Together with his staff’s Champions League qualification ambitions in ruins, Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka felt it was time to ship some house truths.
“Disastrous” was how he summed up Arsenal’s 2-0 loss at Newcastle on Monday night time that left Tottenham answerable for the race between the north London rivals for a top-four end within the Premier League.
Then he went additional.
“We did not do what the gameplan was, not listening to the coach. We had been doing our issues and whenever you do your issues, that is what occurs,” he advised Sky Sports activities.
“You do not should play Champions League, you do not should even play Europa League. It is very arduous to take and I do not know why we do not do what the coach is asking of us.
“We’d like individuals to have the balls to come back right here and play, as a result of we all know that is one in every of our most essential video games. However a efficiency like this isn’t acceptable and really unhappy. I really feel very sorry for Arsenal supporters.”
If solely Arsenal had proven a few of that struggle on the sphere at a rocking St. James’ Park.
Mikel Arteta’s staff buckled below the stress of enjoying their largest match of the season, with an own-goal by Ben White and a late strike by Bruno Guimaraes capping a dominant show by the Magpies.
This night time was all concerning the Gunners, although, and whether or not their gamers may preserve Champions League qualification in their very own fingers. They could not.
“Newcastle deserved to win the match,” Arteta, who appeared visibly shocked by his staff’s under-performance, mentioned.
“They had been comfortably higher than us. We had nothing.”
Arsenal’s implosion was Chelsea’s achieve. The outcome meant Thomas Tuchel’s third-placed Blues had been positive of ending within the high 4.
It was a second damaging defeat in a five-day span for the Gunners, who additionally misplaced at Tottenham 3-0 on Thursday.
Heading into the ultimate spherical on Sunday, Spurs occupy fourth place — two factors above Arsenal in fifth — and simply have to beat already-relegated Norwich to ensure a top-four spot. Given Tottenham’s far superior purpose distinction, a draw will certainly be sufficient towards the league’s last-placed staff.
Arsenal will host Everton on the identical time and know a win nonetheless won’t be sufficient to get again within the Champions League after a five-year absence.
“There may be all the time an opportunity in soccer,” Arteta mentioned.
“It’s a must to be there if the possibility seems.”
With PA.
