The Arsenal boss' hopes of participating in Europe with the Premier League title are over after they were quietly knocked out of the Europa League by Sporting Cp through penalty Shhot-outs.
Mikel Arteta is frustrated with Arsenal's slow performance after they were kicked out of the Europa League by Sporting.
After a 2-2 draw in Lisbon, the last 16 remained level after 90 and then 120 minutes in north London, with Granit Xhaka's first-half goal canceled out by Pedro Goncalves' stunning strike from close to the halfway line, which flew over Harun Ramsdale.
A penalty shoot-out ensued with Gabriel Martinelli the only player to miss a penalty as the Gunners were beaten 5-3 and their European season ended.
Arteta has repeatedly insisted he will not focus solely on the Premier League and that his team can redeem the Europa League and title challenge, but that is no longer an issue he needs to deal with.
"Obviously a big hit," Arteta told BT Sport.
There were moments, especially in the first 75 minutes, when we weren't at our level. We gave every ball away and didn't have the capacity to dominate play and take the game where we wanted to go.
"Then we had chances in the last 15 minutes and chances in extra time to win and there was a lot of uncertainty in penalties."
Tahekiro Tomiyasu and William Rompia both had to be substituted through injury within 20 minutes at the Emirates and the Gunners must now hope for no major problems as focus returns to the Premier League.
Arsenal welcomes Crystal Palace in their final game before the international break on Sunday and with Manchester City out of the way have the chance to go into April eight points clear. Everything depends on Mikel Arteta's lineup that he will pull out for that game because Crystal Palace won't come as a joke for Arsenal
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