Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger accused his players of 'choking' after watching Sunderland shatter end their unbeaten record on Saturday.
The Gunners lost their 13-game unbeaten record after Darren Bent's goal earned Sunderland another impressive scalp at the Stadium of Light.
Wenger was unhappy with his side's attacking play as they failed to score for the first time this season with Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner missing.
"Going forward we lacked sharpness, we lacked the desire to go behind defenders. We've chosen the easy part of the game and not exposed them with our pace in behind," said Wenger
"If you want to score goals you have to go behind the defenders. We choked a little bit and chose the easy part of the game.
"Mentally it's a blow. It's a big disappointment because we know it was a very important game that we couldn't afford to lose and we perhaps under estimated how difficult it would be for us here.
"Give Sunderland credit, they defended with a lot of heart and great desire and they fought for every ball. They played it like it was a cup tie.
"We had more of the ball so they tried to stop us from playing. Sometimes they were on the fringe of the rules but that's part of the game."
Wenger has called on his side to bounce back against Standard Liege in the Champions League before they take on league leaders Chelsea next Sunday.
"It's important to win the next game - that is in the Champions League - and to forget about Chelsea," added Wenger.
Your Comments
buzzard
"Pity the facts don't jibe with anything you have to say here, jbuch65667. Arsenal have recorded an operating profit for decades, including every year at the Emirates. We also have a massive squad...perhaps you don't have enough fingers and toes to count that high. We didn't win any trophies because we weren't good enough to do so...."simple as"; as herdsman points out, though, we don't really care because our team is (nearly always) a joy to watch, we have the best manager in the world, and none of our boys is nearly as vile or despicable in character as, oh I don't know, let's say Neville, O'Shea, Nani, Rooney, Berbawank......"
Drunkenmaster
"What utter tosh, being Arsenal is good enough. If we had the team say, Hull have I wouldn't give a monkeys about not winning. But we don't, we have a winning squad, we have more strength in depth than really anyone in the league, look at who Chelsea's back up wingers/attacking players are, Joe Cole, Malouda, Kalou then who, and 2 of those have been pretty much flops, upfront they've got 3 strikers in the entire team and 1 of them joined in summer, for free whose not proven quality. We have a MASSIVE squad, thats completely underutilised with a manager who seems to walk into problem after problem. We have a team that should be winning things therefore not winning isn't good enough. Rather than rest players, Wenger waits till they are injured and brought in non match fit out of form players, this has happened for years. He said he wouldn't rotate Gallas/Verm the other week, when one of them eventually gets injured, if not both our main CB's like last year, we were thoroughly embarassed, not because Silvestre and Djourou were that much worse, which they were, but they weren't match fit, had no understanding, had barely played together and nothing was right, 2 of those things could have been rectified by being played more often, Gallas and Toure may not have been injured if they were rested more.
But if you noticed, Wenger also mentioned after the game that "maybe we underestimated them", WE, what WE. Wenger did, Wenger thought it would be an easier game, despite them scoring against most of our main rivals this year already and doing very well so far. Wenger played a weaker team than he should, Wenger brought on non match fit players to try and change the game, Wenger refused to rest players pre-intl breaks because he thought the Sunderland game would be easy. We go from one calamity to another, the worst of which is repeatedly playing Diaby."
Kiraldo
"Am I missing something here, or is Arsene Wenger basically saying Sunderland played well, Arsenal got beat, didn't play very well and pretty much deserved the loss?
Whats with all this 'Arsenal don't like it up 'em' etc etc. I don't think many Arsenal fans are shocked they lost that game. Sunderland played bloody well and were very effective. Wenger praised Sunderland's approach. Where's the beef people?"
carlosvela
"Good to see Arsene dishin out a rollickin! Keepin players on their toes intead of massaging their egos. I predict a response v chelsea"
dehya
""Being Arsenal is reward enough as all true gooners know" bless you herdsman - couldn't put it better myself"
LeeH3011
"PS. Glad you found it. Integrity intact there methinks."
LeeH3011
"Fla5bBoy - It's quite easy. Click the link that the bottom that says "All comments on this story" then next to your post click "View all fla5hboy's posts". And I know that you are a United fan, as you will then see your post from July, where you say that you fear Liverpool will win the league because United could not replace Ronaldo.
Quite easy really. And if it wasn't you, then it must be someone who knows your log-in details and (I assume) about to become homeless.
Great this Interweb thing innit? ;)
"
jbuch65667
"Totally agree with almost everything fla5hboy has said; save for one or two bits about Gaelic Football - if it is as you say such a "hardhitting, no crying MANS game" where players don't wear shinpads; and you don't get paid - then I think its not so much a man's game; as a game for men who perhaps have learning difficulties, as you'd have to be pretty daft to go through all that for free !! Having played at the lower levels of semi pro football I can tell you that when you do get hit badly the thought that a win bonus of £50 or more does help ease the pain a bit. Still back to Arsenal you're absolutely spot on there; they probably play the most visually attractive football in Europe; (and I'm a United fan) but such a small squad means that they simply can't cope with the normal injuries that occur over a 9 month season at this level. It's all down to money. Arsenal's holding company desperately wanted to show a profit so soon after the Emirates project - but at a big cost - lack of squad depth which in turn has led to a lack of trophies. Simple as. "
Cushion520
"when two teams play they both want to win, depanding on the lucky one for the day that's what determines the out come of the game, Arsenal is like other teams in the premier league, they can win or lose, that should not shock people, if Man U and Chelsea can be beaten why not Arsenal, it's only sport to entertain people it's not as if someone has died come on Arsenal you are doing fine,some of us who know what happens in the football field who have been involved are backing you and let those who can even miss the ball when they are no marked keep on complainig. "
herdsman
"nope, i think stevezkan is a two bob post graham glory hunter. the best thing about the last couple of seasons is that we have weeded a few of them out. Most fans would give their eye teeth to consider 5 years without a trophy a disaster. bored of this now. When i first started going we had not won anything for 6 years and would not for another 2. and it was no big deal. its only the media that make a big deal of it, when i cough up my 1100 quid every May all i hope first and foremost is that we are still in the mix in at least one of the big 2 come april. anything else is a bonus. Being Arsenal is reward enough as all true gooners know."
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