Arsenal dropped points again in the Premier League title race, grinding out a goalless draw at Molineux against last-placed Wolves on Thursday night. The stalemate hands Manchester City a chance to close the gap when they host Newcastle on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta did not hold back in his assessment of the performance. “Incredibly disappointed,” the Arsenal manager said. “We need to accept it. We need to be critical of ourselves because it was not good enough.”

The Gunners dominated stretches but failed to convert chances, especially after halftime. Arteta pinpointed basics as the issue. “Very tough to accept it,” he told reporters. “In the second half we did not perform in the way we should and the way we require to win a Premier League match.”

He added that poor execution on fundamentals eroded control. “Certain basics we have to do, we did them so poorly one after the other. And then you have no dominance, no control in the game.” A late chance went begging, sealing the frustration.

Arsenal sit top with 58 points. City trail on 53 but hold games in hand. The leaders once enjoyed an eight-point cushion over Pep Guardiola’s side. Recent draws against Porto in the Champions League, Bayern Munich, Aston Villa, and now Wolves have chipped away at that buffer.

Arteta acknowledged the emotional toll. The 43-year-old Spaniard cautioned against rash reactions. “It is better not to judge it. We are all too emotional about it,” he said. “You have to take the hit because we deserve it. It is very easy with emotion to say things that can damage the team.”

Everyone at the club remains committed, he stressed. “Everyone wants to do their best.” Tough spells test resolve. “You have to go through tough periods,” Arteta noted. “Today at the last minute, we paid the price. We have to do basic things much better than we have done.”

Looking ahead, he urged defiance. Arsenal face Brighton next on Saturday. City play Newcastle first, then travel to Arsenal on March 31. “By staying very close to them and reminding them how good they are,” Arteta said of his squad. “You have to stand up. When you have a moment of difficulty, we have to show how much we want it and how good we are.”

The inconsistency stings. Arteta admitted as much. “In the league, it is the reality that we have not been consistent over the last few months.” Arsenal won 11 straight league games from November to February. Draws since then total four in six outings.

Wolves, mired at the bottom with 18 points, earned a vital point. Manager Gary O’Neil praised his side’s resilience after the match. Arsenal’s slip keeps the title race alive. City won 10 of their last 11 across all competitions. Guardiola’s team beat Luton 4-2 on Tuesday despite a late fightback.

Arteta’s men return to London with questions. Can they rediscover ruthlessness? The run-in includes Manchester City, Tottenham, and Liverpool. Title glory demands perfection now.