Mikel Arteta has delivered a damning assessment of Arsenal’s performance following Saturday’s miserable defeat to Brighton, admitting his players failed to “respect the game” at the Amex.
The Gunners were second best for long periods as Brighton inflicted Arsenal’s first Premier League defeat of the season: Brighton 3-0 Arsenal match report.
Arteta admits Arsenal were “extremely poor technically”
Arteta was clearly unhappy with more than simply the result.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, the Arsenal boss praised Brighton’s performance before highlighting the basic areas in which his own side had fallen short.
“A very disappointing result and performance. Full credit to Brighton in the manner they performed and went about the game.
“They were another gear from us in the basics of the game. They were always first in the first duel, in the second actions, second balls, and they started to play from there.”
Perhaps the most concerning part of Arteta’s assessment was his criticism of Arsenal in possession.
“When we had the ball, especially in our own half, we were extremely poor technically, not respecting the game and the game principles you have to apply against a team that want to press you man to man.”
Those are unusually strong words from Arteta and underline just how disappointed he was with the performance.
Arsenal must learn from the Brighton defeat
Arsenal struggled to establish any real control at the Amex and found themselves 2-0 down before half-time, with Brighton adding their third shortly after the restart.
Arteta made it clear that his players now have to take something from such a painful afternoon.
“We have to make sure we learn the lesson because this can’t happen again.”
That may ultimately be the most important message.
One dreadful performance does not undo everything Arsenal have achieved so far this season, but the manner of this defeat will concern Arteta.
The response now becomes crucial. Arsenal cannot change what happened at Brighton, but they can make sure the lessons from it are not wasted.
What did you make of Arteta’s comments, Gooners? Was “not respecting the game” a fair description of Arsenal’s performance? Let us know in the comments.
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Good response imo – hopefully it lands with the players
Sodding interlull to contend with now. Hope any involved players come back unscathed.
Reset vs Leeds on the 10th (that’s ages away!) at 12.30; and 3 points please.
To be honest a humiliating defeat and lambasting because of it is not really a bad thing.
Life has a way of knocking you down if you think you are above it and this will help – pride before a fall and all that.
Arsenal will learn from this but lets not take credit from Brighton who taught us a lesson.
He stood there and watched it happen. And had zero response to what was happening. All this time he has never set his guys up to deal with any type of press from opposition. Just keep playing down the right hand side , putting all the pressure on Saka in hope something will come of it. Same tactics been used for the last 3 years. Oh. My bad. That’s how we won the League.
Exactly NY_Gunner,
As bad as the players were, Arteta did not act fast enough. Hook the bums at halftime; don’t let them start the second half.
What good is rough talking the team after the fact? Bench the underperformers, be ruthless. Squad full of talent and changes came far too late.
Perhaps next match bench the players who squandered their chance. Bench Havertz for Gyokeres and Bruno for MLS, and Hincapie as LB. Not like those 3 controlled the game anyway.
Poor game and Arteta couldn’t change the game. He should have been able too and earlier.
One potential benefit from the international break is that injured players who are not with their national teams will have another 2 weeks for recovery without any competitive domestic matches.
The players sense of professional pride will be hurt by this 3 – 0 defeat.
The wern’t just beaten by a fluke goal – or a last minute goal in a very close hard fought game.
THEY WERE WELL BEATEN AND THEY KNOW IT.
They will learn the lessons from this.