Mikel Arteta blasts Arsenal form after draw with Bolton: Once again we've not been good enough

After picking up just one point from their last four games Spaniard calls on the Gunners to add a clinical edge to their game as they struggle to maintain pace with the top teams

3 Feb 2012 09:20:00

By Matt Scott

More On :  Arsenal FC, Mikel Arteta, Arsène Wenger
EPL,Mikel Arteta,Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal
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Mikel Arteta has branded his Arsenal team-mates as 'not good enough' after a 0-0 draw with Bolton left them five points off a Champions League spot.

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The Gunners have endured a largely frustrating season and currently sit in 7th place in the League, a massive 17 points behind table-topping Manchester rivals United and City.

The solitary point gained at the Reebok Stadium was Arsenal's first of 2012 and Arteta is fully aware that the team have not been reaching their potential.

He told the Daily Mail: "We had a lot of chances to win the game at Bolton, but once again we’ve not been good enough to take them and if you don’t take your chances it’s always going to be difficult.

"It’s not good enough. We really need to start picking up points now. We’ve lost too many in the last two weeks."

A large feeling of unease has been growing amongst fans in recent weeks with the value of winning silverware, over Arsene Wenger’s style of play, being preferred.

Support for Wenger has been diminishing rapidly and a statement issued by the Arsenal Supporters Trust failed to back the Frenchman.

It read: "There has been lots of debate about the position of Arsene Wenger recently and the AST is often asked to give media comment, which we decline.

"Any discussion and opinions should be given at the end of the season when matters can be viewed with greater clarity."

Sections of Arsenal fans are expected to protest at this weekend's home game against Blackburn by placing black bin-liners over empty seats at the Emirates Stadium.


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England 1-0 Belgium, Netherlands 4-0 Northern Ireland - follow all the international action LIVE! ahead of Euro 2012
With countries across the continent gearing up for their final warm-up games ahead of Euro 2012, join us for all the action from Saturday's friendlies. Get in touch with us via Twitter with your reaction.

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20:06 BST
So, that game gave a few players a chance to impress for England. Who did/didn't? Will Welbeck start against France? Or Carroll? Or Defoe?!

19:59 BST
Unfortunately for Northern Ireland, they are trailing the Netherlands 4-0 at half-time. Looks like that one's all sewn up then.
19:54 BST
We're still getting plenty of Hazard chat on Twitter. A few are now saying that he's not worth the hype, others saying he was brilliant(!?) and others (which I agree with), saying he created much of his own hype. What do you think? Get involved!
19:46 BST
Joe Hart has also been giving his thoughts after the Belgium game: "It was a really tough game, a good run out. I thought we played well, [but] we were a little bit bitty at times.

"But, we came through. Obviously there were a lot of changes so it's good to get the result.

"Belgium are a very, very strong side who are going to be really good in the future. Vincent [Kompany] told me about them and said that they were coming good and I totally agree with him."
19:38 BST
Here's Roy Hodgson's reaction to the result and some injury chat: "I'm very pleased, it's been a hard week and we've used a lot of players. There was a lot of disruption in the second-half with substitutions – some forced upon us, some we wanted to do. But it's still a very good end to the week playing against a good Belgian team here. Arguably even stronger than the Norwegian team we played last week and I've got to be more than happy that we've come out with another victory."

"[Gary] Cahill I suppose is slightly more of a concern for me because it is a jaw injury. We're desperately hoping the CT scan doesn't show any fracture and it's just going to be a bruising situation, which will be bad enough, but won't stop him taking part in the tournament. As far as John's [Terry] concerned he felt his hamstring a little bit. Again it wasn't a major thing when he came off but we still need to scan it just to be 100 per cent sure."

Suffice to say, if Cahill has broken his jaw, he won't play any part in the tournament.
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