When the final whistle blew after Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Chelsea, Mikel Arteta bowed down in a disappointing mood. It was a sign of someone wanting more from their team.
Although The Gunners have shown determination, there is still something lacking at Stamford Bridge. Arteta has repeatedly called on players to know how to face difficulties, especially in the early stages of the season with many challenges, from red cards, injuries to key players to unlucky situations.
When things go wrong, listen to the cards and prove your determination. When everything goes well, everyone will say you are beautiful. However, when everything becomes dark and people ask questions, I want to see who will step up to prove it - Mikel Arteta shared.
Martin Odegaard is the clearest proof of Arteta's high spirit. After recovering from an ankle injury, the Arsenal captain played the full 90 minutes, a miracle for someone who had only just returned to training after 6 weeks out.
The assist for Gabriel Martinelli was just a moment that showed how much Arsenal missed Martin Odegaard in his absence. Before that, the Norwegian conductor himself stole the ball, collaborated with Thomas Partey and paved the way for Martinelli to score. He created the most chances in the match (4 times) and was the one who stole the ball the most in the opponent's half (3 times).
From the first minutes of the match, Odegaard urged his teammates like Partey and Saka to press effectively. Although Arsenal sometimes succeeded in pushing Chelsea back and putting pressure on Robert Sanchez's goal, they also repeatedly let their opponents easily counterattack. These situations showed that the coordination was not perfect when Odegaard tried to direct from the right wing but did not receive timely response from his teammates.
Arteta has repeatedly expressed his disappointment at seeing his players miss scoring opportunities. In particular, in the second half, the Spanish coach continuously showed emotions when the opportunities passed by. The Arsenal captain said that the team lacked the determination to make the most of the opportunities.
Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino both had chances to decide the match but were not taken advantage. Both of them did not have enough determination in the final situations to make a difference.
In addition, Mikel Arteta was not satisfied with Arsenal's defensive ability in the match at Stamford Bridge. He emphasized that his players need to focus on each action 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 opening goal, I was very disappointed with the way the whole team let the opponent score. That is absolutely not Arsenal's standard. The moment the team gives 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 match in which Arsenal have dropped points in the Premier League. They have dropped eight points from games they have led in just 11 games of the season. Odegaard's return could help Arsenal's style of play become more flexible, but the habit of losing points needs to be fixed immediately.
Back after the FIFA Days in November, Arsenal will face Nottingham Forest, who are currently fifth in the Premier League. The "Gunners" will have to continue to prove their mettle. This is also an opportunity for Arsenal to regain their form and restart the season.
