Arsenal weren’t distracted in Brentford draw: Mikel Arteta

LONDON – Mikel Arteta insisted Arsenal were not distracted by their Champions League showdown with Real Madrid after a 1-1 draw against Brentford on April 12 all but ended their English Premier League title challenge.

The Spaniard’s side needed a victory at the Emirates Stadium to retain their faint hopes of catching runaway leaders Liverpool.

But Thomas Partey’s 61st-minute opener was cancelled out by Yoane Wissa in the 74th minute.

Arsenal were not at their best as they struggled to match the intensity that blew Real away in their 3-0 win in the Champions League quarter-final, first leg on April 8.

With the second leg looming on April 16, it would have been understandable if Arsenal’s players were distracted but Arteta said that was not the case.

“The way the feeling was with the players, certainly not. To prepare well, you have to play as well as possible and win the next game,” he said.

“We are disappointed with the result. We had full control of the game and conceded a very poor goal. It was not good enough and when you don’t do what you have to do against this team, you concede a goal.

“The attitude, if you see at the end we have to play with 10 men (because of an injury to Jorginho) and we had two big opportunities to score, you cannot say it is about energy.

“We play every three days and are used to it, so there is not an excuse of energy.”

Arsenal have won just two of their last seven league games, effectively gift-wrapping the title for Liverpool. The Reds, who beat West Ham 2-1 on April 13, are 13 points clear of second-placed Arsenal, with only six games left.

If the Gunners lose at struggling Ipswich Town on April 20, then Arne Slot’s men will be crowned champions if they win at relegation-bound Leicester City later the same day.

“An opportunity missed for sure because we wanted to win and increase our opportunities in the league. But we haven’t managed to do that,” Arteta said.

“We have to be critical with ourselves, especially with the way we conceded the goal.

“Now it is time to recover well and tomorrow we have to start to prepare for the most beautiful game of the season (against Real).”

Arteta might be without Jorginho at the Santiago Bernabeu after the Italy midfielder’s injury in the closing minutes against Brentford.

“I don’t know. He said he could not breathe properly, so it might be to do with one of the ribs,” Arteta said. “It is strange because Jorgi normally carries on, so that means it is something significant I think.”

Meanwhile, Bees boss Thomas Frank was pleased with the draw.

“I thought it was a good point against a very strong team,” he said. “We saw how good they were on Tuesday night against Madrid.

“It was a good away performance and exceptional defensive performance. We limited them to very little throughout the game.

“It was a good mentality to come back and score as well, so I’m pleased.”

He also praised Wissa, saying: “15 Premier League goals – wow! That’s exceptional and it’s down to Wissa but also down to how we play and how we create chances and big moments.” AFP