Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has urged his team to keep “generating momentum,” despite their FA Cup exit against Liverpool.
Jakub Kiwior’s headed own-goal and Luis Diaz’s injury-time strike saw Arsenal crash out of the FA Cup at home to Liverpool, which marked their second exit at the Third Round stage in three seasons.
Arteta’s Gunners however dominated the game amidst a host of wasted chances which were ultimately punished, with Arteta critical of his team’s end product despite their overall performance.
“We didn’t take the chances, I haven’t seen any other team in the first six months that have generated what we have done against them in the last two games and we’re not capitalising – not today, in the last few games – that’s why we are not winning games.
“Performance-wise, merit-wise, there is no question, but to win the game actually the results say something very different.
“When my team plays with that attitude, with that courage, with that desire and do what they’ve done to probably the best team in Europe at the moment in terms of momentum, what can I do? Stay behind them and support them.”
Arteta added that the agony of having witnessed his Gunners waste chances was “frustrating,” but believes that if they continue to play like they’ve done, they can eventually start scoring more goals and “generate momentum,” as they now chase the Premier League and Champions League titles.
Arsenal have now scored just two goals in their last four matches and Arteta has now admitted that their wasteful finishing is now a psychological issue, as the Gunners head into their winter break.
Arteta though has iterated that his players must come back from their fortnight off ready to treat it like a fresh campaign, as he explained: “That’s why we need to reset; the break comes at a good time because they are going to feel how we feel, how I feel about them very clearly in difficult moments, not when things are going well.
“Hopefully they can see from many other people that they jump on the train when things go well so when things are more difficult let’s see where they stand.”
Arsenal are currently linked with a move for Brentford striker, Ivan Toney this month which has excited supporters, but Arteta was blunt about what he expects from the fans as he quipped: “What I beg the supporters is that they are behind the team, that they’ve done in difficult moments.
“Stick with the ones we have – they are incredibly good. If not, they don’t do what they’ve done again today, in Anfield and here. Stick with them, it’s exactly what they need, that we are fully behind them.
“Then they feel important, and supported because they deserve it, with their attitude they don’t deserve anything different. That’s my opinion.”
Leave a Reply