Arteta's Disappointment Because Arsenal Can't Meet Expectations

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. (Photo: Twitter @Arsenal)

JAKARTA - Pupus has Arsenal's hopes of becoming the Premier League champions in England. The defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, May 20, buried the dream.

Mathematically, the Gunners are no longer likely to chase Manchester City, who has been named the champion. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta relievedly congratulated his rival.

Mesi looks relieved, Arteta is unable to hide his sadness. Moreover, he knew his team had been leading the hunt for the title that had escaped from their hands for so long.

Having an eight-point lead last month, Arsenal won just two of their last eight matches.

"This is a very sad day. We failed to meet expectations. I congratulate Man City. They are the champions, they deserve to win. I apologize for causing confidence that we can do it, but we can't and that is my responsibility," Arteta said as quoted by Reuters via Antara, Sunday, May 21.

"Today we have to play better. We conceded. When we arrive in April and May, we need 24 players to perform their best game, full of confidence and ready, for various reasons we didn't show it," he continued.

However, Arteta, who used to work as Guardiola's assistant at City, is showing the rapid progress of Arsenal's performance, which is now comfortable in second place in the world's toughest league.

They lead the standings for 248 days this season, the most for the team to then fail to win the Premier League title.

"This more than ten months has been an extraordinary journey for us to fight City, ahead of them for so long. We really want to achieve something in this sport and we can't achieve it," said Arteta, as quoted by Antara.

"We learned a very meaningful lesson. We have changed many of these teams, we are making big steps, but a complement to all that is to win the league and we failed to meet those expectations."

Arteta admits Arsenal have not been able to match City's level of play after conceding so many goals in the last games.

"Now we have to recover. It hurts a lot. I have to find a way to cheer on the players and we will have a tough week ahead," said Arteta.