Arteta: Arsenal concede a lot of easy goals

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has called on his side to improve their defence after they had to fight for a 2-2 draw with Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie yesterday. Arteta was unhappy with conceding two goals easily for the second game in a row following the epic 3-2 win over Bournemouth in the Premier League last week.

Arteta told reporters: "We concede a lot of easy goals, today we didn't defend hard enough and we have to improve against our rivals." The Premier League leaders benefited from a reverse goal to snatch the equaliser in the 62nd minute, and Arteta justified the decline in attacking threats as well by the absence of key players such as Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian striker has not fully recovered after suffering a knee injury during the World Cup in Qatar last December.

"There were some positive points because we held together to adjust the result, but we need to defend better inside the box and this must happen in the second leg to get past them," the Spaniard said. The second leg will be played at Emirates Stadium on 16 March. Arsenal, who are five points ahead of second-placed Manchester City, visit Fulham in the domestic league the day after tomorrow.