Unacceptable defeat, says Arsenal boss Arteta

Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta described as “unacceptable” the way in which his aspect conceded two late objectives to lose 2-1 at Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, their second defeat for the reason that restart of the Premier League.

Nicolas Pepe’s pleasant free kick appeared like giving Arsenal the factors however Lewis Dunk equalised for the hosts earlier than Neal Maupay struck 5 minutes into stoppage time.

Defeat left Arsenal in ninth spot within the desk with 40 factors from 30 video games, six behind fifth-placed Manchester United.

“I am very frustrated,” Arteta mentioned.

“It is unacceptable the way we lost the game. We like competing and I know we have a young squad but still, we threw the game away. We had to put it to bed earlier.

Before the Premier League was suspended because of the pandemic, Arsenal were on a three-game winning run in the league that had revived their hopes of qualifying for Europe.

However, after losing to Manchester City on Wednesday and now Brighton, it looks a tough task.

“We need to try to lift the players. There’s a lot of things that they’ve done really well, but we don’t compete,” Arteta mentioned. “At this level you can’t give the goals that we give away.

“It’s impossible. I know that we are a very, very young team but in the Premier League if you make two mistakes like this, you lost two goals. We can’t accept that.”

Arsenal additionally misplaced keeper Bernd Leno to a knee harm after he tangled with Maupay simply earlier than halftime. Arsenal’s gamers reacted angrily on the French ahead who hit again at ideas he was reckless.

“Some of their players need to learn what is humilty — especially one of them. He was talking all game, he was saying bad things,” Maupay mentioned. “I don’t want to say because I could be in trouble. I just said that this is what happens when you talk too much on the pitch.

“I just went for the ball. I am that type of player — I don’t want to stop until the referee blows the whistle.”

Arteta stopped wanting criticising him.

“I always believe players never have the intention to hurt anybody and I’m sure he didn’t have the intention to do that.”

It was an enormous three factors for Brighton who gave themselves a five-point cushion over third-from-bottom Bournemouth within the relegation battle.