(Reuters) – Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta tore into his facet after their 2-0 Premier League defeat at Newcastle United on Monday, saying their efficiency was nowhere close to the extent wanted to play within the Champions League.
A Ben White personal purpose and a late strike from Bruno Guimaraes sealed the victory for Newcastle and left Arsenal two factors off fourth-placed north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur with one recreation remaining.
“It’s extraordinarily disappointing that Newcastle had been 10 instances higher than us and the efficiency was nowhere close to the extent we want to be at if we wish to play within the Champions League,” Arteta informed Sky Sports.
“It’s a really painful one. It was in our palms and at present it is not in our palms.”
The Spaniard, who endured a foul begin to the marketing campaign earlier than guiding them into competition for a spot in Europe’s elite membership competitors, mentioned he was finally chargeable for their failures on the pitch.
“I’m accountable on a regular basis,” Arteta informed reporters later when requested if he felt let down by his players.
“If there’s somebody who has created an expectation this yr that nobody initially of the season would discuss, it’s these players and I’ll at all times defend them.
“But tonight, that is actually troublesome to do.”
With their vastly inferior purpose distinction, Arsenal should beat Everton on Sunday and hope relegated Norwich City upset Spurs at house to pip them to fourth place.
“There’s at all times a tiny probability in soccer,” Arteta mentioned.
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
