Arsenal: FA Cup defeat at Southampton turns up heat in trophy hunt
Arsenal have not won the Premier League for 22 years, finishing second in three consecutive seasons.
The Carabao Cup final was Arsenal’s first chance to win a major trophy for six years.
After losing to City and being knocked out of the FA Cup by a lower league team for the first time since 2021-22 – a third-round defeat to Nottingham Forest – Arsenal need to be confident these defeats do not translate into a dip in form.
“They shouldn’t let the season slip away from them,” former Arsenal and Southampton forward Theo Walcott told BBC Sport.
“Don’t let everything they’ve built this season affect them. They’ve been through this before and they don’t want to go through it again.”
Mikel Arteta has constantly talked about the desire of everyone at the club to win, but as the end of the season approaches, games are drawing to a close and with £250 million spent in the summer, the pressure is at an all-time high.
Walcott said he had noticed a “nervous energy” on the St Mary’s touchline that had been seen before in recent years.
“When I was visually watching Mikel on the sidelines, it was the elements of previous years where this energy was reflected in the team,” he said.
“It was very tense. Not only Mikel was there at times, but most of the staff as well. There were too many cooks in the kitchen, too many messages.”
Arsenal’s performance was poor by the high standards they had set throughout the season.
And although they dominated possession, had 23 shots and leveled the game in the 68th minute, the Gunners never looked like they could win.
“I love my players. I love what they have done for nine months. I will not criticize them because we lost a game here the way they tried,” Arteta said.
“And the way they put their bodies through everything. Some of them probably didn’t even need to be here. I’m not going to do that. I’m going to defend them more than ever.”
“Someone has to take responsibility. This is me and the best part of the season is ahead of us.
“You always have moments in the season. Normally you have two or three moments. This is the first moment we’ve had.
“So get up, make yourself comfortable and deliver like we’ve been doing all season.”
The Arsenal boss was asked how he can ensure this form continues for the rest of the season and prevents the Champions League and Premier League campaigns from being derailed.
“Give them [the players] “Clarity, giving more belief, trusting our players, believing in what we are doing,” Arteta said.
“And keep doing that with the tweaks that each game requires.
“But especially keeping the pace, attitude and energy at the highest possible level because it is very important to perform at the level we need to win games.”
