Mikel Arteta sends title race message after shock FA Cup exit

Mikel Arteta insisted there is no "panic" in the Arsenal camp despite losing consecutive matches for the first time this season.

The Gunners have had their silverware opportunities halved over the last couple of games, first falling to defeat in the Carabao Cup final and then crashing out of the FA Cup at the hands of Southampton .

Arsenal are in Portugal to face Sporting in the Champions League on Tuesday night and need a positive result to stop their season coming apart at the seams.

The pressure is ratcheting up, but Arteta is adamant he and his players will remain calm in their bid for Premier League and Champions League success.

"I think what you have to be is clear," the Spaniard said at his pre-match press conference.

"Instead of panic, understand if that happens, why it happened and bring clarity.

When you analyse that and you accept that, you'll be better.

"That's it, and that's the thing that we have to do."
Individual errors have become all too regular for Arsenal as their form has dipped.

Kepa Arrizabalaga gifted Manchester City the opening goal in the Carabao Cup final, while Ben White was at fault when Southampton took the lead on Saturday.

Arsenal FA Cup exit to affect Arteta's circle of trust
Arsenal handed triple injury boost as Arteta issues five-man update
Arsenal injury update: Gabriel, Saka, Rice, Timber latest return dates
Discover a hidden island paradise in the Indian Ocean
There has been a noticeable drop in Arsenal's defensive standards and Arteta called on his players to rediscover the "identity" that got them into such a strong position this season.

"Feel that pain, feel that emotion, and use it to be better and to improve," Arteta said.

"We were very clear in what happened, the reason why it happened.

But this is football and we get punished for things that are related to our identity and that's the thing that we need to defend in the strongest possible way because that's the reason why we are where we are today."
Pressed on what he meant by identity, Arteta said: "Everything.

"It's not philosophical.

There are parts and identities created by behaviours, not with words or with things that I want to achieve.

"We have so many facts in the areas that, in our opinion, make us the team and the club that we are."
Arsenal are attempting to reach consecutive Champions League semi-finals as they take on Sporting for a place in the last-four.

It will be a tough test for the Gunners, but Arteta is adamant his players will produce a convincing response to back-to-back defeats.

He declared: "There are a few things that we have discussed internally, and I'm very convinced that tomorrow we're going to see that."