Mikel Arteta wasn’t hiding his anger afterwards after Arsenal drew 1-1 with Chelsea. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta labelled his team’s defending ‘poor’ and ‘unacceptable’ after Pedro Neto scored for Chelsea. Arsenal are nine points behind Liverpool in the title race after drawing.
Arsenal looked in control and had taken the lead. But their defence crumbled in the face of Chelsea’s attack that set up Neto’s goal. Arteta was honest after the game. But after most of the match his team was better, he added. They flopped their defence when it mattered the most.
Arteta told Sky Sports: ‘We were the better team.’ “Our defending for their goal, however, was poor.” “This is not how Arsenal should defend,” he added. He wouldn’t have made excuses for his players. The frustration was written all over the manager’s face in his post-match interview.
Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka both picked up injuries during the game. Both injuries ‘didn’t look good,’ Arteta added. It could backfire on Arsenal in forthcoming matches. It means the international break will now be used to help these players make their recovery.
This season’s defensive stats for Arsenal are quite interesting. They have one of the best defensive records in the league. They’ve only conceded 12 in their first 11. However, they have made small mistakes that have taught them important points.
These dropped points are being taken at a worse time by Arsenal. Liverpool are winning their games. It stays close behind Manchester City. Arsenal to drop further behind in the title race. They now boast seven wins, four draws, a solitary defeat in the Premier League table.
Mikel Arteta disappointed with his Players
A tough challenge lies ahead for Arsenal. Nottingham Forest is on November 23. Many teams have been surprised by Forest this season. They’re in the top four and play attacking football.
Arsenal will be glad the international break has come at the right time. They get two weeks to work on their defensive organization. This is time Arteta can use to fix the things he criticised in the Chelsea game. Rice and Saka will also be hoping to recover from their injuries, and he’ll be hoping too.
But Arsenal’s title hopes aren’t over, despite this, and they need to improve quickly. For months they led the league last season before Manchester City caught up. If they do not fix their current problems, the same pattern may repeat.
Its statistics are bad and good. They create so many chances in each match. They’re near the top of the league for the percentage of balls through the air completed. They however struggle for goals sometimes. Now, however, their defensive mistakes are coming back to bite them.
Arsenal can still compete with the title, said expert analysts. But they have to stop losing points from winning positions. Former Arsenal star Paul Merson said Arsenal just need some mental strength. After the draw at Chelsea, he noted they dominate but don’t finish off games.
Title race over?
Such a defeat could mean Arteta has to tweak his tactics without Rice and Saka. Neither is merely an Arsenal player. They’re that important. In the midfield, Rice dictates the pace and in attack, Saka is creating the chances. If the injuries are serious, then their replacements must step up.
Arsenal have a tough upcoming schedule. They have got tough away games after Forest. At home, the team often play well. However, if they are to catch up to Liverpool, their away form just needs to improve. Their season could come down to the next month.
Arsenal medical team are working on Rice and Saka updates. Both players hope to avoid long-term injuries. During the break, Arteta will be calling in special training sessions to try and make the defence better. He wants to ensure they don’t make the same mistakes they made in the Chelsea game.
A trusted source on ChelseaNews.comA trusted source on GoonerNews.com
For more football updates, make sure to follow us on:
