Mikel Arteta called on Arsenal to “stand up” after the FA Cup defeat at Southampton, while defending his players, taking responsibility himself and admitting Gabriel’s injury is “never good news”.
Mikel Arteta insisted Arsenal must respond strongly after their FA Cup defeat at Southampton, with the manager backing his players, accepting responsibility and warning that Gabriel Magalhaes’ injury concern is “never good news”.
Arsenal’s 2-1 loss ended their hopes of returning to Wembley, and Arteta did not hide his frustration at the way the tie slipped away. “Yes, we're very disappointed in the manner that we lost the opportunity to get back to Wembley,” he said. “I think we again had many, many periods of dominance from our side when we generated chances and situations, we didn't capitalise on that enough, and when you defend in and around the box and directly in the manner that we did today, you're going to put yourself in a really difficult position. They did capitalise on that, and that's the reason why we're out.”
While Arteta was unhappy with the defending around both goals, he made clear he had no issue with the commitment of his side. Asked if he was frustrated by the work-rate, he replied: “No, not at all. Not with this team at all.”
That theme continued when he was asked whether anything now needed to change. Rather than criticise the squad, Arteta came out strongly in their defence. “I love my players,” he said. “What they've done for nine months, the way they're putting their bodies through everything, some of them probably didn't even have to be here today. I'm going to defend them more than ever. If someone has to take responsibility, it's me.”
Arteta then shifted the focus onto what comes next, with Arsenal still fighting on in the Premier League and Champions League. “We have the most beautiful period of the season ahead of us, and now is the moment,” he said. “This is the first moment that we have with a certain level of difficulty... So, stand up, make yourself accountable and deliver like we've been doing all season.”
On the mistakes that proved costly at St Mary’s, Arteta offered a blunt assessment. “They are part of football,” he said, “and unfortunately when you make them, you hope the opponent is not going to capitalise and today they have done.”
There was also concern over Gabriel after the defender went off during the second half. Arteta could offer little certainty afterwards. “I don't know, I think he felt something, I don't know exactly what it is,” he said. “We're going to have to assess him, but obviously when a player is asking to be substituted, it's never good news.”
Even in defeat, Arteta was careful to credit Southampton. “I congratulate them,” he said. “I think they are a really good side, it's not a coincidence among the run they're in. They were far more efficient than us when it mattered most, and that's why they are at Wembley.”
Arteta also rejected any suggestion that Arsenal’s exit from two competitions should be explained away by absentees or fixture pressure. “No, and I don't want to put any excuses about the players that are missing or the players that are here with issues,” he said. “Let's look at ourselves in the mirror, accept the situation, and go to Portugal with clarity and look forward to it.”
The message, ultimately, was one of control rather than panic. “When that pain goes, we have to use the time we have in the best possible manner to maximise every resource we have to then be better,” Arteta said. For Arsenal, the defeat was damaging. Arteta’s response was to demand that it becomes a turning point rather than the start of a slide.