The Socceroos needed to beat Japan in Sydney on Thursday and then win towards Saudi Arabia next week to seal their region in Qatar.
But after preserving the rampant Japanese goalless for 89 minutes, a brace from substitute Kaoru Mitoma taken aback the home aspect, who now face a play-off against either UAE, Iraq or Lebanon.
If they get via that, they then meet a team from South America for the right to play at the World Cup later this 12 months.
"It's been a difficult two years however a few people don't want to pay attention that," stated Arnold, whose aspect have been pressured to play maximum of their games far from home because of Covid tour restrictions.
"It's always hard (via the playoffs) to qualify for the World Cup. At the quit of the day, we've got got to sweep ourselves off," he stated following Thursday's 2-zero defeat.
"We've were given the 1/3-placed spot and you've were given to be nice approximately that. We did that in 2018 (and qualified for the World Cup) and we've got simply were given to transport forward."
Australia made a stong start to the Asian qualifying campaign, but after dropping to Japan away in October, three attracts derailed their development.
While Arnold has often been hampered by means of an understrength squad, the fifty eight-year-old's processes and style of play have come beneath criticism.Â
On Thursday he left in-shape striker Jamie Maclaren at the bench till the 84th minute, while Mitchell Duke, who had not scored in nine games for his 2d department Japanese group, played however not often threatened.
Arnold breaching quarantine after trying out wonderful for coronavirus remaining week didn't help his cause and The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Friday that he will be axed after their useless-rubber clash against the Saudis in Jeddah subsequent Tuesday.
