Arsenal defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos says he is solely accountable for allowing Watford to come from two goals down to earn a draw.
The first-half double of pierre-Emerick Aubameyang appeared to have Arsenal on course for victory, only for Quique Sanchez Flores back into the Vicarage Road dugout to be welcomed by the Hornets by staging a comeback as the visitors’ defence crumbled.
The match ended 2-2 together with the side seeking to play out from the back of Unai Emery to Gerard Deulofeu because Papastathopoulos gifted possession – Tom Cleverley punishing by converting as a outcome, the Greece international.
Matters went from bad to worse if David Luiz tripped Roberto Pereyra within the box and the replacement converted the penalty.
Head trainer Emery refused to criticise his players, whilst captain Granit Xhaka claimed they were”scared” in the second half.
But Sokratis, signed from Borussia Dortmund last summer, explained:”I believe I price the match for the team. This was my fault for something simple that I don’t have to perform.
“I think that was the problem why we lose the 3 points. This is about our responsibility and we must do. It was today and my mistake with no mistake, we would take the three points.
“I don’t need to talk about others. It was my error and this price the match, Now. Nothing else. The men tried their best. I don’t have to perform this mistake.”
Watford had 31 shots on target throughout the game as they controlled with Sokratis admitting Arsenal weren’t up to scratch at the next 45 minutes.
“Of course. I apologised because today I cost the match for the team and I have to work harder,” he added.
“I know around this instant I did not possess a mistake, I didn’t do nothing. Everything was near to ideal. We didn’t have the pace in the second half as in the first halfof the
“But if we did not do these errors, I do not think we draw. Of course they had other opportunities to score more, but when we didn’t do these errors then nothing happens”
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