Arteta blames defensive errors for Arsenal’s FA Cup exit

Arteta blames defensive errors for Arsenal’s FA Cup exit Mikel Arteta has expressed disappointment after Arsenal were knocked out of the FA Cup quarter-finals by Championship side Southampton on Saturday, pointing to poor defending as the decisive factor. The defeat follows their recent League Cup final loss to Manchester City, ending Arsenal’s hopes of a domestic treble and leaving them to focus on the Premier League and UEFA Champions League. Read Also: Southampton stun Arsenal to reach FA Cup semi-finals “The result, and especially the way we conceded the two goals, is disappointing,” Arteta told the BBC. “We had so much dominance in and around the box. We conceded the first goal in a very unusual way for us, and the second from direct play. “We had two massive chances and needed to capitalise on them. If you make the defending errors we made today, it’s very difficult to reach the semi-final.” Arsenal were without several first-team regulars in a match played under difficult weather conditions, but Arteta refused to offer excuses and instead praised the opposition. “They are a very good side on a strong run, and you have to congratulate them,” he said. “You have to adapt to the wind, the injuries, and difficult moments in the season. Now we have to show what we are made of. “That team had very good moments. We should have capitalised and been going to Wembley, but we haven’t done it.” Editor's Pick Nigeria isn’t over-borrowed — It’s overburdened Nigeria’s debt profile is once again under scrutiny, but the familiar narrative may be missing the point. By conventional metrics,… When Nigeria’s economic expansion fails its people Currently, the numbers from the Nigerian economy suggest recovery, yet the lived reality of millions of citizens tells a different… Nigeria votes, but structure wins: Lessons from 2023 and the road to 2027 Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election did more than produce a winner; it exposed the underlying mechanics of power in the country’s… You Might Also Like Van Dijk apologises to fans after Liverpool’s 4-0 FA Cup thrashing Virgil van Dijk has apologised to Liverpool fans following the club’s heavy FA Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of… Our seeds deliver higher yields than conventional varieties – CEO Noba Africa Abdulrazak Najim is a Nigerian entrepreneur and business strategist. He is the chief executive officer of Noba Africa Agro Allied… Sanwo-Olu commits to accountability in $500m HOPE-GOV programme Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has pledged his administration's commitment to accountability in the implementation of $500 million Human Capital Opportunities for… Women urged to seize growth opportunities, drive impact Amaka Ezekiel, a barrister and the MD/CEO of FAV Multiservices Ltd, has urged women to take bold and decisive action…