Bellerin ‘lost for words’ as he explains desperation inside Arsenal camp

Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin has admitted that he is “lost for words” at trying to explain how his side are enduring their worst run in 42 years.

The Gunners slipped to a ninth game without victory on Thursday as they fell to a 2-1 defeat to Brighton at the Emirates, the Seagulls’ first-ever win in London against Arsenal.

Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, Bellerin insisted that himself and his team-mates must continue to work hard if they are to turn the club’s form around.

“I don’t know what to say,” the defender said. “I have the feeling that whatever we do it doesn’t come out right. The team gave its best, we created chances, we defended good but it seems like we need so many chances to score and teams score every chance against us. I am lost for words a little bit.

“Every single player has given 100%. When we go out on to the pitch we want to win and give our best. I feel that our team was full of energy, it’s hard to take. We have to keep going, I am sure 100% that results will come.

“Football is like life sometimes, you go through ups and downs. I have won trophies here, had good seasons and bad seasons.

“Freddie has helped the team a lot this week. He has added a lot of energy to the dressing room.”

Elsewhere, interim boss Freddie Ljungberg admitted that his players are “low on confidence” following Thursday’s result, as he too insisted that Arsenal must plough on.

“Of course it’s disappointing but we’ve got to keep on going,” he said. “The players are low on confidence, I think you can see that. There was a little bit of a reaction in the second half, we had a little discussion at half time and we had a good reaction for the second half.

“But we need to start the game like that, that can’t be at half time. That’s the biggest disappointment I have. We’re in a difficult situation, we’ve lost a lot of games and the confidence has gone down.

“We started the game flat with no energy. In my opinion it’s confidence, but of course it’s my job to get them to be aggressive and play with energy. At the same time, they had that at the start of the game, they had energy but I think it’s a bit of confidence.”

Arsenal‘s next game sees them take on West Ham at the London Stadium on Monday.