Arsenal players 'frustrated and disappointed' ahead of FA Cup trip to Portsmouth

Mikel Arteta admits his Arsenal players have been left ‘frustrated and disappointed’ by their Europa League exit at the hands of Olympiacos as they now prepare to face Pompey in the FA Cup on Monday.
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The Gunners lost 2-1 after extra-time at the Emirates on Thursday night, crashing out of the competition on away goals.

It was a last-gasp strike from Youssef El Arabi which sent Arteta's side out at the round of 32 stage.

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And the Spaniard is now attempting to lift his squad before the trip to Fratton Park.

Arteta said: ‘We trained today, we were all very down, frustrated and disappointed.

‘The first message to them (the players) was that I am right behind them.

‘I said “thank you for the attitude” – they tried, tried and tried again and deserved to win.

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‘We can fall and we can have disappointments but it is how we react individually and collectively.’

Pompey warmed up for the visit of Arsenal in the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 3-0 home triumph against Rochdale.

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