Mikel Arteta refuses to blame players for Arsenal’s shock defeat at Southampton

Championship side Southampton shocked Arsenal with an incredible 2-1 victory over the Premier League leaders to book a place in the semi-finals at Wembley Stadium.

Arsenal went into the game after losing 2-0 to Manchester City in the Champions League two weeks ago, so the fans expected a great response from the squad, especially playing against a team over 30 places below them in the English football pyramid.

Substitute Gyokeres in the second half cancelled Ross Stewart’s opener for the Saints in the 35th minute. With just five minutes left in the game, Charles Shea scored the winner for Southampton.

Fans have been questioning the performances of the Gunners recently, but manager Arteta has fabulously defended them.

“I love my players. I’m not going to criticise them because we lost a game here in the manner that they tried. And the way they are putting their bodies through everything. Some of them probably didn’t even have to be here today. I’m not going to do that. I’m going to defend them more than ever,” Arteta said.

Seven changes were made to the team. Manchester defeated 2-0 City at Wembley, with Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ben White, Gabriel Magalhães and Kai Havertz the only players retained from the XI.

Arteta continued, “I don’t want to put any excuses around the players that are missing, or the players that are here with issues. Let’s look at ourselves in the mirror. Accept the situation, rebel against it, and go again to Portugal with, again, freshness, with clarity and looking forward to it.”

“I think he felt something, I don’t know exactly what it is. We’re going to have to assess him. But obviously, when a player asks to be substituted, it’s not good news,” he added.

Arsenal will travel to Portugal to face Sporting Lisbon in the first round of the UCL quarter finals before hosting Bournemouth in the launch time kick off on Saturday in the EPL. These two games could make or break the Gunners’ season.