Mikel Arteta strongly criticizes Arsenal’s loss to Fulham.

Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, expressed his disappointment after his team’s lackluster performance in their 2-1 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage. The Gunners got off to a promising start with Bukayo Saka scoring in the fifth minute, but Raul Jimenez and Bobby De Cordova-Reid responded to secure the victory for Fulham. This loss leaves Arsenal two points behind league leaders Liverpool, having played a game more.

Arteta did not mince his words when assessing his team’s performance, stating, “We weren’t good enough; it’s as simple as that. We conceded two very similar goals, and we didn’t generate enough today. Our rhythm wasn’t good enough in attack, and we were second best in our reaction in defense. Today was the one you have to isolate because it was the worst performance of the season.”

Despite making substitutions in the second half, including bringing on Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, and Reiss Nelson, Arteta’s changes failed to turn the tide in Arsenal’s favor. The team struggled to create any momentum and were unable to dominate the game.

When asked about the possibility of January reinforcements, Arteta remained confident in his current squad, stating, “Do what we’ve done in 19 of our other games, with the same players.” He believes that the quality within the team is enough to reignite their title push.

Arsenal will now shift their focus to the FA Cup, with a third-round tie against Liverpool at the Emirates on January 7. Their next Premier League match will be against Crystal Palace on January 20.