Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has taken “full responsibility” for his side’s 3-0 loss at home to Aston Villa – admitting that the Gunners failed to play as a team.
Mikel Arteta Takes ‘Full Responsibility’ for Arsenal Performance
Gunners Slip to 11th Going Into International Break
An own goal from Bukayo Saka along with a brace from Ollie Watkins saw a dominant Villa side beat an abject Arsenal at The Emirates.
Speaking after the game, Arteta told Sky Sports:
“After that, we performed below our standards and I have to say it’s the first time I’ve seen us play and we weren’t a team.
“I take full responsibility. We didn’t start well enough. We got away with VAR for an offside situation but we lost all the races, the duels and we were sloppy on the ball.
“When we created chances we didn’t hit the target. It’s a really bad combination. We left spaces and on the counter we looked really vulnerable.
“I take full responsibility. I am responsible to make the team perform on the pitch and today we were not a team and it is my job. It is why I am standing here.”
The defeat was more surprising considering it followed a 1-0 win over old rivals Manchester United just one week ago. Arteta addressed the effect the defeat would have on his side’s progress:
“”It is a frustration. It takes a lot to build momentum, to build a way of being, living and performing and when something like that comes up it’s a hard one to take but in a hard moment you learn more than in a positive moment and I want to see how we react.”
Arteta has two weeks to ponder his side’s disastrous performance, as his players head off for international duty. The club will be hoping for a return to winning ways when Arsenal take on Leeds United on 22 November.
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