Mikel Arteta: Southampton defeat has left Arsenal players feeling ‘really down’

Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal’s players were dejected after their quest for Champions League qualification suffered a further setback with a damaging a 1-0 Premier League defeat at Southampton.

Tottenham’s shock home loss to Brighton in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off offered the Gunners the chance to move level on points with their fourth-placed north London rivals.

But Arteta’s men blew a major opportunity to capitalise at St Mary’s as Jan Bednarek’s strike on the stroke of half-time condemned them to a fourth defeat from five games.

The misfiring visitors, who arrived on the south coast on the back of disappointing losses to Crystal Palace and Brighton, were left frustrated following 76 per cent possession and 23 attempts at goal.

“They are really down today and they are down because they cannot find the right answer – apart from what we can do better around the box – not to win that match,” Arteta said of his squad.

“And that’s the frustration.

“When somebody’s better, you shake their hands and you have to be critical with yourself.

“But, apart from 25 minutes against Palace and some periods against Brighton in the first half, it’s very difficult to explain and accept.”

Arsenal retain a game in hand on Spurs, albeit a tricky trip to Chelsea, while their latest slip-up provides further encouragement for fellow top-four hopefuls Manchester United and West Ham.

In-form Saints goalkeeper Fraser Forster produced stunning saves to keep out Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe either side of Bednarek’s decisive finish.

Apart from those two openings, the Gunners – who were without Alexandre Lacazette due to a positive Covid-19 test – rarely threatened to move on from their recent sticky patch and have now hit the net just twice in