Arteta: We deserved to lose the game against Liverpool.

Arsenal boss Arteta takes responsibility for Liverpool defeat. [Getty]

A Diogo Jota double and a Mohamed Salah close-range finish saw Arsenal lose 3-0 to Liverpool.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said his side's performance in their 3-0 loss to Liverpool was not acceptable but has taken responsibility for the result.

The Premier League champions thrashed the Gunners, thanks to Diogo Jota’s double and a Mohamed Salah strike.

Following the match at the Emirates, Arteta admitted that he was "in shock" after watching how his team, sitting ninth in the league, played on Saturday night.

He told BBC’s MOTD: "They were better in every department. I take the blame, it's my responsibility. They were the best team by far. They won by three goals and it could have been more.

"They won every duel, every second ball, every challenge. To be fair I'm in shock. I didn't expect that one coming. It's my job to make things better. Today we hit a really low level. It was not acceptable.

"For sure we cannot hit that level again. When you represent this club you have to stand up and take the challenge."

While speaking to Sky Sports, the Spaniard said: "We completely deserved to lose the game. They were better in every department and deserved to win the game with the margin they had, or even more. I accept responsibility for the way we played today.

"They made the right decisions, we didn't. It is my fault. I have to set the team up to perfom in a different way and that is it. Congratulations to Liverpool because they were exceptional today. That showed the difference between the two teams - that when they play at that level, the margin is incredibly high.

"I don't have to use any excuses - that we don't have five or six players - the standards are much higher at this football club and I have to get them to perform at that level. It was technical as well. We gave every ball away and could not put three passes together. The basics weren't there today. If you do that against this kind of opponent, you get punished like we have.

"At the moment I am in shock. I didn't expect that because of the way the team trained. It is a challenge. A challenge brings an opportunity. If you have courage and you represent a club like this, you have to stand up and take it."

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