Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has come to the defence of his underperforming team.

The Gunners have crashed out of the Champions League in the quarter finals against Bayern Munich.

They are also adrift of Manchester City in the Premier League after losing to Aston Villa last weekend.

Asked about his team, Arteta stated: “I am fully behind them. Thank you so much for the journey, that we are together. Thank you so much for being in April and in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and being so close.

“Thank you so much for competing against the best team in the history of the rest of the Premier League, and the best team in the last eight years in this competition with Liverpool, and to be there with a chance to win it. So, thank you so much for everything that they have done because it is unbelievable."

He then added on their decline in performances: “Sometimes it's the opponent as well. The opponent's play very good and you have to congratulate them. Sometimes it will be my fault as well, not changing anything or making the right call.

“Sometimes the players don't have that spark. But what would have happened if we scored two, three or four goals in the first half against Aston Villa or two or three against Bayern like we did before. Who knows? In the end, the game-state is so important in football. You have to recognise that. You can't just isolate a moment to make an evaluation. It's too simplistic."