved to lose today. I thought we started really well and were really dominant. We didn't defend the box well enough. Credit to them. They scored a great goal with a good ball. Then the game changes and you start to play a different game," Arteta told Premier League Productions.
"You have to adapt and we didn't do that well enough. I am very frustrated. We got dragged into a game they are looking for constantly and we couldn't play the game that we wanted. We had two big chances - Mikel had a big one, Declan had a big one. We lacked answers.
"We can say whatever we want. We will struggle to find the words today. We have to show it on the pitch on Wednesday night. You have to be at your best every time to give yourself a chance to win."
Arteta's assessment of the defeat was backed by William Saliba, who played all 90 minutes of Saturday's defeat. He admitted the Gunners' morale had dipped due to the loss, a result the Frenchman believed his side deserved.
"We are all a bit sad because we wanted to win today. Unfortunately we didn't and we didn't play the game we wanted to play. We deserved to lose today I think. I think we didn't play how we wanted to play and they were good as well," Saliba told Premier League Productions.
"It's OK, we are focused on the next week and it is not finished. I think it's a good goal, a really good cross and good finishing but we can always do better. Today they scored early and we were not able to equalise.
Arsenal’s unprecedented club statement after FA alerted to Mikel Arteta comments
"We have to stick together. Last season we had one period like and we need to stay together and have the confidence to get out. We all believe we will come back. I have to be better than my last game. I was not so good. I have to be back at my good level. After I will be good we will better but I have to work to get back to my best level."
The defeat at Newcastle has left Arsenal five points behind leaders Manchester City. But that gap could extend to eight points if City beat Bournemouth later on Saturday, while fellow title rivals Liverpool can move seven points clear with a win over Brighton.
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