Mikel Arteta and William Saliba on the same page about Arsenal loss to Newcastle

Mikel Arteta was visibly incensed by Arsenal’s inability to respond effectively after conceding an early goal against Newcastle and lambasted his team for their lack of adaptability during the Saturday clash.

The Gunners’ title aspirations took a hit following a 1-0 loss at St James’ Park. Alexander Isak nodded in Anthony Gordon’s stellar delivery merely 12 minutes into the match.

While Arsenal controlled the ball following Isak’s lead, they barely tested Nick Pope and only registered one paltry attempt on target throughout the contest as their hosts staved off advances with ease.

Post-match, Arteta condemned his squad’s failed efforts to modify their tactics. Reflecting on the match to Premier League Productions, he said: “We deserved to lose today. I thought we started really well and were really dominant. We didn’t defend the box well enough.

“Credit to them. They scored a great goal with a good ball. Then the game changes and you start to play a different game. You have to adapt and we didn’t do that well enough. I am very frustrated.

“We got dragged into a game they are looking for constantly and we couldn’t play the game that we wanted. We had two big chances – Mikel had a big one, Declan had a big one.

“We lacked answers. We can say whatever we want. We will struggle to find the words today. We have to show it on the pitch on Wednesday night.

“You have to be at your best every time to give yourself a chance to win.”

Arteta’s evaluation of the loss was echoed by William Saliba, who said: “We are all a bit sad because we wanted to win today. Unfortunately we didn’t and we didn’t play the game we wanted to play. We deserved to lose today I think.

“I think we didn’t play how we wanted to play and they were good as well.

“It’s OK, we are focused on the next week and it is not finished. I think it’s a good goal, a really good cross and good finishing but we can always do better.

“Today they scored early and we were not able to equalise. We have to stick together.

“Last season we had one period like and we need to stay together and have the confidence to get out. We all believe we will come back.

“I have to be better than my last game. I was not so good. I have to be back at my good level. After I will be good we will better but I have to work to get back to my best level.”

The loss at Newcastle has left Arsenal trailing five points behind Manchester City who lost to Bournemouth on Saturday. They trail leaders Liverpool, who they drew 2-2 with at the Emirates last weekend, by seven points.