As the final whistle blew after Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Chelsea, Mikel Arteta looked down on the pitch in frustration. It was the sign of a man who wanted more from his team.
Despite the Gunners’ determination, there is still something lacking at Stamford Bridge. Arteta has repeatedly urged his players to learn how to face difficulties, especially in the early stages of the season with many challenges, from red cards, injuries to key players to unfortunate situations.
“When things go wrong, show your teeth and show your determination. When things are going well, everyone will say you are beautiful. But when things are dark and people are questioning, I want to see who will step up to the plate,” said Mikel Arteta.
Martin Odegaard was the perfect example of Arteta's high morale. After recovering from an ankle injury, the Arsenal captain played the full 90 minutes, a feat for someone who had only just returned to training after six weeks on the sidelines.
The assist for Gabriel Martinelli was just one moment that showed how much Martin Odegaard was missed by Arsenal in his absence. Earlier, the Norwegian had stolen the ball, combined with Thomas Partey and set up Martinelli for his goal. He created more chances than any other player in the game (4) and was the player who stole the ball in the opposition half more times (3).
From the very beginning of the match, Odegaard urged his teammates like Partey and Saka to press effectively. Although Arsenal were successful in pushing Chelsea back and putting pressure on Robert Sanchez’s goal at times, they also allowed their opponents to counter-attack easily. These situations showed that the coordination was not perfect when Odegaard tried to direct from the right wing but did not receive a timely response from his teammates.
Arteta repeatedly expressed his disappointment when seeing his players miss scoring opportunities. In particular, in the second half, the Spanish coach continuously showed his emotions when opportunities passed by. The Arsenal captain believes that the team lacks the determination to make the most of opportunities.
Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino both had chances to decide the game but failed to capitalise. Neither was decisive enough in the final moments to make the difference.
Mikel Arteta was also unhappy with Arsenal's defensive performance at Stamford Bridge, stressing the need for his players to focus on their actions when talking about the goals they have conceded recently. This was repeated against Chelsea when no one was able to stop Pedro Neto from unleashing a dangerous shot.
“After scoring the first goal, I was disappointed with the way we let the opponent score. That is not Arsenal’s standard at all. The moment we give any opponent player space and time, they will take advantage and punish them,” Arteta shared.
The draw in the London derby marked the fourth consecutive game in which Arsenal have dropped points in the Premier League. They have now dropped eight points from games they were leading in just 11 games of the season. Odegaard's return may add more flexibility to Arsenal's style of play, but the habit of dropping points needs to be addressed immediately.
Arsenal will return from FIFA Days in November to face Nottingham Forest, who are currently fifth in the Premier League. The Gunners will have to prove their mettle again. This is also an opportunity for Arsenal to regain their form and restart the season.
