Arsene Wenger hit out at his side as Arsenal fell to a 2-0 defeat to Southampton, insisting that the loss was "self-inflicted" and that errors handed Saints the advantage in the race for the top four.
Wojciech Szczesny's two goalkeeping howlers gifted Saints the win as the Polish international raced out of his area to hand Sadio Mane the chance to chip home, before a weak clearance led to Dusan Tadic's tap-in.
Wenger kept sullen countenance on the touchline as Arsenal failed to fire, enduring Saints fans' taunts the Frenchman would be "sacked in the morning," but said his side should have done better after the game.
"[It was a] self-inflicted defeat -- we made mistakes which allowed them to win the game," he said. "We had the lapses of focus in a vital area, where you pay.
"A game that was winnable, we lost, that is my main concern today rather than the fourth place."
Wenger refused to criticise Szczesny however, nodding when asked if the Poland goalkeeper is already under enough pressure.
"I don't want to talk about that,'' said Wenger of Szczesny's errors. "I don't want to make too much a case of it today, it's unfortunate but it was a misunderstanding with [Laurent] Koscielny at the start.
"And after he should have stayed on Mane and not let him take the ball and run away from him.
"Every time we look like we can get on a run we have a hiccup. And we have to learn from that very quickly, because we will need that.
The Frenchman felt Florin Gardos should have been sent off for his challenge on Alexis Sanchez that brought a yellow card instead.
"It was definitely a red card,'' said Wenger. "It was one against one with the keeper.''
Wenger also confirmed that goalkeeper David Ospina was rested from the 18-man squad in preparation for the weekend's FA Cup game with Hull.
"Ospina will play on Sunday," he said.
Information from the Press Association was used in this report.