Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla accepts AS Monaco criticism and plots Everton revenge

Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla feels that the Gunners were right to be criticised after their disappointing loss against Monaco in the Champions League.

Arsene Wenger's team were beaten 1-3 at the Emirates Stadium by the Ligue 1 outfit, a game which everyone expected the north London side to win.

Arsenal are on the verge of being knocked out of the last-16 of the Champions League for the fourth season in a row.

However, the former Malaga midfielder believes that Arsenal can bounce back from the midweek disappointment with a strong performance against Everton in the Premier League on Sunday.

"It has been pretty tough after the loss against ­Monaco. We were really enthusiastic about the draw but we made mistakes that we cannot make," Cazorla said, as quoted by the Mirror.

"The good thing about football is that we always have the chance for revenge really quickly."

"We deserved the criticism for what happened with Monaco but we have the opportunity to take revenge against Everton."

Cazorla is now focusing on Arsenal's race for a place in the top-four, which will ensure Champion's League qualification for the Gunners next season.

However, they face a tough battle ahead with five teams challenging for two places. Even though Wenger's men sit in fourth place at the moment, six points separate the clubs from third place to seventh place.

"Qualification for the Champions League still depends on us, so not everything is negative," the Spanish international remarked.

"It's going to be a tough game against Everton but it's a good opportunity to change the ­dynamics a little and focus on the table.

"It's a very important game because we are fighting to qualify for Champions League football," Cazorla concluded.