Arteta specifies the mistakes that Arsenal cannot afford to make again

Mikel Arteta warned Arsenal that they will struggle to get results for the rest of the season if they repeat the mistakes they made in their loss to Aston Villa.

After conceding 74 seconds into the game at Villa Park, Arsenal were unable to get on the scoresheet themselves.

The defeat leaves them in 10th place – and all the teams above them have at least one game in hand.

Arsenal seemed to be getting back on track in the month after their Boxing Day win over Chelsea. However, now, they have won just one of their last five games in all competitions.

Arteta knows there are areas they will have to improve on if they are to reverse their fortunes for the better again.

Specifically, the Gunners boss complained of the way they gave the ball away and failed to be decisive in the final third.

He told BBC Sport: “I’m extremely disappointed to lose and the way we lost it.

“We were the better team. We controlled every department but we gave them the ball – we gave them another three big chances.

“Then when we had to score the goal, we didn’t find the right pass or the right shot.

“They were better in the boxes and that’s how you win games. We created enough opportunities. We didn’t score, we cannot win the game.”

Have Arsenal had the best transfer window?

Have Arsenal had the best transfer window?

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Arsenal ‘should win the game comfortably’

Arteta continued: “We just gave them the ball, a moment you make a mistake and they punish you.

“You cannot win football matches if every week you do something like that. Four or five times we’ve played with 10 men. Against Wolves, we deserved to win both games by far but we lost both.

“[Red cards] cost us that game [against Wolves] – today other big decisions. Regardless of what the referee did today we should win the game comfortably.”

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