Mikel Arteta vows Arsenal will recover from troubled spell

MILAN – Mikel Arteta surveyed the wreckage of Arsenal’s controversial Champions League defeat at Inter Milan on Nov 6, and insisted that his spluttering side will emerge from the rubble to salvage their troubled season.

The Gunners crashed to a 1-0 loss in the San Siro, adding to the growing sense of turmoil around a team who were expected to mount a strong challenge for European and domestic silverware this campaign.

Arteta’s men dominated for large periods against their Italian opponents, but were left to rue a controversial penalty in first-half stoppage time when Mikel Merino was adjudged to have handled the ball.

Hakan Calhanoglu converted the spot kick and Arsenal were unable to muster an equaliser as they fell to a second successive 1-0 defeat after their English Premier League loss at Newcastle United last weekend.

They have won just two of their last six games in all competitions, with those victories hardly impressive against Shakhtar Donetsk in Europe and second-tier Preston North End in the League Cup.

The Gunners are languishing in fifth place in the Premier League, already seven points behind leaders Liverpool ahead of the crucial London derby at Chelsea on Nov 10.

Hampered for weeks by the absence of captain Martin Odegaard – who finally returned from injury as a late substitute against Inter – Arsenal have looked a shadow of the vibrant team that took last season’s title race to the final day.

Odegaard’s creativity and tenacious pressing has been sorely missed, while Arteta has also had to deal with injuries to Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber, as well as a rash of red cards that cost him the services of Declan Rice, William Saliba and Leandro Trossard.

As if their on-pitch travails were not concerning enough, the Arsenal boss saw his trusted sporting director Edu make a shock exit from the Emirates Stadium.

Edu, who agreed a deal in principle to accept a similar role at Nottingham Forest, resigned at the start of this week after overseeing a major revamp of Arsenal’s squad since joining in 2019.

The 46-year-old shared a strong bond with Arteta, with whom he has transformed Arsenal into title contenders.

“We have been together on this journey since Day 1,” Arteta said of Edu just before kick-off in the San Siro. “He was instrumental for me to be where I am and I loved working with him. I enjoyed the journey to have him next to me.”

Edu scored in Arsenal’s famous 5-1 win at Inter in the Champions League group stage 21 years ago.

But history did not repeat itself on Nov 6 as Arsenal attempted 20 shots, their most without scoring in a Champions League game since 2006 against CSKA Moscow.

Arteta launched a staunch defence of his players, claiming they were denied by refereeing mistakes rather than their own failings against Inter.

“The worst thing is the result, because of the performance and attitude we showed against one of the best teams in Europe in their stadium,” said the Spaniard, whose team are now in 12th in the Champions League.

“It’s extremely frustrating because there were two decisions against us.

“If their one is a penalty, then we should have one when Mikel Merino is punched in the head.

“Of all the big games we have played in Europe, this was the best I have seen from my team in the last two years.”

Arsenal cannot afford another setback against Chelsea this weekend if they are to remain in the hunt for a first English title since 2004 after successive runners-up finishes.

Arteta stuck to his upbeat assessment of Arsenal’s unexpected plight, saying: “If we play the way we played tonight, the team has a big chance to win at Chelsea.

“That is the way we have to go. I have told them I am proud of them. We are disappointed because we didn’t get what we wanted out of the game, that is for sure.”

Despite his optimism, there are worrying signs that Arsenal’s hopes of finally dethroning Manchester City might be destined to end in disappointment.

Inter coach Simone Inzaghi, whose team are fifth, praised his side’s defending after they shut out the Gunners, just as they did against City (0-0 draw) earlier in the competition.

“We had a great performance, zero goals conceded to Arsenal and City. It’s a source of great pride but now we need to continue like this,” he said. AFP, REUTERS