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Bernd Leno has accused the Arsenal team of lacking “discipline” and “not having confidence in themselves” during a poor run of results in the Premier League and insists that Mikel Arteta is not to blame for the drop in performance. .
A Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang draw earned the 10-man Gunners a 1-1 draw on Wednesday against Southampton, ending a three-game Premier League losing streak against Wolves, Tottenham and Burnley.
The pressure is mounting on Arteta, whose team is 15th and just five points above the relegation zone, and after the 1-0 home loss to Burnley, the Arsenal manager admitted he must “take the bullets” for the recent club performances.
Saturday, December 19 5:00 pm
Start 5:30 pm
But Leno, who has played every minute of Arsenal’s league campaign so far, insists that it is Arteta’s players who are primarily to blame for not winning in the top flight since November 1, rather than the manager.
The doorman said Sky Germany: “That [pressure on Arteta] not a problem at all. The coach is the least guilty that we are in this situation.
“If you look at the way we ran around the field sometimes, the players are the only ones to blame. I have to be honest about it.
“We’re getting red cards, making mistakes, standing out out of position. These are things that we’ve clearly addressed a thousand times. In the end, it’s a lack of focus on the part of the players.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates his draw against Southampton with Dani Ceballos and Eddie Nketiah
“The coach is not a problem in the dressing room, there are no criticisms of him. We criticize ourselves and the players know they are responsible.
“We actually have quality, but suddenly there was a break. But no one can attribute it to just one person.
“The numbers speak for themselves that things haven’t been going well lately. Before that, we often lost deservedly.
“We drew 0-0 at Leeds, but that was a lucky point. We deserved to lose against Tottenham, against Wolverhampton as well, against Aston Villa even 3-0. Those [games] It was too many weak results and disappointing performances.
“The attitude is bad, we lack discipline and we don’t have confidence in ourselves. There are many factors at play here.
“We have addressed this very clearly internally and everyone agrees that we have to change this very quickly.”
1:07
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says the consequences of Granit Xhaka’s red card in their 1-0 home loss to Burnley were ‘resolved internally’
‘Xhaka knows he made a mistake’
Granit Xhaka was criticized after being sent off for grabbing Burnley midfielder Ashley Westwood by the neck during his loss to Sean Dyche’s side.
The 28-year-old, who was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy last year under Unai Emery amid a fight with a section of the club’s fan base, was criticized by Sky Sports’ Alan Smith for disappointing your teammates by committing violent acts. Drive and cost the team another defeat.
The Swiss international midfielder “crossed the line” against Burnley, according to Arteta, but Leno was eager to defend his teammate despite poor discipline.
“Granit himself knows better than anyone that he made a mistake. No one has to tell him that,” Leno added.
“Of course the coach still said it clearly, but that’s it for us now. He is also suspended now. At the moment, everyone is frustrated.
“He was not in control [of himself in] the situation. No one is being singled out internally, everyone has been wrong here at some point.
“Mistakes like that happen, but they must not be repeated. Even after being sent off, we still had a chance to equalize and win the game. For us, the issue is over.”
0:42
Mark Bosnich thinks Mikel Arteta should re-register Mesut Ozil in the Arsenal team
‘Ozil does not bring negative energy to Arsenal’
Leno’s compatriot and clubmate Mesut Ozil has not played a minute for Arsenal since March, and Arteta has omitted the midfielder from his Premier League and Europa League squad for 2020/21.
Despite Ozil’s contract expiring at the end of the season, he could still present himself for the Gunners this period if Arteta elects to re-register him after the January transfer window.
“The coach has made this decision. Of course Mesut has exceptional quality, there is no question about that,” Leno said.
“But the coach chose another 25 players, and we have to accept it. He is training normally, he is behaving professionally, he gets along well with all his teammates.”
“Mesut doesn’t bring any negative energy to the group. Everything else is out of his hands and mine.”
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