Mikel Arteta issued an apology to Arsenal supporters as he branded his team’s performance at Crystal Palace as ‘unacceptable’.
The Gunners' hopes of qualifying for the Champions League were dealt a major blow after falling to comprehensive 3-0 loss at Selhurst Park meaning they remain in fifth, level on points with arch-rivals Tottenham who are in fourth - but crucially the Gunners have a game in hand.
Arteta said: ‘We made it impossible for ourselves with the way we competed. We were inconsistent on the ball and at this level it was unacceptable.
‘We apologise to our supporters and take the challenge. We didn’t have the presence or real composure, that is what I’m really concerned with.
‘Today, too many things went wrong at the same time. We weren’t at the races, we were late to every ball especially in the first half and didn’t earn right to play.’
To compound Arteta’s misery, key midfielder Thomas Partey limped off with recurrence of a thigh injury that Arteta admitted he was worried about.
Likewise, Arteta confirmed that first-choice left-back Kieran Tierney, who missed last night’s defeat, will see a specialist today after sustaining a knee injury during the international break that has raised fears he could miss the rest of the season.
‘We will know more about the injury after he sees the specialist but the feeling that he has isn’t really positive and the scans have shown (positivity) either,’ said Arteta.
On Partey’s injury, Arteta added: ‘We don’t how bad the injury is but he felt something in the same area that he got injured previously so it’s a big concern.’
Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira added: ‘I'm really proud. We played a really good game of football.
'We defended well and took our chances. We scored in important moments of the game.
'We needed a big team performance and we did it so we're really pleased.
‘We wanted to put pressure on and the atmosphere in the stadium allowed us to take that kind of risk.
'We were really smart with the way we defended from the front and took the chances to score goals.’
Nukbcluy
1
am an arsenal suppoter but I have never seen my team push in a critical match like for Palace. they should learn from Liverpool,man City and even Chelsea when these teams face a must win games they utilise the opportunity now us we have never done that for for so many years. what problem do we have?when playing against big teams our players always seem to have more fear maybe we bring managers like Zidane as head coach booze we play good game against big teams but at the end lost we need a trophy also and let's look for players who has big names that so.
Yasirsardar
0
Now what to do with apology?? We slip up from top 4 and we defeated by palace and they are not in top 6 means weArteta did not take it seriously, now if we beaten against 1 of top 4 in remaining matches we might lose our spot, these kind of matches against less strong opponents we have to win but we fail to do so
tiyamstu
0
Arsenal need to beat physical ultra defensive teams like Chelsea, crystal palace and Liverpool to be among the elite teams!!!
tiyamstu
0
Vieira or Arteta who is better
Arteta is better performance wise,Viera is physical bus parking coach!
xanta
0
Vieira or Arteta who is better
it's too early to start bro. c'mon just 1 loss 😂😂
Jayikmtu
0
pepe is important in this game where
Gilbertgooner
1
Arsenal players were helpless they are just kids after all lacking the confidence to keep on pushing....n artera lack of tactics
Habcilprsy
0
Arsenal Going back to spot 5 europa league zone [Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
[image]
Spot 7
mimacdkmsy
0
Vieira or Arteta who is better
kameerl
1
Arsenal Going back to spot 5 europa league zone [Crylaugh][Crylaugh]