Mikel Arteta warns Arsenal players must 'take the bullet' as draw raises further questions over mentality | OneFootball

Gunners’ lead at the top of the Premier League table is five points after costly draw away at Wolves

Mikel Arteta warned his Arsenal players they have to take the "bullet" after a dismal draw with Wolves.

Hugo Bueno's curling strike got the home fans up and when David Raya and Gabriel miscommunicated in trying to clear a stoppage-time cross, it dropped for Tom Edozie to snatch a 2-2 draw.

Arsenal's advantage at the top of the Premier League is five points but they have now played one more match than Manchester City and still have to travel to the Etihad Stadium in April.

These dropped points raised further questions over Arsenal's mentality, and Arteta did not fight back against those accusations.

"I think any question, any criticism, any opinion, you have to take it on the chin today," Arteta said.

"That's it. Any bullet, take it, because we didn't perform at the level that is required.

"So anything that anybody says can be right, because we didn't do what we had to do. And the way to do it is on the pitch on Sunday, in a great opportunity that we have."

Pressed on whether Arsenal had the character to get their title bid back on track, Arteta responded: "We've always done it, but you are as strong as to show it the next time you do it.

"To talk and say it here, it's simple. We have to do it on the pitch."

Frustrated: Mikel Arteta

Getty Images

Arsenal completed fewer passes than Wolves in the second half and registered just one shot on target.

They repeatedly gifted possession back to Wolves, leaving Arteta visibly furious on the touchline, and the dagger came in the fourth minute of stoppage time through Edozie.

It is now just two wins in seven league matches for Arsenal, who must swiftly recover ahead of their trip to north London rivals Tottenham on Sunday.

"We have to blame ourselves, I think, in the performance in the second half," Arteta said.

"We didn't show anything close to the standards that are required in this league to win, with a margin that I think should have existed today, especially in the manner that we played the first half.

We have to blame ourselves, I think, in the performance in the second half

Mikel Arteta

"So it's a moment of disappointment. We all want to talk a lot about how we're feeling. It's not the moment to do that, because anything that we do has to be always and only with the intention to help the team.

"And right now, I think we have to swallow that frustration. When you are at this level and at the top, you need to take the hits, because today we deserved them as well.

"It was one after the other, to be fair. It was a moment after another moment after another moment. So even though we scored the second goal, we never got a grip and dominance of the game."