Sport nationMikel Arteta fumes at Arsenal players after Fulham loss and drops January transfer hint
Mikel Arteta spoke after Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat away to Fulham to mark a disappointing end to their 2023.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was vocally and visibly very frustrated with his side’s performance in their 2-1 defeat away to Fulham in their final match of 2023. Bukayo Saka got the visitors off to the perfect start inside five minutes with a finish from close-range, before goals from Raul Jimenez and Bobby De Cordova-Reid sealed all three points for Marco Silva’s side on New Year’s Eve.
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Speaking to Sky Sports after full-time, Arteta stated his disapproval at not just the result but his own side’s performance, before hinting that there would be no January incomings with the window set to open on Monday.
When asked what he needs in January Arteta replied: “What we have achieved in 19 other games, with the same players.” He was pressed on if reinforcements were necessary and the Spanish boss reiterated: “With the same players.”
Arsenal lost back-to-back Premier League games for the first time since May and have only picked up one win from their last six games, leaving them in fourth place and two points off leaders Liverpool – having played a game more than Jurgen Klopp’s side.
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Mikel Arteta.
Mikel Arteta was disappointed with his Arsenal side in their 2-1 defeat away to Fulham. (Image: Sky Sports.)
Arteta declared it “a sad day” for Arsenal and credited Fulham for being the better team on the day, which he felt was the opposite of their defeat to West Ham on Thursday in a game that they dominated but could not break down the Hammers’ strong defence.
“Really tough day. A sad day,” Arteta added. “Three days ago [2-0 defeat by West Ham] we played a game we lost that we completely meant to win it, today was our worst game of the season. The pace, the purpose we have in attack, defensively we were second best, we could not dominate and had issues because of that.
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Fulham FC v Arsenal FC – Premier League
Arsenal defenders Gabriel and William Saliba dejected after losing to Fulham. (Image: Getty)
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“We didn’t do enough with that [possession] – not enough purpose speed or threat. We were sloppy with the ball. It wasn’t good enough. We didn’t deserve to win. When you have opportunities to go top of league on 31 December and now end up with really bad feeling that is football. The lines are really thin.
“If we play like we played in the other 19 games we will be up there [in the league at the end of the season]. If we play like today we will be nowhere near. Today was a really difficult day to swallow.”
Ivan Toney, Dominic Solanke, Victor Osimhen and Pedro Neto had been some of the reported Arsenal targets when the window opens on Monday, but Arteta’s suggestion may mean it ends up being a quiet January for the Gunners.
Mikel Arteta fumes at Arsenal players after Fulham loss and drops January transfer hint
Mikel Arteta spoke after Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat away to Fulham to mark a disappointing end to their 2023.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was vocally and visibly very frustrated with his side’s performance in their 2-1 defeat away to Fulham in their final match of 2023. Bukayo Saka got the visitors off to the perfect start inside five minutes with a finish from close-range, before goals from Raul Jimenez and Bobby De Cordova-Reid sealed all three points for Marco Silva’s side on New Year’s Eve.
Erik ten Hag requests Man Utd deal, Tottenham ‘agree terms’, Arsenal swap
Arsenal given two January obligations as duo caught in heated exchange at Fulham
Speaking to Sky Sports after full-time, Arteta stated his disapproval at not just the result but his own side’s performance, before hinting that there would be no January incomings with the window set to open on Monday.
When asked what he needs in January Arteta replied: “What we have achieved in 19 other games, with the same players.” He was pressed on if reinforcements were necessary and the Spanish boss reiterated: “With the same players.”
Arsenal lost back-to-back Premier League games for the first time since May and have only picked up one win from their last six games, leaving them in fourth place and two points off leaders Liverpool – having played a game more than Jurgen Klopp’s side.
JUST IN Arsenal ‘refusing’ to offer more than £35m as Edu plans new assault for striker [TRANSFERS]
Mikel Arteta.
Mikel Arteta was disappointed with his Arsenal side in their 2-1 defeat away to Fulham. (Image: Sky Sports.)
Arteta declared it “a sad day” for Arsenal and credited Fulham for being the better team on the day, which he felt was the opposite of their defeat to West Ham on Thursday in a game that they dominated but could not break down the Hammers’ strong defence.
“Really tough day. A sad day,” Arteta added. “Three days ago [2-0 defeat by West Ham] we played a game we lost that we completely meant to win it, today was our worst game of the season. The pace, the purpose we have in attack, defensively we were second best, we could not dominate and had issues because of that.
Become an Express Premium member
Support fearless journalism
Read The Daily Express online, advert free
Get super-fast page loading
logo
Start 30-day
FREE trial
Don’t miss…
Arsenal boss Arteta refusing to budge on surprise No 1 January target Pedro Neto [LATEST]
Arsenal chief Edu builds ‘three-man striker shortlist’ as Toney plan shelved [GOSSIP]
Liverpool boss Klopp addresses VAR with fiery response after Arsenal controversy [REACTION]
Fulham FC v Arsenal FC – Premier League
Arsenal defenders Gabriel and William Saliba dejected after losing to Fulham. (Image: Getty)
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Arsenal’s new kit for 2023/2024 is a stylish twist on a classic as it reinvents that mid-1990s vibe. A truly modern-looking shirt with a homage to the past, the Nike kit also includes a nod to the club’s iconic Invincible’s side in the finer details while catching the eye with the lightning bolt motif
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“We didn’t do enough with that [possession] – not enough purpose speed or threat. We were sloppy with the ball. It wasn’t good enough. We didn’t deserve to win. When you have opportunities to go top of league on 31 December and now end up with really bad feeling that is football. The lines are really thin.
“If we play like we played in the other 19 games we will be up there [in the league at the end of the season]. If we play like today we will be nowhere near. Today was a really difficult day to swallow.”
Ivan Toney, Dominic Solanke, Victor Osimhen and Pedro Neto had been some of the reported Arsenal targets when the window opens on Monday, but Arteta’s suggestion may mean it ends up being a quiet January for the Gunners.
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