Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has a lot of questions to answer after the Gunners’ defeat to Newcastle United.
On an afternoon when a win was essential, Arsenal failed to earn three points against Eddie Howe’s side.
Alexander Isak’s goal in the 12th minute settled the direction of the points, as the Gunners were unable to find a way into the contest.
From a lack of creative spark to poor game management, Arteta will have numerous questions to answer however, there was one thing that the boss himself was not impressed with.
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Mikel Arteta unhappy with Arsenal after Newcastle United defeat
The defeat sees Arsenal unable to make up the ground they created in the title race, with the North Londoners now three games without a Premier League win.
Arteta will be more aware than anyone of the difficulty that his side now face to get back into the discussion over possible title candidates, with Manchester City and Liverpool looking strong.
After Arsenal’s defeat, the manager was quizzed on what went wrong at St James’ Park, with one reporter questioning the team’s courage.
“I didn’t feel that. I think I would have felt it at the beginning of the game,” Arteta explained.
“I felt that when we fell behind it we lacked threat and purpose. I think we gave 17 or 18 free kicks and that was not a good outcome for us.”
Arsenal had no control on the game, with the lack of presence in the final third certain to get the headlines.
Arteta however, drew attention to what was happening all over the pitch, as his side committed 18 fouls, handing the opposition 18 free kicks in 90 minutes.
Arsenal can’t afford to drop points
The result gives Manchester City and Liverpool additional breathing space in the title race, and could see Arsenal sit as low as seventh by the end of match day 10.
From what was an encouraging start to the campaign, the Gunners have fallen apart in recent weeks, with only five wins recorded from a possible 10 so far.
A 50% win rate is not going to win Arsenal the league, with there already great concern over whether the North Londoners can catch City and Liverpool up between now and May.
There’s a lot of games to play but with the gap already becoming clear, there’s surely no room for error from this point forward.
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