EPL: Arteta slams Arsenal players after 2-2 draw with Liverpool

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has described his team’s performance against Liverpool as “unacceptable,” despite staging a comeback from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw on Sunday.

The encounter at Anfield came just days after the Gunners were eliminated from the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain.

Arteta’s side appeared to be suffering from a Champions League hangover, falling 2-0 behind within 20 minutes, courtesy of goals from Cody Gakpo and Luis Díaz.

However, Arsenal responded after the break and managed to level the score through goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino.

“What we did in the first half is nowhere near the level so to do it after that is not acceptable,” Arteta told Sky Sports.

He said: “We reacted, great but it is unacceptable. You don’t have to be fighting for trophies and then you might win or lose it. That’s the level you need.

“No one can promise you win. You’re going to have six, seven teams who pray to be in the Champions League next year and then you see. The action that we had after 20, 25 minutes. When the team plays like this, that’s on me.

“It’s not about the players. It’s about we. No one accepts those standards. It has to hurt a lot. Six times we played with 10 men this season. Look at what we can do when we are there.”

The result leaves Arsenal in second place, with two matches remaining in the Premier League campaign.