Arsenal “failed to capitalize” despite numerous scoring chances against Liverpool on Sunday in the FA Cup, lamented Mikel Arteta, with the Gunners coach asking supporters to continue to “support the team” despite the bad results. The north London club has won only one victory in its last seven matches and conceded a third defeat (2-0) in a row, in all competitions, on Sunday, ten days after holding Liverpool to a draw. 1-1 in the league.
“I haven’t seen any team in the last six months create as many (chances) as we did against them. We did not know how to capitalize,” Arteta commented at a press conference, after a match where Arsenal had 18 shots on goal, without managing to score. “When my team plays with this courage and this attitude against what is probably the best team in Europe at the moment, what can I do but support them?,” he elaborated. The Spanish coach asked Arsenal fans for indulgence and patience.
“What I ask of the supporters is that they get behind the team. Support the team, they (the players) are incredibly good. They deserve to be supported in view of their attitude (on the ground),” he said. In the absence of Gabriel Jesus, hampered by one knee, Kai Havertz guided the attack on Sunday without being effective. Eddie Nketiah was not more successful after coming on, which reignited the recurring debate this season about the absence of a formidable finisher in the Arsenal ranks.
“There is what we need and there is what we can do,” Arteta responded to a question about possible recruitment during the winter transfer window. “What we can do is support these players and make sure that we support them,” he eluded.
