Unai Emery says Arsenal cannot qualify for next season's Champions League if they continue to drop points against the Premier League's lesser clubs.
Gunners manager Emery saw his side's 22-match unbeaten run in all competitions halted by a 3-2 defeat at struggling Southampton.
Sunday's setback leaves the London club three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea in the race for European football.
Spaniard Emery fears similar slip-ups will mean they fail to keep pace with their high-flying rivals.
'Our demand is very big but also the level is very high level with the other teams,' said the Spaniard.
'And if we don't win like today, we cannot be in the top four.
'Other teams usually they are winning but we need to do our way and continue to build. The objective is therefore top but we know it's not easy because the other teams are at a high level.
'We need to be very, very demanding of ourselves, like we are.
'After 22 matches unbeaten we didn't lose and we are only fifth position in the table and the reason is because other teams are very well.'
Henrikh Mkhitaryan twice levelled for Arsenal at St Mary's to cancel out headers from Danny Ings, before substitute Charlie Austin grabbed Saints' late winner.
With Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Shkodran Mustafi suspended and Rob Holding injured, Emery was forced to field a makeshift defence.
Captain Laurent Koscielny, a long-term absentee with an Achilles problem, made his first top-flight appearance since April, while midfielder Granit Xhaka was selected as a left-sided centre-back.
Despite conceding three times from crosses into the box, Emery said he was satisfied with the performances of his defenders and was pleased to see Koscielny come through unscathed.
'I think they worked very well,' he said of his backline.
'For example, today very good news for Koscielny, very good performance in 90 minutes.
'And other players, like Xhaka, played well.
'Chances for them (Southampton) not a lot, but their efficiency today is good.'
The Gunners also lost Hector Bellerin to a calf injury on the south coast.
Speaking about the right-back's problem, Emery added: 'He has a small injury but I think he's going to be some weeks off.'
Austin's 85th-minute header gave Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl a dream home debut to move the team out of the relegation zone.
Austrian Hasenhuttl sent beer tokens to Saints' season-ticket holders before the game and his gesture had the desired effect at a raucous St Mary's.
The 51-year-old, who replaced the sacked Mark Hughes on December 5, charged on to the pitch at full-time to celebrate the club's first home win since April.
'First I have to apologise to Emery that I didn't shake hands immediately because I didn't see him,' said Hasenhuttl.
'I had to run to my guys because they were waiting. I did it (shook hands) later and it was OK.
'It's what I wanted to feel when I came to the Premier League, this atmosphere after the game and to celebrate such a moment is something very special for me.
'To come back again and again and again it was amazing because it showed us we have the character to face problems and to make the next step.'
Asked about the free drinks, he added: 'I think it was the perfect step to help us.
'I heard when it works like this you have to do it every game at home. We'll have a look.'
TUMELO MARIRI
57
Guys, STOP ATTACKING EMERY!! It's not his fault that our usual defenders are injured and our defenders for the match were ATROCIOUS today!! I agree with Emery though, we HAVE to do better than this before we can even THINK about the UCL. COME ON ARSENAL!!!! LET'S PUT THIS DEFEAT BEHIND US AND GET GOING AGAIN FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR!!!! #COYG
Nesaiknruy_Legend
47
Lesser clubs? Some of the lesser clubs are more deadly given the conditions than the top 6 clubs. I'd rather play Arsenal than Wolves at their home. Given the conditions, there's no such thing as lesser clubs.... Emery should know that himself being the manager before of what Sevilla who was believed to have been a lesser club by most.....
Emmanuel1651
41
Unai Emery Is a lesser Coach, Because Since you know Southampton is a lesser Club, you should have Win the match. instead of Unai Emery to go and work on how to Bring P. Cech back to Goal, he is here calling a Club that break your 22 unbeaten run a lesser Club. Emery is the problem of Arsenal, B.Leno don't have experience like Cech, lwobi still playing like A baby, Guendouzi is 19 years, But he is trying to play Messi, running up and down the field to collect the ball and forget the place the Coach asked him to play. keeping Cech, Ozil, Lacazette on the Beach will work against him in the EPL. Today is just the beginning of it.