Arsenal Coach Regrets After "Worst Match of the Season"

Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta stated that his team cannot replicate the lackluster performance displayed in the 2-1 loss against Fulham on Sunday if they wish to compete for the Premier League title. Arteta described the match as the "worst" for his team this season, as Arsenal squandered an early lead, losing for the second consecutive match and finishing the year in fourth place after being at the top on Christmas Day. He told reporters, "It’s a painful and sad day; this is the summary from my perspective... we simply weren’t at the required level." He added, "We couldn’t control the direct play. It was easy for Fulham to win the first and second balls and create opportunities to run, and we conceded two goals that way."