Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could not hide his frustration after his side missed a host of excellent chances and then lost 2-0 at home to Liverpool in the FA Cup on Sunday.

Scoring his become an issue for The Gunners in recent weeks and had they taken their chances, would have been out of sight by halftime against The Reds.

Instead they were made to pay and slipped to a third successive loss in all competitions.

“It is frustrating, but what can we do? I can’t tell them play bad, don’t shoot, and score an own goal,” Arteta said.

“I haven’t seen a team in the past six months that has generated what we have done against them. We haven’t capitalised. When my team plays with that courage and attitude against probably the best team in Europe right now what can I do but stick by them.”

Arsenal were not helped by the injury absence of striker Gabriel Jesus but he seemed to play down bringing in a forward during this transfer window.

Arteta said that the absent Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus had required a scan after some pain in his knee but hoped it was “nothing big”.

“One thing is what we need and another is what we can do. What we can do is stick behind those players,” he said.

Arsenal play next on January 20 when they host Crystal Palace in the Premier League.