Arsenal: Fans criticise Mikel Arteta's interview after Southampton loss

Mikel Arteta had to stomach a third consecutive Premier League defeat for Arsenal on Saturday afternoon.

It feels like mere days have passed since the mood around Emirates Stadium was sky high with the Gunners licking their lips at upcoming fixtures against Crystal Palace, Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton.

However, what looked like a potential nine points on paper in their hunt for Champions League football has turned into a catastrophic run of defeat after defeat after defeat for a total of zero.

Arsenal suffered a crushing 3-0 loss at Selhurst Park before Brighton ran away 2-1 victors in north London, leaving them with no choice other than to try and nick three points from St. Mary’s Stadium.

But it simply wasn’t to be with Arsenal unable to find a way past Fraser Forster across a frustrating 90 minutes where Jan Bednarek’s goal just before half-time proved the difference between the two sides.

All in all, it confounded the Gunners’ recent capitulation and piled the pressure on Arteta’s head all over again despite the former Manchester City coach having been lauded just weeks previously.

And while it’s only natural that Arsenal’s defeat on the south coast would see criticism thrown in his direction, it seems as though the Spaniard only fanned the flames with his post-match interview.

That’s because the Arsenal boss leaned into the narrative that his side had deserved much, much more for their greater possession and a superior number of shots despite ultimately coming up short.

According to the Mirror, the 40-year-old said: “If somebody didn’t know the score and is watching the game and asks who won the game, they will say that Arsenal won it comfortably. But it’s not the case.”

He then added: “It’s difficult to