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Mikel Arteta questions Arsenal attitude as two more injuries hit hard in damaging defeat at Palace

Mikel Arteta Palace v Arsenal

Mikel Arteta questioned his side’s attitude after their 3-0 mauling at Crystal Palace on the Monday Night Football, while also giving an update on two more injuries.

The Gunners would have moved above Tottenham with victory but fell behind early on through Jean-Philippe Mateta’s header following a free-kick. Things got worse for the visitors a few minutes later when Jordan Ayew got away from two Arsenal defenders and bent a shot beyond Aaron Ramsdale.

Arsenal were outfought and outworked in the first half, their only shot on target a Gabriel header at Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.

The visitors showed improvement after the break and should have at least got one back as Martin Odegaard shot wide when unmarked inside the box, while Eddie Nketiah hit the woodwork.

Palace made sure of a hugely impressive win when Wilfried Zaha was brought down inside the box late on and the forward stepped up to convert the penalty.

Speaking after the game, Arteta told Sky Sports: “From the beginning we were not at the races. When you come here you have to compete. you have to win duels and second balls and be aggressive and we were none of those and top of that we were really poor on the ball.

“We tried in the second half, we had three or four big chances but the only half chance they had they got a penalty.

Arteta apologetic after defeat

“It is time to accept the criticism, put your hand up and apologise because this performance was not good enough for this club and then react. When everything goes well everyone wants to be there and be supportive.

“Congratulations to Palace because they deserved to win the game. They always play like this.

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“We are humble enough to accept the criticism. You don’t feel sorry for yourself because we lost players and a football match.

“We have to face the challenge and the opportunity is in our hands. We have to be honest with ourselves and support each other.”

The Gunners were forced to start the game without the injured Kieran Tierney, while Thomas Partey hobbled off late on.

And Arteta revealed that it’s not looking good for the former, saying: “He’s seeing a specialist tomorrow and we will know more the extent of the injury. The feeling that he had wasn’t positive and the scans either.”

As for Partey, the Spaniard was asked how serious the problem is and replied: “I don’t know but he felt something in the same area as he was injured previously so it’s a concern.”

READ MORE: Arsenal fluff their lines in top-four race after error-ridden mauling at rampant Crystal Palace