Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says their 3-0 defeat to Liverpool felt like a "punch in the face".
Arteta watched on as his men were dismantled by a weakened Liverpool side at the Emirates, as the game quickly got away from the Gunners.
Now, having taken time to reflect on the match, Arteta admits the defeat has given his side a reality check following a period of form.
Arteta said, "I cannot criticise the hard work or the ethic of my players. I have never done it. Whether we are more efficient or not, whether we win enough duels or not. It's not about they don't want to run or they don't want to try.
"There are areas where we have limitations, there are areas where we're inconsistent but there are areas where we can do really, really well. My demands is just to be hitting those goals and to achieve our best level every single day. Whether it's in training or in a football game and in the last two days again, I've seen that.
"I didn't see anything different. That's why it was a big shock to the system, what happened against Liverpool. Because of the training that we showed since December but probably it's part of the journey. Sometimes a punch or a big slap in the face is a good thing to go back to reality."
