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Arsenal's players, not the manager or system, are to blame for heavy Wolves defeat, insists Sokratis
Sokratis Papastathopoulos has said Arsenal's players must shoulder the blame for the dismal 3-1 defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers that severely damaged their hopes of finishing in the top four.
The Arsenal defender said the defeat had nothing to do with Unai Emery’s team selection or the formation at Molineux, where they conceded three first-half goals against a rampant Wolves.
Sokratis said Arsenal must now win their final three games of the season - against Leicester City, Brighton and Burnley - if they are to reach the Premier League’s top four.
Wolves were dangerous throughout the game on the counter-attack and Arsenal are likely to face a similar threat against Leicester this weekend.
“It is another difficult game,” said Sokratis. “We know that another chance has gone so we have to take the points.
“If we face [Leicester] like this, we will lose. It is clear. It is not the problem of the coach, the system, it is nothing. It is just us. We have to win the next three games and it is finished.
“All the players take responsibility. We are not stupid. We know that we did not play good. We have to win all the games and be there.
“It is not time to have excuses. We have to look forward: three games more. We need to win all the games and get nine points and we will see if we can be in the top four. I trust 100 per cent in my team and the players and I think we can do it.”
Arsenal’s back-to-back defeats by Crystal Palace and Wolves have come just when it appeared that they had solved their defensive issues.
Emery’s side had conceded only once in seven games prior to Sunday’s meeting with Crystal Palace, but have now shipped six goals in the space of just two matches in four days.
The loss to Wolves means that Arsenal are reliant on Chelsea or Tottenham dropping points in the final three games. Chelsea’s trip to Old Trafford or Sunday could therefore prove to be a crucial moment in Emery’s first season in England.
Winning the Europa League could now be their best chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. Arsenal face Valencia, Emery’s former club, in the first leg of the semi-final next week.
Asked if their progress in Europe takes the pressure off Arsenal in the Premier League, Sokratis said: “Yes, but for us we have to be in the best four teams in the Premier League and then after to win also the Europa League.
“We cannot wait only for our one chance. We have two chances and we have to fight for both.”