Mikel Arteta message to Arsenal players in the dressing room after Everton defeat
Arsenal suffered a 1-0 loss to Everton at Goodison Park in a game where they failed to perform at their best. The Gunners were unable to create many attacking opportunities due to the opposition’s strong defense and were ultimately defeated by a goal from a set piece.
Replays revealed that the initial corner kick from Dwight McNeil should have been a goal kick for Arsenal after the ball came off Alex Iwobi last. However, James Tarkowski’s header proved decisive.
Gabriel Magalhaes’ appeal for a penalty was denied by referee David Coote and the video assistant referee (VAR). This was yet another controversial call that went against the north Londoners.
Peter Walton explained why Neal Maupay’s apparent foul on the Brazilian inside the penalty area did not warrant a penalty kick.
Jorginho and Leandro Trossard were unable to make a significant impact off the bench. Attention now turns to Manchester City, who could close the gap to two points by the end of the weekend.
Arteta has since revealed what he told his players following their second loss of the season, as they continue to lead the Premier League table by five points. After the loss, the Arsenal manager stated: “I just told the players I love them more now than I did last week and last month.”
The last time Arsenal lost in the Premier League was against Manchester United in September.
This defeat did not derail their title hopes, as they bounced back with a strong performance in the Europa League before defeating Brentford 3-0 on the road.
Arteta will be hoping for yet another positive response from his players as they prepare to face the Bees once more on February 11 at the Emirates Stadium.
While there will be analysis of how Everton neutralized Arsenal’s attacking threat, Arteta will look to return to winning ways next weekend. The Spaniard has emphasized his efforts to maintain a strong mentality and positive atmosphere among the squad.
Mikel Arteta message to Arsenal players in the dressing room after Everton defeat
