Arsenal has faced a challenging period, suffering consecutive defeats that have dented their title aspirations. A recent loss to West Ham was described as a 'disastrous night' by John Cross of Mirror Football, which could significantly affect the team's confidence and belief. In another match, despite taking an early lead against Fulham with a goal from Bukayo Saka, Arsenal ultimately succumbed to a 2-1 defeat after Fulham's Raul Jimenez and Bobby De Cordova-Reid scored, completing a comeback victory. Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, acknowledged the team's shortcomings, stating that if they don't improve, they won't win the league. He expressed disappointment with the team's performance, calling it the 'worst game of the season' and admitting that they were 'sloppy with the ball' and did not deserve to win. The defeats have put Arsenal's title hopes in a precarious position as they end the year on a low note, marked by inefficiency, a failure to deal with Fulham's targeted attacks, and an overall poor performance.
Arteta says “painful” Fulham defeat is Arsenal’s “worst performance of the season.” Story: https://t.co/WrnpjrOIpD
"If we play like we played in the other 19 games, we will be up there. If we play like today, we will be nowhere that." 🗣 Mikel Arteta is brutally honest about Arsenal's title hopes after their loss against Fulham 😳 #BBCFootball https://t.co/xyCbqHdKLT
🔴⚪️ Arteta: “Today was our worst game of the season”. “We were sloppy with the ball. It wasn't good enough. We didn't deserve to win”. “When you have opportunities to go top of league on 31 December and now end up with really bad feeling that is football”, told BBC. https://t.co/rPwivUBrlz
Match report: Fulham 2 Arsenal 1. Arsenal were outclassed, outfought and beaten in every department. Fulham were superb. No excuses this time... this defeat and performance was abject and deeply worrying for Arteta https://t.co/xzDPFEfYyu
📽️ On the Whistle: Fulham 2-1 Arsenal - "A dismal performance to end the year" https://t.co/lcHC9n5wOP 🔴⚪️ #AFC https://t.co/NQtOjLrvXs
Raúl Jiménez and Bobby De Cordova-Reid score to earn Fulham a comeback victory that inflicts further damage on Arsenal’s title hopes https://t.co/J4F2ttuf78
Fulham fight back to beat Arsenal 2-1 https://t.co/7Cabm3HOmV https://t.co/yVoSBUkoA4
Fulham hurt Arsenal title hopes as De Cordova-Reid seals fightback victory https://t.co/u1hLzEPMBX
🗣️ "Sloppy defending, not clicking up front — there's just so much wrong with them at the moment." 🗞️ @johncrossmirror reports on a disappointing end to 2023 for Arsenal at Fulham #fulars | #epl https://t.co/CXZZB7wj7f
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal: Gunners are handed their second straight defeat in major blow to their title hopes as Raul Jimenez and Bobby Decordova-Reid goals help Marco Silva's men come from behind after Bukayo Saka's opener https://t.co/jHbvDK7kTN https://t.co/WMeyDSPVte
Full time | Fulham 2-1 Arsenal - Poor performance and particularly frustrating after taking the lead. Players zigging when they needed to zig in so many aspects of the game. Terrible end to 2023
It's not going well for Arsenal 😬 Fulham have come from a goal down to lead 2-1 😳 #FULARS https://t.co/J5E6Xot0Ci
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal - De Cordova-Reid. Corner is headed back into the Arsenal box. Arsenal fail to clear and De Cordova-Reid scores
Fulham go more direct and almost create a chance. De Cordova-Reid aims for Jimenez in the box, who of course is mid-acrobatics, but Arsenal clear. #FFC
Half time | Fulham 1-1 Arsenal - Another positive start that's faded away. The clarity that was there in the first 10 minutes wasn't maintained. That and failing to deal with Fulham's clear plan to attack the right flank has been costly
HT. 1-1. A really encouraging half from Fulham. Excellent response to the early goal, created chances and scored a good equaliser too. Seen a lot of the play, unafraid to commit players forward. While Arsenal have threatened, it’s been sporadic. #FULARS #FFC
Fulham 1-1 Arsenal - Jimenez. Bassey strong in the tackle with Saka and Fulham immediately look to attack Arsenal's right again. Ends with Jimenez finishes a low cross at the back post
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal - Saka! Raya starts a break down the left. Havertz passes to Martinelli who carries up to the box. His shot is parried into Saka's path who finishes
🎙 "If we don't improve in the boxes, then no [we won't win the league]" Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said his side won't win the Premier League unless they improve at both ends of the pitch after their defeat to West Ham 🔴 https://t.co/nCsxpyhc6x
🗣️ "If the technology is not good enough to give us that answer, we have to win the game with the amount of situations that we have." Mikel Arteta rued Arsenal’s inefficiency as they lost at home to West Ham United to miss out on going top. Read below 🔽 https://t.co/GEqDOl2eJD
🗣️ "A disastrous night that will knock their confidence and belief." 🗞️ @johncrossmirror reports on a defeat for title-chasing Arsenal against West Ham #arswhu | #epl https://t.co/4GXYlKhSAD