Mikel Arteta said that Arsenal need a mental “reset” after their several missed opportunities in their 2-0 FA Cup third round loss to Liverpool.
After a first half dominance at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta’s team should have been completely dominating in Sunday’s match.
The Gunners’ late collapse was a result of their wastefulness as a team as well as Alisson Becker’s excellent goalkeeping.
After 80 minutes, Jakub Kiwior, an Arsenal defender, put the ball into his own net from a free-kick by Trent Alexander-Arnold. Luis Diaz, a Liverpool player, scored the game-winning goal in stoppage time.
Arteta’s squad has ruined what was a promising first half of the season with just one victory in their past seven matches across all competitions. They have lost their last three.
Liverpool now lead the Premier League by five points, and the north Londoners are out of both the FA Cup and the League Cup.
When asked what was wrong with his squad, Arteta said they may hit a mental rut unless they refocused soon.
Probably it has (become into a mental health problem). More so than in previous matches against Fulham and West Ham, especially in light of today’s performance. That is why, in his opinion, we should start again,” he said.
During the following 13 days, Arsenal will have the opportunity to rest and rejuvenate before facing Crystal Palace.
Arteta thinks Arsenal might benefit from a break if they want to get back on track.
This vacation is wonderful. The timing is perfect. As soon as things start looking up, they get on the bandwagon. The situation is challenging at the moment; we’ll have to examine their position,” he remarked.
“Show them some affection.”
The Gunners’ troubling tendency of dominating games without scoring has continued, and Arteta was certain they had done enough to defeat Liverpool.
“Our capitalization is lacking. Certainly in today’s game and the ones that came before it. Because of it, we are losing games. There’s no doubt that we should have won the games based on merit, but the outcomes are very different, he said.
I mean, what am I to do except cheer on my brave squad as they face off against what is perhaps the most formidable European team at the moment?
Now is the time to rally behind those athletes, shower them with love, teach them, and make sure they see something completely different from what’s occurring right now.
“We’re not going to reinvent the wheel.”
As Arteta mulls on Arsenal’s slump, Jurgen Klopp, manager of Liverpool, has brushed off talk that a victory against the Gunners would give his team a huge advantage in the hunt for the Premier League crown.
Midweek brings both the League Cup semi-final first leg against Fulham and Liverpool’s two-point lead over Aston Villa.
Oh no. I am unable to (interpret it). Even if no one else can, I just cannot. Since Klopp and his team are able to read the calendar, they are unconcerned with the matters you bring up; we have no issues with belief or confidence.
“We see it’s January; it’s cold outside, stuff like this, and you just have to stay warm and play as good as you can, and that’s what we try.”