LONDON, United Kingdom – Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, expressed concerns about a potential psychological downturn for his team after a frustrating 2-0 defeat against Liverpool in the FA Cup third round at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Despite dominating the first half, Arsenal squandered numerous chances, and Arteta emphasized the need for a mental “reset.”
Arteta acknowledged the impact of missed opportunities on his team’s confidence, stating, “Probably it has (become a psychological issue), especially after today, more than it was against Fulham or West Ham before that. That’s why I think we need to reset.”
The Gunners’ struggles have become evident, with just one win in their last seven matches across all competitions.
Arsenal‘s early-season promise has dwindled, and they are now out of both the FA Cup and League Cup, sitting five points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Despite the recent setbacks, Arteta believes the upcoming 13-day break before their next match against Crystal Palace could be beneficial for regaining focus.
“This break is good. It comes in a good time. When things are going well, they jump on the train. Now things are difficult, let’s see where they stand,” he commented.
Arteta defended his team’s performance against Liverpool, emphasizing their courage and attitude against one of Europe’s best teams.
“What we need to do now is stick behind those players, give them some love, train them, and make sure they visualize something very different from what is actually happening now. We’re not going to reinvent the wheel,” he added.
While Arteta looks to address Arsenal’s recent struggles, Liverpool’s manager, Jurgen Klopp, downplayed the idea that defeating Arsenal in the FA Cup would significantly impact their position in the Premier League title race.
Liverpool currently leads the league, two points ahead of Aston Villa.
“No. I can’t (read into it). It doesn’t mean nobody can, but I can’t. We don’t have a problem with belief and confidence,” Klopp said, emphasizing that Liverpool is focused on maintaining their performance as they face Fulham in the League Cup semi-final first leg in midweek.
