Arsenal first half performance against Liverpool unacceptable – Arteta

Arsenal were without England international Declan Rice who was ruled out through injury while Jurrien Timber, although named on the bench, was not fit enough to feature.

“We missed half of the team again and you can still [come back] from 2-0 at Anfield,” Arteta said.

“We played the way we played, came back and maybe should have won it, and at the end maybe lost it with something that was in our hands.

“If we want to really win it, the consistency level [has to be there] for 95 minutes. I don’t like to talk about the players that are not here and excuses. I am disappointed.”

Arsenal have now won just one of their last six Premier League matches and need to pick up points across their final two fixtures to secure second place. Two points are also needed to be certain of a top-five finish and Champions League qualification.

After missing out on the title to Manchester City by two points last season, the Gunners are 15 points adrift of champions Liverpool this time.

Having reached 84 points in 2022-23 and 89 points in 2023-24, Arsenal will end this campaign with a maximum of 74 points. Arteta admitted earlier this week that his side have gone backwards in the league.

“I have full trust in all my players and we have full clarity in what we want to do,” Arteta added.

“It will be a tough game [against Newcastle] and we want to secure the Champions League and the second spot as well. It is a big opportunity.

“If you cannot be the best, then you have to be the best of the rest.

“That is very important. Again today we played with 10 men, half of our team injured, and some of them playing when they should not, and still we performed in a way we have done for seven or eight months.

“That is what we have to demand from ourselves.”