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Mikel Arteta said Arsenal were in “big trouble” and was in more pain after a 4-1 home loss to Manchester City knocked them out of the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
The Arsenal manager chose a second-row team and watched his goalkeeper, Alex Rúnarsson, endure a torrid evening. The lowest point came when the Icelander launched a free kick by Riyad Mahrez into the net to give City a 2-1 lead. Rúnarsson was also partly to blame for Gabriel Jesus’ first goal.
It was a night in which many things went wrong for Arteta. Gabriel Martinelli, who made Arsenal draw for Alexandre Lacazette, was forced to retire after being kicked in the shin, while City’s third goal, scored by Phil Foden, should have been ruled out for offside, only VAR could not be used.
The conclusion was that it was not a bad luck story for Arteta. City had too much quality, they were much better and they came one step closer to their fourth consecutive victory in the competition. Pep Guardiola, who joined them in 2016, has only lost one tie in the competition.
Arteta’s team is mired in a desperate Premier League run, having scored just five points from the last 10 games, and faces a difficult home game with Chelsea on Boxing Day.
“We have to turn it around, there is no question about that,” Arteta said. “We are in big trouble. I’m focused on the fighters we have. I see a lot of fighters. This was a really painful moment again. We received a soft goal very early and overcoming it is difficult, but we reacted and scored. After that we were the best team, but then we conceded another soft goal.
“When you give away the goals we gave to a rival like that, it makes the game impossible. So we have an open situation where we can get Lacazette through and score on the counter and offside. After that, the game ends. ”
Arteta said he felt his number one goalkeeper, Bernd Leno, needed to rest. On Rúnarsson he added: “He hasn’t played many games and he’s just adapting to the league. We all make mistakes and we have to support it. We win and we lose together. The responsibility belongs to all of us ”.
City have fought for the forefront at times this season and Guardiola was pleased with the cruelty they displayed. But he added: “It’s like Manchester, raining every day. For one day, the sun rises. It does not mean that the climate will change. It is only a game. So we’ll see what happens in the future. “
Guardiola gave his support to Arteta, his former assistant at City, who is under increasing pressure. “They will make a big, big mistake [if they dismiss him]”He said.” I’m pretty sure they’re going to trust him. I know his incredible quality. It’s just a matter of time and he’ll do well. “
