Of course, we are not used to injury-time goals going against us, so it is frustrating and annoying, but on the other hand, we can still reflect that we are top of the league. Even if Manc win their match at 4.30pm against Liverpool, we will still be four points clear and quite possibly with a better goal difference. If Liverpool win we will be five points clear and certainly have a better goal difference than our nearest rivals.
So, as the disappointment of a draw conceded at the very end fades, the reality of the league table takes over, and it is something which at the start of the season I would have settled on, if offered it after 11 games. And besides, it is much better than one year ago and come to that, a bit better than two years ago.
Added to which, Arteta’s reaction that, “It’s disappointment and frustration, because we wanted the three points. We had to navigate through a tough game. We knew that,” was, I felt, just right.
And I do think that is good as we are not getting excuses – we are offered clear improvements for the future, as with the statement,“You have to rely on defending the box when they start to commit six, seven players there. It can be from a direct play, it can be from a throw, or it can be from any situation. We can defend the action better. And today we haven’t done it, we have conceded a goal.”
That is a good reaction, but I do think we should not lose sight of where we have got to. As another recent headline said,“12 shots in 12 hours: as Raya equalled Arsenal’s 122 year old record of not conceding. OK they now have to start again in that regard, but given the determination of this team, and the fact that results have been achieved with so many players injured, we can hope for further developments when they return after the forthcoming wholly unnecessary break in the action.
Of course, there is also a downside as we could well lose more players during international matches – one can only hope that some of them learn the lesson and decide not to play for their countries.