Arteta wasn't best pleasedplaceholder image
Arteta wasn't best pleased | AFP via Getty Images
Mikel Arteta has provided a rather honest verdict on a big moment during Arsenal’s draw with Brentford.
Mikel Arteta has issued his verdict on a player who could have won the game for Arsenal on Thursday night. The Gunners had to be content with a 1-1 draw at Brentford, with Keane Lewis-Potter equalising after Noni Madueke had scored the opener for Arsenal.
The result means Arsenal are now four points ahead of Manchester City rather than the six they started this round of fixtures with, and Manchester City feel as thought hey care closing in.
It could have been different, and Gabriel Martinelli had a big chance to win the game in stoppage time after he was rolled in on goal by Gabriel Jesus. But Caoimhin Kelleher did well to sprint out to Martinelli’s feet and make the block, denying the Brazilian.
Like many, that could be a big moment in the title race when all is said and done, and Arteta knows it, providing a brutally honest verdict on the chance. “You have to. It's football, and the keeper, as well, can make the decision and the action that he did,” said the Arsenal boss. “But if you want to win here, you're going to have to be really ruthless in both boxes, and today we lacked that.”
Arsenal won’t be panicking yet by any means, with Manchester City still at arms’ length, and the Gunners now have an FA Cup clash with Wigan Athletic to distract them, while the fixture will also provide an opportunity for Arteta to rest key players.
Then comes a very winnable game with Wolves ahead of the North London derby and a tough clash with Chelsea. Though, fans are already look ahead to the clash with Manchester City on April 18, by which time Arsenal will hope to remain at least four points ahead of City.
Arteta on the draw
Speaking after the game, Arteta said: “Well, I think the game had different moments. The first 10-15 minutes we lacked certain composure to dominate the game better. I think after that we started to play much more in our way and started to play in their half and generated some good situations without really having clear-cut chances.
“The second half, the way we started, we really looked to threat. The way we combined, the way we threat constantly their backline and the goalkeeper, it was much better. Again, without really hitting the target enough times or finishing enough actions, and then we scored the goal and the game was under total control.
“But against them, that's not enough, because they just need somebody making a foul that is unnecessary. A ball in the channel, they push you. The clearance is not good, ball goes for a throw-in. Then you have to pray, because they are exceptional at what they do. The chaos that is in and around that ball is very, very difficult to defend, and we said, you want to win here, you're going to have to defend the box with your life, and you're going to have to clear the ball, because there's a lot of people there, and if you don't do that, it's very difficult for you to win the game.
“We haven't done it in one of the actions. Credit to them as well for that, and then the game became more open, more transitional. They had one of the big chances and the clearance of Declan [Rice] just at the end, and we have two very good counters and probably the biggest chance of the game when Martinelli is 1v1 with the keeper to win it.”
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