Sokratis Papastathopoulos aims dig at Manchester United and Chelsea

Arsenal defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos insists the Gunners’ lack of fire away from home is not a mental issue. Unai Emery’s side suffered their sixth defeat of the season on the road against Everton on Sunday. Phil Jagielka’s goal secured Everton’s third consecutive win and dented Arsenal’s hopes of Champions League qualification. Unai Emery’s side have the worst away record of any of the teams with top four ambitions as the loss was the Gunners’ sixth away from home in the Premier League. But Sokratis insists it is not a mental block. "It is very difficult. We are in the Premier League and the other teams are strong. "I don't have a reason. “Other teams are the same, some days good, some days bad. We have to improve and look towards the next game. "But I think we didn't have the same fight (as Everton) so we didn't win a lot of battles and we conceded a goal which was a little bit easy." The fight for a top-four place remains in their own hands but they will have to do without Sokratis for the away game at Watford and the visit of Crystal Palace as a 10th booking of the season. "Of course (it is frustrating). I like to play every game, to be there to help the team but it is not in my hands," he added. The Greek defender will now miss the Gunners' next two games against Watford and Crystal Palace as he received a two-match ban during Arsenal 1-0 defeat at Everton.

PAPER TALK: Yesterday’s most read news from Unai Emery’s response to Mesut Ozil’s behaviour from the stands to Manchester City star’s injury that could be a boost for Liverpool