Mikel Arteta takes responsibility for Arsenal defeat but dismisses title fears

Mikel Arteta says it is his responsibility that Arsenal created so little in their 1-0 defeat to Newcastle.

The Gunners on Saturday tasted defeat for just the second time this season as Alexander Isak scored the game’s only goal after 12 minutes at St James’ Park.

The defeat, their third at St James Park in four visits, has dealt a potentially huge blow to Arsenal’s title hopes, leaving them trailing rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.

Arsenal barely laid a glove for the Magpies, registering just one shot on target and coming closest through a Declan Rice mistimed header in injury time.

“When you create three big chances in the game, you are hoping to score a goal because these are the fine margins we’re always discussing”, Arteta said.

“The team should have generated more, and that is my responsibility.”

Arteta, though, insists he remains unconcerned by the points gap growing between his side and rival City and Liverpool in the wake of the defeat.

He added: “I understand that, but after eight, nine, ten games last year we didn’t [talk about the title race], and we are not going to be talking about it now.

“We are not going to find the right answers or words right now to explain how we feel. We certainly have to put it [right] against Inter [Milan].

“It’s not about hoping to win the title; it’s about being our best version every single week. Today we certainly weren’t our best version.”

Meanwhile, Eddie Howe said Newcastle’s performance reminded him of their 2022/23 displays when the Magpies finished fourth to qualify for the Champions League.

He said: “I think there are a lot of similarities ... I can remember lots of games that took similar paths. It wasn’t necessarily the game we envisaged it to be today, but then you have to adapt.

“The goal, I think, had a big bearing on the game. Second half we had to be really smart with what we did. Big compliment to everybody for how we defended our goal in that second period.”