Mikel Arteta has said that Arsenal were ‘slapped’ after their defeat to Brighton but that they have to get back up again.

It might seem hyperbolic to say that Arsenal’s season rests on their game against Southampton this Saturday, but with defeat in their last two games and Chelsea, Manchester United and West Ham as the next three opponents, failure to collect all three points at St. Mary’s would be a disaster for Arsenal’s top four ambitions.

Speaking to the media before the weekend’s gam, Arteta was asked what he had to do to lift his side back up ahead of the game.

“What happens is, we criticise ourselves a lot, get slapped again, because we were really poor in the first half on Saturday, and then we lift ourselves back up,” Arteta said.

“We have everything to play for in the last eight games. We have to have that level of energy and visualising the challenge, the beautiful challenge that we have ahead, and not sit back.”

Arsenal are currently in fifth place, three points behind Spurs with a game in hand. Their goal difference, however, is much worse at +9 v +19.

Arsenal really could do with spanking Southampton like Chelsea did last week but, at this point, I think fans would be happy with just securing the points any way they can.