Arteta: I don't know if we will win big trophies, but there are few teams who can play at this level
Mikel Arteta said he did not know whether his current Arsenal team would get over the line and win a major trophy but insisted he was happy with the recent performances of his side.
The Gunners have finished as runners-up to Manchester City in each of the last two Premier League seasons and, despite City's alarming drop in form during this campaign, are second again - this time to Liverpool.
Should the Reds win their game in hand over Merseyside rivals Everton, the gap between Liverpool and Arteta's Arsenal will be nine points.
To compound matters for the Gunners Arsenal have a 2-0 deficit to overturn against Newcastle in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final next month at St James' Park - and are now out of the FA Cup after yesterday's penalty shootout loss to Manchester United at the Emirates.
Speaking at his post-match press conference yesterday, a deflated Arteta said: "Are we going to win big trophies? I don't know, but playing like this there are very few teams in the world that can play at that level.
"It's incredible how we didn't win. We dominated and did everything to try to win the game. We didn't get what we deserved, but there's an element that it is about putting the ball in the back of the net. We did it once and we go home extremely sad. But I cannot be more proud of my players and the team. We haven't been rewarded."
Arsenal dominated the match but once again their lack of a top quality centre forward to score goals on a regular basis was there for all to see.
As much as Kai Havertz has improved at Arsenal, he will never be the 25 goal a season man the Gunners desperately need to consistently win the big games.
Havertz was the fall guy yesterday - missing a penalty in the shootout which ultimately handed United a place in round four and also squandering an even easier chance to win the match before its 90 minutes were through.
But Arteta was in no mood to judge. The bullish boss said: "I say to Kai and all of the players that I love them and we all love them. Individually and as a team. What this team produces every three days is incredible, regardless of what happens and I am not going to lose sight of that.
"We missed from various ways and various players. I understand (about the calls for a striker) but I cannot love our players any more and I focus on the ones that we have to perform at the highest level. The rest is not in my hands."
Arsenal have further worries ahead of the north London derby against Tottenham on Wednesday. Already without star man Bukayo Saka, his replacement Ethan Nwaneri and another key right-sided cog in Ben White, Gabriel Jesus now looks set for an extended spell on the sidelines after being injured against United.
Arteta said: "It (Jesus) is a big worry. He had to come off on a stretcher in a lot of pain. It's not looking good. The worrying factor is the feeling that he had and the pain that he was in."
Arsenal are in the midst of a five-game run of home matches. The next two - league games against Spurs on Wednesday and Aston Villa on Saturday - command what is rapidly approaching must-win status, given the gap Liverpool hold at the top.
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