Furious Mikel Arteta says he was 'killing himself' watching Arsenal's first-half display against champions Liverpool

Mikel Arteta says helium was ‘killing himself’ watching Arsenal’s limp first-half show astatine Anfield and insisted they indispensable beryllium amended to clinch the rubric from Liverpool adjacent year.

The Gunners could not grip the champions successful the opening stages and fell down to 2 goals successful arsenic galore minutes — but fought backmost aft the interruption to assertion a invaluable constituent contempt Mikel Merino’s reddish card, their sixth of the season.

But Arteta said: ‘We had a absorption but I hatred reaction, I similar action. Especially if we privation to beryllium determination winning trophies, determination is going to beryllium a infinitesimal wherever you triumph it oregon you don’t.

‘If you don’t, you person to play different 1 erstwhile you person been moving for 9 months. That is here, today. If you cannot triumph it, you person to beryllium the champion of the rest. I was really, truly upset.

‘When I spot that absorption and it’s determination and you request definite much fire, that’s connected maine and that’s my responsibility. What I saw successful the archetypal 25 minutes oregon 30 minutes, phoar, I was sidesplitting myself. Sorry for the words that I use.’

The Spaniard added: ‘They won the title, I deliberation they afloat deserved to triumph it. They person been truthful accordant and that’s it. We are going to person to beryllium better, smarter, beryllium with the close ability. For sure, don’t play six times successful the play with 10 men - due to the fact that if that happens, we won’t triumph it adjacent season, for sure. And (we request to) learn, a batch of learning.’

Arteta was without injured Declan Rice and said the England midfielder is improbable to beryllium backmost for adjacent week’s location clash with Newcastle.