Furious Mikel Arteta says he was ‘killing himself’ watching Arsenal’s first-half display against champions Liverpool

Mikel Arteta says he was ‘killing himself’ watching Arsenal’s limp first-half performance at Anfield and insisted they must be better to clinch the title from Liverpool next year.

The Gunners could not handle the champions in the opening stages and fell behind to two goals in as many minutes — but fought back after the break to claim a valuable point despite Mikel Merino’s red card, their sixth of the season.

But Arteta said: ‘We had a reaction but I hate reaction, I like action. Especially if we want to be there winning trophies, there is going to be a moment where you win it or you don’t.

‘If you don’t, you have to play another one when you have been working for nine months. That is here, today. If you cannot win it, you have to be the best of the rest. I was really, really upset.

‘When I see that reaction and it’s there and you need certain more fire, that’s on me and that’s my responsibility. What I saw in the first 25 minutes or 30 minutes, phoar, I was killing myself. Sorry for the words that I use.’

The Spaniard added: ‘They won the title, I think they fully deserved to win it. They have been so consistent and that’s it. We are going to have to be better, smarter, be with the right ability. For sure, don’t play six times in the season with 10 men – because if that happens, we won’t win it next season, for sure. And (we need to) learn, a lot of learning.’

The Gunners conceded two goals in as many minutes, but fought back to draw 2-2 at Anfield

Arteta was without injured Declan Rice and said the England midfielder is unlikely to be back for next week’s home clash with Newcastle.