Arteta says split-second decisions let Arsenal down against Blues

ARSENAL’S new manager Mikel Arteta said his team let themselves down with poor split-second decision-making in their 2-1 defeat by Chelsea in his first home game in charge on Sunday.

A mistimed leap from goalkeeper Bernd Leno handed Chelsea an easy equaliser from Jorginho in the 83rd minute to cancel out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s first-half strike.

Chelsea then surged forward and Tammy Abraham spun and shot straight through Leno’s legs for the winner four minutes later as Arsenal were caught out in defence.

“I am really disappointed with the result and the way we conceded the goals and the timing of it,” Arteta told reporters.

“It’s decision-making. It happens. It will happen again for sure, but when it happens against this type of opposition, you get punished,” he said.

“It was very cruel the way we lost it, in the first half we saw a lot of positives and saw what we are trying to implement. “It was clear why it was disappointing, I don’t need to say any more.

“Our reaction was right, we were doing the right things, it is hard to dominate all periods of the game against this team.

“We started to defend too deep and our energy levels are in a different place to Chelsea’s.

“We need to sustain those periods for longer periods in the game and against top sides. Individual errors cost you games but I can’t fault the effort, commitment and for putting in place what we practised.”

However, the Spaniard was keen not to place too much blame on the shoulders of his German keeper.

“He will be down, and when an error costs the team points we have to lift him. He’s done a really good job since he joined this football club and we have to respect that,” he added. – Reuters