Mikel Arteta has slammed his Arsenal side for 'not being good enough' defensively in their 3-2 triumph over Watford at Vicarage Road on Sunday.
Martin Odegaard answered his manager's pleas to add goals to his game by netting the opener after five minutes, before Watford hit back through Cucho Hernandez's acrobatic effort.
The Gunners then restored their advantage thanks to a superb strike from Bukayo Saka before Gabriel Martinelli added a third after Arteta's crafty intervention.
The Hornets proved to have sting in their tail however, as Moussa Sissoko set up a tense finale, pouncing on Ben White's defensive lapse to slot home.
While the win marked a fourth successive Premier League triumph and saw Arteta's side further strengthen their grip on a top four finish, the Spaniard was quick to condemn his team for their defensive blunders.
"We have to be very honest with ourselves and our defensive structure was not good enough today," Arteta admitted after the match.
"We allowed some chances and it is something we will work on."
Though the Gunners' manager fired a ruthless warning to his players, he did pile praise on his side, insisting they are going from strength to strength.
"We are getting better and better," Arteta added.
"The understanding between the players is getting better and we should have scored more today."
"I see how willing they [the players] are every day to train and improve.
"I think they are enjoying playing together and when some days, it is not your best day, you somehow manage to win and that is important.
Have Your Say! Will Arsenal finish in the Premier League's top four this season? Join the debate here.
"We are there [in the top four] now and we'll go game by game. Every game is a rollercoaster, we have three big games coming up in a week."
The precious three points move Arsenal into fourth place and an all-important Champions League qualification spot.
The Gunners welcome Leicester to the Emirates next Sunday before Liverpool pay a midweek visit to North London - one of Arsenal's three games in hand over their closest top four rivals, Manchester United.
Arteta's side then travel to Aston Villa the following Saturday to round off their run of three Premier League games in the space of seven days.
While the Spaniard lauded his ever-improving players following their latest success, he too deserves credit for the role he played in one of the Gunners' three goals.
After the ball rolled out of play near to the away dugout, Arteta left his technical area and swiftly launched it back to Saka, whose quick throw sparked the counter for Arsenal's crucial third.
"I saw the ball there and saw an opportunity to take an advantage," Arteta admitted.
"I don't know if I should have done it but that is the way I live the game and I couldn't help myself."
