William Gallas has told his Arsenal team-mates to
regroup and learn from their mistakes in the 5-1 defeat to
Tottenham.
The Gunners' dreams of making it through to the Carling Cup final
disappeared as they were thumped by their North London
rivals.
Gallas admits there could be few complaints about the outcome but
was upset by the way Arsenal failed to cope with the pressure of
trying to come from behind.
He has also played down any suggestion that Arsenal may have been
overconfident against a side they had not lost to since November
1999.
"It is difficult to accept this defeat and 5-1 is too much," Gallas
told the club's official website.
"All the players are very disappointed and sad. I think Tottenham
were better than us and we have to accept that.
"During the warm-up I said to the players it would be difficult
because they have not beaten us and I said we have to be
careful.
"We started the game well but we then conceded the goal and then
everything was not good for us.
Nervous
"Sometimes it is difficult and it is not easy for some players to
be calm. We were too nervous. We have to learn from that."
Gallas does not believe the defeat will derail Arsenal's challenge
for other trophies, and he expects the right response from his team
in the FA Cup clash with Newcastle on Saturday.
He urged: "Now we just have to be strong and forget everything
because, on Saturday, we have another big game which will not be
easy
"Newcastle have a new manager and they want a result at the
Emirates.
"We have to win that game because we have ambition. But the fans
are upset and we are upset. All the club are upset and we have to
accept it."