Shkodran Mustafi insists Arsenal players are at fault for the loss to Watford and must be better prepared mentally to face Chelsea.
Speaking on Arsenal’s mentality in the game against Watford, Mustafi said:
“It’s all about mentality, being there from the first minute and knowing the Premier League is a difficult competition and teams are going to go for the opportunity they have, which Watford did. They ran at us and defended well. We were not clever or concentrated enough to stop them.
“We were not there, they ran all over us, and we cannot be happy with that at home. We have to bounce back, it’s a big game against Chelsea, we will try to be there from the first minute to the last second.”
“It’s not the first game I have lost in my career, so I know how to handle it. Obviously I am disappointed, we are all, because we could have done better.
“But in the end, as I said, we have to move on. We have an opportunity to go out and make things right. All of my team-mates think the same.”
Arsenal did beat Chelsea 3-0 earlier in the season, a result that many believe ushered in the changes from Antonio Conte that turned Chelsea into the force they are in the league currently.
“It’s a completely different situation; it’s going to be a completely different game,” says Mustafi. “We have to be really focused from start to finish because they have a good side, they have been playing well and they have a plan and identity of how they want to play.”
“It’s going to be difficult but it’s an opportunity to make things right.” He added.
Arsenal’s loss to Watford was Mustafi’s first loss in an Arsenal shirt, and he will be hoping that Arsenal can come back from the disappointing loss to inflict some damage on Chelsea’s growing strength in the title race.
