Mikel Arteta: We Need To Reset, Break Comes At A Good Time

Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal have a problem…

Mikel Arteta has finally conceded that there is a mental block affecting his side’s attacking department following our FA Cup exit at the hands of Liverpool, the boss told the press.

Once again, we squandered chance after chance in a dominant display and, inevitably, the panic started to set in leading to us conceding an own goal from a set-piece.

This time it was Jakub Kiwior who turned the ball into his own net but the narrative was building and it really could’ve been anyone.

The story was again about the chances we missed, especially in the first half, with Arteta pointing to the upcoming winter break as a good time to take stock.

Arsenal travel to Dubai for a week ahead of our return to Premier League action with Crystal Palace visiting the Emirates Stadium later this month.

“It probably has, especially after today, more than it was against Fulham, more than it was against West Ham,” Arteta said when asked if the profligacy is now affecting the team mentally.

“That’s why we need to reset; the break comes at a good time because they are going to feel how we feel, how I feel about them very clearly in difficult moments, not when things are going well.

“Hopefully they can see from many other people that they jump on the train when things go well so when things are more difficult let’s see where they stand.”

While the squad doesn’t possess a clinical striker, that attacking department is definitely better than what they’re producing at the moment.

You could sense the panic among the likes of Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard against Liverpool – not knowing when to take the shot or look for a teammate.

At this level, any moment of hesitation in the final third will immediately alter the picture in front of you and possibly cost the team a goal.

They need to be free in their mind and, hopefully, that part of their game can be rekindled during the break.