Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed frustration following his team’s 1-0 defeat to Newcastle on Saturday, a result that saw the Gunners drop provisionally to third place in the Premier League table.
Alexander Isak’s header in the 12th minute secured Newcastle’s first victory in six league games, leaving Arsenal trailing Manchester City and Liverpool, who were yet to play later in the day.
Despite Arsenal’s early dominance, they struggled to adapt to Newcastle’s physical style. Arteta admitted his team was drawn into Newcastle’s game plan, disrupting their usual rhythm.
“We deserved to lose today,” Arteta told Premier League Productions. “I thought we started really well and were really dominant. We didn’t defend the box well enough. Credit to them. They scored a great goal with a good ball.
“Then the game changes, and you start to play a different game. You have to adapt, and we didn’t do that well enough. I am very frustrated.
“We got dragged into a game they are looking for constantly, and we couldn’t play the game that we wanted.”
Newcastle defender Lewis Hall threw his body in front of Arsenal’s lone shot on target, blocking Mikel Merino’s volley from close range in the first half.
Declan Rice squandered a terrific chance in injury time, latching on to a cross but firing it wide of the net.
“We had two big chances — Mikel had a big one, Declan had a big one. We lacked answers,” Arteta said.
His squad are winless in their last three Premier League matches.
“We can say whatever we want. We will struggle to find the words today. We have to show it on the pitch on Wednesday night (against Inter Milan in a Champions League match).
“You have to be at your best every time to give yourself a chance to win,” hr added.
(Reuters/NAN)
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