Arsenal boss Arteta tells Leno: You're wrong | OneFootball

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta insists he's fully responsible for their form problems earlier this season.

Bernd Leno absolved Arteta of all blame when discussing Arsenal's problems back in December 2020, telling Sky Deutschland: "That [pressure on Arteta] is not an issue at all. The coach is least to blame for the fact that we are in this situation.

"If you look at the way we were running around on the pitch at times, then the players are the only ones to blame. I have to be honest about that.

"We're getting red cards, making mistakes, standing out of position. These are things that we have clearly addressed a thousand times. In the end, it's a lack of focus on the part of the players.

"The coach is not an issue in the dressing room, there is no criticism of him. We criticise ourselves and the players know that they are responsible."

Arteta disagreed with the German, saying the buck stops with him.

"I take full responsibility because at the end of the day I pick the players that have to be on the pitch and I have to able to try and transmit to them and get themselves in a state of mind that they can control themselves," said Arteta.

"Unfortunately in football everything can go so quick and emotions take a big part. But I want the players to play with that freedom and take the pressure off them in this moment because it is really needed. That, in my opinion, is when you get the best out of them."