It is a sad day — Arsenal manager Arteta laments after title collapse

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has taken responsibility for his side’s collapse in the Premier League title race.

Arteta said this after watching his Gunners fall to another defeat in the league on Saturday evening at Nottingham.

The Gunners lost for the second game in a row following a narrow 1-0 defeat to the relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi scored the decisive goal, his fifth goal in three matches to end the title race as Manchester City were crowned champions without kicking a ball.

Arsenal were favourites to lift their first Premier League title since 2004 after topping the table for 248 days.

However, picking just nine points from a possible 24 in their last eight matches saw the Gunners hand initiative to defending champions City, who have now secured their third title in a row.

Following the latest defeat to Awoniyi-inspired Forest, the Spaniard has taken responsibility for what he has described as a sad day for the Gunners.

“First of all, congratulations to Manchester City for winning the championship,” Arteta told the Premier League.

“Now we have to face reality, today we gave a goal away and were not good enough to break them down.”

“We could play for three hours and would not have done it. It is my responsibility and I take it,” he added.

“When it is beautiful, great, when it isn’t, that is sport. The number of goals we have given to the opponents recently has cost us but we can’t put the guilt on someone.”