Since becoming manager in 2019, Arteta has repeatedly stressed the importance of strength, intensity and winning individual battles.
However, Arsenal struggled across the entire pitch against Brighton and were beaten in contests they would normally expect to dominate.
Arteta expressed deep frustration with a performance that fell well short of his basic standards. His team looked uncertain at the back, failed to control midfield and offered too little creativity in attack.
When asked about the disappointing display, the Spanish coach acknowledged that Brighton performed impressively and showed greater sharpness at important moments.
He noted that many evenly contested situations ended with Brighton gaining possession.
Arteta also admitted that several technical mistakes left Arsenal exposed in dangerous areas, describing the experience as an important opportunity to improve.
Despite the defeat, he was keen to emphasize during his post-match press conference that the team had still made an encouraging start to the season.
Arsenal had 15 players involved in the World Cup, meaning a significant portion of the squad returned for pre-season later than their teammates.
Arteta insisted that one poor result should not diminish the team’s achievements during the six or seven weeks following the World Cup.
He praised the squad’s performances, competitive spirit and impressive number of victories, while underlining that the defeat offered everyone a valuable reminder of what is required to succeed at the highest level.
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