India, April 6 -- Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged his team is going through its first tough period of the season after being stunned by second-tier Southampton in the FA Cup quarterfinals, two weeks after losing in the final of the English League Cup.

A shocking 2-1 loss at St. Mary's stadium left Arsenal with just the Premier League and Champions League as trophy targets.

A knee injury to Gabriel Magalhaes, which forced off the Brazil centre back in the second half, added more misery for Arteta, who suggested there were players who took the field against Southampton despite having fitness problems of their own.

What Arteta wasn't prepared to do was criticize his squad. "I love my players and what they've done for nine months...