Mikel Arteta says Arsenal’s first-half performance against Liverpool was “unacceptable” and he was frustrated they were forced to show a reaction to earn a point at Anfield.
Arsenal were trailing by two goals at half-time after Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz struck midway through the first half.
The Gunners were able to hit back after the break and they secured a 2-2 draw thanks to goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino.
Arteta, however, was angry at his side’s display in the opening 45 minutes and the fact that they had to produce such a spirited comeback.
“What we did in the first half is nowhere near the level, so to do it after that is not acceptable,” he said. “We reacted, great but it is unacceptable.
“Especially the defending standards and the errors after we gave the ball away, which is totally prohibited against this team. We were very far off it. I was really upset.
“Yeah, we had a reaction but I hate reaction, I like action. Especially if we want to be there winning trophies, there is going to be a moment where you win it or you don’t.
“If you don’t, you have to play another one when you have been working for nine months. That is here, today. If you cannot win it, you have to be the best of the rest. I was really, really upset.”
The draw for Arsenal could prove valuable as they bid to secure qualification for the Champions League next season.
The Gunners are now second and five points clear of Aston Villa in sixth, whose goal difference is 26 worse than their's.
But asked if his players showing a reaction made up for their first-half performance, Arteta said: “I think it makes it worse.
“You missed half of the team again — and we have done it for nine months — and you can still [come back] from 2-0 at Anfield.
“We played the way we played, come back and maybe should have won it, and at the end maybe lose it with something that was in our hands.
“And having to play for the sixth time with 10 men. If we want to really win it, the consistency level for 95 minutes… I don’t like to talk about the players that are not here and the excuses. I am disappointed.
“I would understand it more but when I see that reaction and it’s there and you need certain more fire, that’s on me and that’s my responsibility.
“What I saw in the first 25 minutes or 30 minutes, phoar, I was killing myself. Sorry for the words that I use.
“Whatever happens in that dressing room is going to stay there. It could be much worse, it could be because this is football or they could be more affective.
“But thankfully we did in the second half what we are capable of doing, understanding that a lot of things are against us at the moment.”
