Bellerin says Arsenal wasn't 'motivated' against Liverpool
It's all becoming a bit too comical now.
After tasting defeat Saturday at Liverpool in a crucial top-four battle where Arsenal's efforts appeared limp and decidedly second-best, Gunners full-back Hector Bellerin has claimed that his side weren't motivated or ready for the match.
A characteristically languid start was followed by an ever-typical deficit, as Roberto Firmino opened the scoring inside of ten minutes, as Arsenal continues to look flaccid in the opening stanzas regardless of opponent.
It was the fourth time in Arsenal's last six matches in all competitions that the north Londoners fell behind in the opening quarter hour, and it speaks to a lack of preparation and dire mental lapses.
Bellerin thinks he knows why.
"After the tough weeks we’ve had, the team should have gone onto the pitch, motivated and ready from the start," the speedy Spaniard told the club's official website.
"We’re very frustrated with how the game went."
That goes without saying, as once-realistic title ambitions transformed into an all-too-familiar top-four chase that has now morphed into a reality that could see the Gunners miss out on Champions League football for the first time since 1997-98.
"In the first half it didn’t feel like we were ready and then we went 2-0 down. We wanted to do everything. We got one goal back and had a chance to make it 2-2, but sometimes it’s too late. We just need to start the games better," Bellerin added.
The ever-growing Wenger Out camp will be pleased to hear that Bellerin chalks Arsenal's issues up to a lack of preparation.
"We need to realise that it’s just not the way to go. We need to push harder, to start the games with a better attitude and just go for it because we showed that when we go for it and want something, we can do it.
"It doesn’t matter about the other team, when we have the ball and push hard, we can score goals. It’s up to us to start the games with that desire, that motivation, and then we can get good results."
On the outside of the top-four on the heels of Saturday's 3-1 loss, there's no time like the present for Arsenal to right its rapidly sinking ship.