Mikel Arteta described his Arsenal team as "unacceptable" and "nowhere near" the standards of the club in the first 20 minutes of their 2-2 draw at Liverpool.

Days after being knocked out of the Champions League semi-finals, Arsenal found themselves 2-0 down to the Premier League champions after Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz scored in the space of 87 seconds midway through the first half.
The Gunners recovered through second half goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino - the latter seeing a red card to create a nervous ending. Arsenal could have won it late on through Martin Odegaard's late chance, while Liverpool saw an Andy Robertson late winner ruled out for a foul.
But asked if he was proud of his team's resilience, Arteta appeared fed up. "No, because what we did in the first half, the first 20 minutes was nowhere near the level," said Arteta to Sky Sports after the game.
"So to do it after, it's too late. We reacted, great. But the standards within those 20 minutes were unacceptable.
"It's about action, not reaction."
Asked if the loss to Paris Saint-Germain in Europe just days ago had an impact on his team, Arteta remained bullish: "Then you don't have to be fighting for trophies.
"Because when you fight for trophies, you might win it or lose it, but then there's another one [match] and another one.
"So that's the level we have to assess ourselves. If not, you just accept things. For me, not acceptable."
'It's not about winning - it's about the basics'
The draw means Arsenal stay 15 points behind champions Liverpool. If the season ended tomorrow, it would be the fourth-biggest margin between first and second in the Premier League history.
But Arteta said the standards he is talking about has nothing to do with winning, it is about "doing the basics".
"It's not about winning," Arteta said. "Nobody can promise that you win. You have six or seven teams praying to be in the Champions League first, and then see if we can win silverware next season. That's it, it's not about that.
"It's about doing the basics, the simple things where you can dominate. I'm not asking people to dribble past two players and put it in the top corner. Never going to do that."
Asked if the players are responsible or if he is to blame, Arteta admitted it was his responsibility. But he added that even with a player sent off, his team could compete. Therefore, there are no excuses for being this far behind.
"The action that we had after those 20 to 25 minutes, then the second half, that's what I'm [asking for]," he said.
"But me? It's them. It's not about me asking. It's my responsibility when the team plays like this, it's on us or me? The 20 minutes, that's on me, for sure.
"It's not about the players," he added. "It's about we. Here, players, managers, nobody accepts those standards. They were nowhere near.
"In the second half, with all the respect, with all the things: the position we are in, 15 points behind, it hurts. It has to hurt a lot.
"Regardless of all the excuses: this is the sixth time we've played with 10 men this season, all the injuries, half of starters not starting, look at what we can do when, where, there. That's it."
Carra's reaction to angry Arteta
Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher:
"He's driving high standards but what really stood out in the interview, and in the last couple of weeks in his press conferences, is that he's getting emotional and at times he's sounding a little bit like a fan, not the manager.
"He was really strong on how many players they've had sent off this season. He's putting his hands up, saying six. I think he's convinced inside that they have been victims in some ways, with the sendings-off and injuries they have had.
"I think deep down he thinks they could have won the league without this and that. There's no doubt they would be a lot closer but the sendings-off are down to you. They weren't all sendings-off, but that can happen in a season.
"The injuries have hit them this season but they also played for them [in their favour] last season. What they have done in terms of competing Man City in the last two seasons is fantastic, but a lot of that was down to having the same eight or nine players week in, week out, and him never rotating.
"I'm a massive fan of Mikel Arteta. The job he has done, to get Arsenal from where they were to here. They made the jump to competing with Man City and they followed it up again last season, and they've been the team that pushed Liverpool this season.
"But this season felt like it should have been their season. There's no doubt next season the pressure will be on Arteta massively in terms of winning something and winning something big.
"If they don't do that, the Arsenal board will have a massive issue, because they won't want to change the manager, but there will be lots of people saying 'five or six years without a trophy' and they will be looking at how many managers can make that next step.
"The problem with changing Mikel Arteta is that Arsenal could easily become what Chelsea are now, a team finishing second year in year out, to a team not getting into the Champions League. That's the big conundrum Arsenal will have in 12 months if Arsenal go close again but don't get over the line."
Hiaainprty
0
I just wish to ask Mr Arteta this question,do you bring players who can perform to the team or players whom you love and can help the team?
edwardekamenya
1
what about the first 25min at Emirates with PSG??
Dozablrsz
0
Which Liverpool, the one that PSG away and lost at home on penalties? Abeg shift. Football is not passing the ball round, backward and forward.
no mind dem. they tot it easy.
Dozablrsz
0
Dirty & cheating teams always have the most Sent offs/ red cards.
how are they dirty n cheating?? did they beg u to bet on them dummy 😂
puhbkmnpz
0
He created this team and picked these players so he has no one to blame but himself
That is true.
Tebbceopst
1
Dirty & cheating teams always have the most Sent offs/ red cards.
jipceiloyz
1
Talk so much and next year will be the same thing happening again. The pressure he put on the team is not building them but silently breaking them. it is mentally abusive and torture to play good football in this manner.
AFersoKI1753
0
Which Liverpool, the one that PSG away and lost at home on penalties? Abeg shift. Football is not passing the ball round, backward and forward.
The same Liverpool that lost to PSG are better than Arsenal at the moment.
EmmanUdo
0
Best team loss to PSG? My butt can’t even beat Liverpool.
Which Liverpool, the one that PSG away and lost at home on penalties? Abeg shift. Football is not passing the ball round, backward and forward.
laknopruz
1
He want to leave Arsenal now. He giving hint to another rich club to get him. He got no excuse to leave unless he got offer from another club [Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
AFersoKI1753
1
Best team loss to PSG? My butt can’t even beat Liverpool.
Natanya_Barrett
1
He created this team and picked these players so he has no one to blame but himself
Yepcdeltu
3
i pray against retrogression , arteta has done something great to bring arsenal to this level technically what we need now is the owner to splash the cash, arteta want to go beyond Chelsea and Manu thinking they are winning trophy every season he really want to bring arsenal to a formidable and a consistent winning team in Europe. Technically, statistically is good what left behind is the owner to put down the cash for rightful players were good to go
fakabiknpy
3
he must go
21REXY
0
sack Arteta
malablata
2
Arteta should stop ranting. Since he feels that the only position that's worth strengthening in the team is defensive midfield then he should accept what he made and stop complaining.