Mikel Arteta expressed his disappointment with Arsenal’s lackluster second-half performance in their 3-0 defeat at home to Brighton on Sunday, effectively putting an end to the club’s aspirations for the title.
Meanwhile, Manchester City had earlier extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to four points with a 3-0 win against Everton. However, Arsenal missed a chance to narrow the gap as Brighton secured a convincing three-goal victory at the Emirates Stadium later that evening.
The turning point came six minutes into the second half when Paraguayan prodigy Julio Enciso nodded Brighton into the lead. Deniz Undav then doubled their advantage with a composed lob, before Pervis Estupinan sealed the three points in the closing stages, prompting visiting manager Roberto De Zerbi to celebrate with a knee slide on the Emirates turf.
With Manchester City on the brink of securing the title, Arteta’s mood was far from celebratory. Speaking to BBC’s Match of the Day, the visibly shaken Arsenal manager said, “We knew that Brighton would be difficult to break down.
ALSO READ: Arsenal’s title hopes dashed by devastating 3-0 defeat to Brighton
The first half was fiercely competitive, and we should have capitalized on our chances better. However, we conceded early in the second half, and from then on, it was the game they wanted. We tried to respond, but we conceded a cheap goal, and the team couldn’t find a way back from 2-0.”
Just a week prior, Arsenal had achieved one of their most impressive victories of the season, defeating Newcastle United 2-0 away from home and remaining just one point behind City.
ALSO READ: SPOTLIGHT: Dennis Bergkamp, ‘non-flying Dutchman’ blessed with unrivalled skill, technique
Arteta acknowledged the dramatic shift in performance within a short span of seven days, saying, “We were aware of the challenge we faced today, which was very different from the one against Newcastle. Last week, I stood here feeling immensely proud of what we accomplished, but today we need to apologize to our fans. We must quickly move on and not dwell on this feeling for too long.”
While Arsenal can still take pride in their season, such as being on track for their highest points tally since 2004, Arteta admitted, “It’s difficult to see that bigger picture today.”
The Gunners have encountered difficulties in European competitions this season, and Arteta hinted at the need for adjustments before facing elite continental teams next season, stating, “When our team displays the kind of performance we saw in the second half, it reveals that we have areas to address. In this league, any team can punish you, and the same would happen in the Champions League.”
When speaking to Sky Sports, Arteta refrained from officially conceding the title, which has yet to be decided. “Mathematically, it’s still possible,” he cautiously insisted. “However, it’s impossible to think about it today. We need to process the result and our second-half performance, understand why it happened, and react differently.“
Leave a Reply