Arteta: Loss to Cherries 'a big punch on the face'
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta speaks to the media following his side's lackluster 2-1 loss to Bournemouth at the Emirates.
Video Transcript
Okay, Mikel, just your thoughts after that one.
Well, extremely disappointing obviously.
it's a big punch on the face, and it's about how we react now.
What didn't quite work for you out there?
W-was it difficult to find a flow, and was that something that your team did or did Bournemouth prevent it?
Well, I think credit to them for what they've done.
It's a team that obviously hasn't lost, for eleven games for a reason because they do a lot of things right and, when, when we had, especially in the first half, a lot of opportunities when we break their press, we regain the ball to run, to have open spaces.
We were far from, efficient and, and the first chance, I think, or the first opportunity that they have to attack the box is a deflection.
We have a really bad defending action, and, it costs us a goal.
And that's obviously emotionally something that we have to deal with.
We try to recover from there, try to push them, score the goal from the penalty in the second half.
You expect a different game, but, yeah, we did a lot of strange things today, I would say.
Is that a surprise to you?
Like, you just said a couple of strange things, and you weren't as efficient.
Does that come as a surprise to you from what you see?
Yeah, we've been very consistent.
it can happen.
This is football.
sometimes you have to give credit to the opposition as well for what they do and the way they capitalize.
I don't know how many shots they had, but, the way they capitalize in our actions, our errors, and, how we were far from the level today.
How much is this hurting the boys in the dressing room right now?
A lot, and it has to, and it has to hurt, and you have to take it on the chin, and there is no gray areas now.
You stand up and go for the fight, or you are out, and that's it.
That's what, this level is going to require now.
And does it feel like this is the biggest week of your managerial career and for these boys playing as well with what's at stake?
It's a big week.
It's a lot of at stake.
we're still in a really good position in both competitions, but, but we need to better but, certain.
