Mikel Arteta was critical of his Arsenal players for dropping more points with Liverpool now needing just three wins to be crowned Premier League champions.
Fresh from thrashing Real Madrid in the Champions League in midweek, Arsenal took on Brentford at the Emirates as it bids to make Liverpool wait to get its hands on the title. But Arteta showed where his priorities lie, with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino among the players starting on the bench.
His side eventually took the lead through Thomas Partey after the break but Brentford hit back through Yoane Wissa. The result means Liverpool can go 13 points clear with victory over West Ham on Sunday.
It now appears certain that Liverpool will finish top of the pile but Arne Slot’s men could actually be crowned champions next weekend if it beats West Ham and Leicester, and Arsenal loses to Ipswich.
Yet despite the gap, Arteta was not impressed with how his side handled the game. “It is disappointing because we lost two points,” he said.
“We had full control of the game and conceded a very poor goal. It was not good enough and when you don’t do what you have to do against this team, you concede a goal.
“An opportunity missed for sure because we wanted to win and increase our opportunities in the league. But we haven’t managed to do that. We have to be critical with ourselves, especially with the way we conceded the goal.”
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Arteta was handed another injury concern with midfielder Jorginho forced off in the closing stages. It means his side was forced to play the remainder of the game with 10 men and Arteta has suggested the Italian could be missing for the second leg in Madrid this week.
The Gunners boss added: “He said he could not breathe properly so it might be to do with one of the ribs. It is strange because Jorgi normally carries on so that means it is something significant I think.
“We play every three days and are used to it, so there is not an excuse of energy. Now it is time to recover well and tomorrow we have to start to prepare for the most beautiful game of the season.”
