There’s no such thing as impossible in Arsenal’s case, especially in terms of shortcomings. A season that seemed almost surreal for the Gunners as they were close to reaching the Champions League for the first time since the 2016/2017 campaign – has reached the dead end. Again.The Gunners shot themselves in the foot – and then they’ve done it again!Monday night’s 2-0 defeat at Newcastle tarnished Arsenal’s chances of joining the elite company, as now Tottenham need only a point at Norwich to secure their UCL qualification.The Gunners knew a win at St James’ Park followed by victory at home to Everton on Sunday would secure their return to Europe’s top club competition, but they failed big time. Kane’s brace, a penalty and a red card: Gunners defeated but remain in the Champions League spotIn his post-match analysis, Mikel Arteta said he was “extremely disappointed” after witnessing a performance he admitted was “nowhere near the level if we want to play Champions League football”.”It was a really difficult night to swallow,” Arteta told Sky Sports. “Newcastle deserved to win the match comfortably. They were much better than us from the beginning to the last minute. We had nothing in the game.”They were much better in every department. We were poor with the ball. A lot of things happened during the night, with the substitutions we had to make through injuries, but it’s not an excuse. Newcastle deserved to win the match.”We should have kept Aubameyang, got rid of Arteta & hired an experienced manager who can manage world class talent & whose process we can actually trust. pic.twitter.com/d04H3oKcr8— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 16, 2022 Asked what he told his players in the dressing room following their damaging defeat, Arteta said: “I’m extremely disappointed. That Newcastle were ten times better than us and fully deserved the match.”The performance was nowhere near the level if we want to play in the Champions League.”When you see the team we have at the moment, there are a lot of question marks in a lot of different positions because of the injuries and suspensions we had. But it is not an excuse. Today we weren’t at the races.”##EDITORS_CHOICE##Arteta admitted he was concerned as soon as the game began with his side’s performance, adding: “We tried to change some things, but the execution was so poor and the goals we gave away were extremely poor.”Arteta finessing a new contract before bottling top 4 pic.twitter.com/mAiRhqYhDm— ً (@utdcynical) May 16, 2022 Despite his obvious frustration at the way Champions League football has slipped from his side’s grasp, Arteta urged his side not to give up ahead of their final game of the season at home to Everton on Sunday.”There is always a chance in football and you have to be there just in case that chance appears,” Arteta said.PREMIER LEAGUE – Round 37SundayTottenham – Burnley 1-0 (1-0)/Kane 45+8 pen/Aston Villa – Crystal Palace 1-1 (0-0)/Watkins 69 – Schlupp 81/Leeds – Brighton 1-1 (0-1)/Struijk 90+2 – Welbeck 21/Watford – Leicester 1-5 (1-2)/Pedro 6 – Maddison 18, Vardy 22, 70, Barnes 46, 86/Wolverhampton – Norwich 1-1 (0-1)/Nouri 55- Pukki 37/West Ham – Man.City 2-2 (2-0)/Bowen 24, 45 – Grealish 49, Coufal (og) 69/Everton – Brentford 2-3 (2-1)/Calvert-Lewin 10, Richailson (p) 45 – Coleman (og) 37, Wissa 62, Henry 64/MondayNewcastle – Arsenal 2-0 (0-0)/White 55 og, Guimaraes 85/Tuesday21.45: (8.00) Southampton (5.10) Liverpool (1.42)***odds are subject to change
