Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal must be more ‘efficient’ in the final third after missing a host of chances in the club’s FA Cup exit to Liverpool.
Arsenal dominated the opening exchanges of the game but were unable to find a breakthrough in North London, with Reiss Nelson and Kai Havertz missing good opportunities, and Martin Odegaard crashing a shot off the crossbar.
The Gunners were punished for those missed chances in the second half, as a Jakub Kiwior own goal and Luis Diaz’s late strike earned Liverpool a place in the fourth round.
Arsenal have now lost three consecutive games in all competitions, while it’s one win in six for Arteta’s side. The Spaniard was asked for his verdict on Arsenal’s latest loss and praised the performance from his team, but admitted improvements are required in the final third.
“Well the performance was there and the amount of chances too,” Arteta said to BBC Sport.
“We just have to win the game, but we lost it and we are not capitalising. To win games we need to capitalise.
“When you are better than the best team in Europe and you generate that amount of chances…I have not seen a team do it against them like we have done it.
“It is not enough. The reality is, it is not enough.
“Listen [do I say] play worse than Liverpool, be worse and we will win the game. When my team plays with this confidence what can I do? I am still behind them 100%.
“It is what it is and we have to continue to play the same way and be more efficient.”
