Mikel Arteta: It’s unacceptable for Arsenal to lose to a title rival – again
"This one [loss] is a really hard one to take, it was a massive game for us and for me it's unacceptable," says Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta admits it is unacceptable for Arsenal to lose another “massive game” against a title rival after their heavy loss at Stamford Bridge.
Premier League leaders Chelsea were emphatic 6-0 winners against Arsene Wenger’s side on Saturday to leave the Gunners seven points adrift of the Blues.
Arsenal, who are in the FA Cup semi-finals, have now conceded a staggering 17 goals in three heavy defeats at Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City.
The good thing is we have a lot of things to play for and we’ve always reacted to disappointments and difficult moments
Mikel Arteta
“It’s not good enough with the way we started the game. Just before they scored we had a chance with Olivier that could have changed the game completely but we gave them the game in [their] hands,” Arteta told Arsenal’s website.
“If you give the ball away in the middle of the park against Chelsea you know what’s going to happen. That’s what we have to avoid and we knew that from the start of the game and we haven’t done it.
“We paid for our own mistakes. We have to take it on the chin because it’s unacceptable to lose another big game like this.”
Arteta continued: “The first one [at Manchester City] you may analyse in a different way, the second one [at Liverpool] was a bit different in the way we conceded the first three goals but on Saturday in my opinion it was worse because it was more our fault.
“It was when we were in possession of the ball and we knew that we couldn’t take risks in certain areas. After 3-0 and with a man down it makes it impossible.
“The good thing is we have a lot of things to play for and we’ve always reacted to disappointments and difficult moments. But this one is a really hard one to take, it was a massive game for us and for me it’s unacceptable.”
