The third consecutive loss has pushed the Gunners down to sixth spots in the Premier League standings and it was a big setback to their Champions League hopes.
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admitted his players are “really down” after the 1-0 loss at Southampton on Saturday. The third consecutive loss has pushed the Gunners down to sixth spots in the Premier League standings and it was a big setback to their Champions League hopes. Last week, Arteta’s side lost 2-1 against Brighton and now Jan Bednarek’s goal made the difference.
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Defeat.
? 1-0 ? (FT)#SOUARS pic.twitter.com/n99UcDWnOx
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 16, 2022
The Gunners had more than 75% of ball possession and created around 23 chances but the Southampton defence stood firm to take all three points. “They are really down today and they are down because they cannot find the right answer – apart from what we can do better around the box – not to win that match,’ Arteta said of his squad. And that’s the frustration.
“When somebody’s better, you shake their hands and you have to be critical with yourself. But, apart from 25 minutes against Palace and some periods against Brighton in the first half, it’s very difficult to explain and accept.”
Goalkeeper Fraser Forster was Southampton’s star-performer of the day. The 34-year-old came up with some fine saves in between the sticks to keep a clean sheet to give hosts their first victory in six matches.
Forster’s best save of the match came from a Southampton mistake when the hosts conceded ball possession inside their own half. Eddie Nketiah intercepted and played the ball to Gabriel Martinelli whose cross found Bukayo Saka in front of goal. But the Englishman’s close-range effort was brilliantly denied by Forster.
It was Arsenal’s fourth defeat in the last five games and they managed to score just two goals in those five games. Lack of goals and positive results are certainly affecting the team’s push for a top-four finish.
“For somebody that doesn’t know the result and is watching the game, you know what they would tell you: that Arsenal won the game,’ said the Spaniard.
“And we didn’t. It’s very disappointing and difficult to explain with words. But this is sport. It’s what makes it different to any other because (for example) in basketball you have 25 shots and the opponent has one then you win 10 out of 10 times.
“The result is that at the end we need to be where we have to be. And if we are not able to do that, we are not going to be there (in the top four).
“It’s as simple as that. To win football matches, you have to score more goals than what we are doing at the moment.”
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