Arsenal captain William Gallas has told his team-mates that complacency this season against teams such as Hull will leave them empty-handed again.
Gallas is desperate to lift some silverware to end Arsenal's trophy drought - they last won a cup in 2005 - but defeat to Phil Brown's Barclays Premier League newcomers was a setback in their title bid.
Hull were given little chance of getting a result at the Emirates Stadium, and Gallas hopes his players were not treating their opponents lightly.
"I don't think so and I hope not because if we think like this we will not go anywhere," said the France defender.
"The players were ready to play a strong game, we were not lucky and we have to work more and try to stay in the fourth position.
"It's very difficult to accept. We said all the time we wanted to win every game and we lost 2-1 to Hull City," he told Arsenal TV Online.
The champions in the last three seasons have lost five games during their successful campaigns, with Arsenal already losing two of their first six matches.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger could make changes for Tuesday's Champions League clash against Porto, with Mikael Silvestre fit for selection. Samir Nasri is getting closer to a return but may have to wait until next week's trip to Sunderland.
"I don't know if we can't afford to lose again. I believe that what is important now is to recover and prepare well for the next game on Tuesday," Wenger said.
"What we delivered against Hull was not good enough - we know that - so the important thing now is not how many games we can lose this season but preparing well for Tuesday night."
Wenger was once sick following a match in France, and after defeat to Hull he added: "There were certainly enough ingredients in the game today to make me physically sick again!"
Gallas, who lost Daniel Cousin at a corner for Hull's winner, had no complaints with the result.
Paul McShane's own goal had given Arsenal the lead before Geovanni's rocket levelled matters, then Cousin struck.
"They showed the character, they showed they can play football," Gallas said. "They were very strong and we were not strong enough, so we have to forget that game and think about the next game on Tuesday."
Hull were given little chance of getting a result at the Emirates Stadium, and Gallas hopes his players were not treating their opponents lightly.
"I don't think so and I hope not because if we think like this we will not go anywhere," said the France defender.
"The players were ready to play a strong game, we were not lucky and we have to work more and try to stay in the fourth position.
"It's very difficult to accept. We said all the time we wanted to win every game and we lost 2-1 to Hull City," he told Arsenal TV Online.
The champions in the last three seasons have lost five games during their successful campaigns, with Arsenal already losing two of their first six matches.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger could make changes for Tuesday's Champions League clash against Porto, with Mikael Silvestre fit for selection. Samir Nasri is getting closer to a return but may have to wait until next week's trip to Sunderland.
"I don't know if we can't afford to lose again. I believe that what is important now is to recover and prepare well for the next game on Tuesday," Wenger said.
"What we delivered against Hull was not good enough - we know that - so the important thing now is not how many games we can lose this season but preparing well for Tuesday night."
Wenger was once sick following a match in France, and after defeat to Hull he added: "There were certainly enough ingredients in the game today to make me physically sick again!"
Gallas, who lost Daniel Cousin at a corner for Hull's winner, had no complaints with the result.
Paul McShane's own goal had given Arsenal the lead before Geovanni's rocket levelled matters, then Cousin struck.
"They showed the character, they showed they can play football," Gallas said. "They were very strong and we were not strong enough, so we have to forget that game and think about the next game on Tuesday."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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