Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino delivered a pointed assessment of his team's performance after a nervy Carabao Cup semi-final victory over Crystal Palace on Tuesday night, hinting at frustration over a costly late error.
Late Lapse Forces Penalty Shootout
The Gunners seemed destined for a straightforward 1-0 win in regulation time during the clash at Selhurst Park. However, deep into injury time, defender William Saliba conceded a needless free-kick in a dangerous area. From the resulting set-piece, Adam Wharton's delivery was met by Jefferson Lerma, whose header allowed Marc Guehi to poke home a dramatic 91st-minute equaliser for the Eagles.
This forced the tie into a penalty shootout, where Arsenal's goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga emerged as the hero, saving the decisive spot-kick to send Mikel Arteta's side through to the next round.
Merino Calls for Composure and Maturity
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Merino did not name names but his target was clear. He stressed the team must learn from the mistake and show greater game management. "More complicated than it should be," Merino said of the win. "To be fair at the end of the game we cannot concede that free kick or throw ins. We have to be a much more composed and mature team."
He praised Kepa's contribution and the collective spirit, but the focus remained on the avoidable nature of Palace's goal. "This is the highest level and if you keep missing chances, they will have their chance," he added, referencing Arsenal's failure to kill the game earlier.
Wright Labels Saliba Foul 'Terrible'
Arsenal legend and pundit Ian Wright echoed Merino's sentiments in his post-match analysis. He was blunt in his criticism of Saliba's decision-making for the crucial foul. "The foul for William Saliba is a poor foul to give away. For a player of his experience, it's a terrible foul to give away," Wright stated.
He emphasised that Arsenal must develop a more ruthless edge to see out games comfortably. "It's something that they are going to have to really focus on for the rest of the season, being ruthless enough to finish these games," Wright concluded.
Despite the scare, Arsenal progressed to the Carabao Cup semi-finals, but the message from within the camp is clear: such lapses in concentration at critical moments cannot become a habit if they are to challenge for silverware this season.
