Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been slammed for one of the comments he made following his side’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. The Gunners were unable to make their numerical advantage count after Moises Caicedo was sent off early in the match, and while their unbeaten run now stretches to 17 games, taking only a point feels like a missed opportunity.
The biggest permutation from the result is that Chelsea remain firmly in the title race, maintaining their six-point reach of Arteta’s side, while Manchester City cut their own deficit by a point and now sit just five points off the top of the Premier League. The busy winter period has often been the downfall of previous Arsenal sides, and anything could happen in the coming weeks.
Indeed, the visitors all wore disappointed expressions as they made their way over to the travelling supporters to thank them for their backing. It’s the first time this season that the team’s past mentality issues can be questioned again, and while rival fans initially had little ground to use that old criticism against them, Arteta’s “salty” comments have quickly reminded everyone of the self-inflicted problems the Gunners sometimes create for themselves.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
Premier League - Arsenal v Crystal Palace - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - October 26, 2025 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts REUTERS/David Klein
The Spaniard said he was “disappointed but proud” of his side’s display at Stamford Bridge, but has since been criticised for his take on why things didn’t go his way in the end. As per Kieran Gill of the Daily Mail (see his post below), he told reporters:
"We have played every two-and-a-half days. Today we had one less day than Chelsea. But that’s the schedule."
Needless to say, of course, rival supporters have been quick to hang on Arteta's every word and launch a scathing critique of him, with one X user remarking: "Always crying. He could've been such a likeable coach, but decided to be a crybaby." Another added: "This is such an excuse. You can't blame the schedule when you dropped points to 10-man Chelsea."
Meanwhile, a third wrote: "Arteta the 'excuse man' strikes again. I am not surprised," another continued: "It’s not even January yet he’s already dropping excuses," and a fifth bravely concluded: "He will go trophy-less again with this mentality."
Arsenal's Forgotten Mentality Issues Reappear
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Unnecessary red cards, over-celebrating equalisers, late collapses, and the general feeling that everything they did was for the cameras and social media - the Arsenal of the last three or four seasons has often shown the promise of a title-winning team but ultimately crumbled under the weight of expectation, failing to prove they have the mentality to get over the line.
Six yellow cards and the inability to win despite having a numerical advantage and a huge opportunity against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon is a reminder of those previous flaws. These are the games that win you league titles - something the Gunners haven’t achieved since the 2003/04 campaign.
Bukayo Saka and Mikel Arteta
Bukayo Saka and Mikel Arteta
That said, there have been far fewer slip-ups this season, and having not lost in any competition since their unlucky 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at the end of August, they remain the runaway favourites for the title.
A lot of patience has been required for the Arteta project, but one major honour could spark a domino effect in creating a dynasty, just as it has for other clubs in the past. Keeping a lid on emotions after Sunday's stalemate is the next vital step on their way to a golden generation.