‘We threw it away’: £105,000-a-week Arsenal man is not happy

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Mikel Arteta has bemoaned a lapse in concentration during a 20 minute period that cost his Arsenal team the chance to claim any points against Liverpool.

The Gunners boss saw his team surrender in the second period as Jurgen Klopp’s team flexed their title credentials.

Goals from Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota, Mo Salah and Takumi Minamino ensured a comprehensive rout for the hosts at Anfield.

Arsenal had been in sound form prior to the contest, going eight Premier League games without tasting defeat.

You have to go back to August for the last time the Gunners lost before yesterday, although this represented a crash back down to reality.

Arteta wasn’t completely displeased with his team’s performance, although he wasn’t happy with a 15-20 minute period just after the break.

He told Football London: “We competed really well in the first half – they had their moments, we had our moments. We were really compact and used the ball the right way to create some situations.

“We had a goal disallowed and then we conceded a goal from a set-play. In the second half, we had to build some momentum and start to grow into the match, we threw it away in the first 15 to 20 minutes.

“We gave every ball away in very dangerous areas. We had them under no pressure and then we lost control of the game.”

All is not lost for Arsenal and Arteta

The Gunners were going to taste defeat again at some point and losing to Liverpool is no disgrace.

The £105,000-a-week Arteta would perhaps be wise not to listen to the likes of Piers Morgan who couldn’t wait to stick the boot in after this defeat.

Instead, he just needs to work hard and find a way for his team to be more clinical against the division’s better outfits.

Once they do that then they’ll be in a far better position to challenge for honours and a top-four finish once again.

Arsenal have been good of late and the challenge now is to ensure they bounce back next weekend.