Troubled Arsenal must ‘show their teeth’, says Mikel Arteta after Chelsea draw

LONDON – Mikel Arteta has called on Arsenal to show their courage after his side’s “nightmare” run culminated in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea that dealt a fresh jolt to their English Premier League title hopes on Nov 10.

Arsenal blew the lead given to them by Gabriel Martinelli’s second-half strike, as Pedro Neto’s superb long-range equaliser extended the Gunners’ winless run to four league games.

With only three wins in their last nine league matches, the fourth-placed Arsenal have fallen nine points behind leaders Liverpool.

Their unexpected malaise comes after two successive runners-up finishes in previous seasons. However, Arteta still believes they can get back in the title race, as long as they show the nastier side of their personality.

Asked what Arsenal need to do to close the gap on Liverpool, the Gunners boss said: “Win, win and win. That is what we have to do. There is nothing we can change about our position right now.

“When it gets nasty, show your teeth and show how much you want it. When you are in Disneyland, everything is beautiful and everyone is nice to you. When it gets dark and difficult, that is the time to show your courage.”

The 42-year-old Spaniard has had to deal with an injury layoff to captain Martin Odegaard, with a rash of red cards also unsettling his side early in the season.

Odegaard has finally returned from the ankle problem that kept him out of Arteta’s starting line-up since September.

The influential playmaker started against Chelsea and provided a sublime pass for Martinelli’s goal in an encouraging sign for Arteta, who is keeping his fingers crossed everyone returns healthy from the international break.

“I am just going to pray that after the international break, I have all my players available,” he said.

“It has been an absolute nightmare for eight weeks. Issue after issue with players not being able to play and train in certain moments. Physically and mentally, to be connected with the team in that way was incredible for Martin today.”

After successive defeats by Inter Milan and Newcastle United, Arteta could take only slender comfort from Arsenal’s battling display, especially when they conceded a goal that left him fuming.

“We were the better team in many phases and, after going ahead, I’m very disappointed with the way we conceded the goal. It was so poor. It is not our standards and we don’t accept it,” he said.

“It is a second-phase set piece and we were disorganised. We don’t reorganise quick enough.”

Arteta has two new worries to add to what he describes as a nightmare run of injuries, after winger Bukayo Saka and midfielder Declan Rice both failed to finish the match at Stamford Bridge. Rice went off after 71 minutes and Saka was replaced 10 minutes later, with both sustaining knocks.

With the draw, Chelsea remain in third ahead of Arsenal on goal difference, as manager Enzo Maresca surpasses expectations in his first season in charge.

Maresca arrived from Leicester City in the close season to find a club in turmoil on and off the pitch. However, the 44-year-old Italian’s tactical prowess and astute man management have offered hope of a brighter future with his emerging young team.

“I enjoyed it, absolutely. We know them quite well and we competed pretty well. The performance is very important for us in this moment and it was good,” he said.

“It is the way we want to do the things. We try and play face to face against every team.”

Beaten by Manchester City and Liverpool earlier this season, Maresca was pleased with the way Chelsea laid down a marker against one of the Premier League’s elite.

“We are Chelsea, so it is important to send this message. There are managers that have been at clubs for five and nine years, so we are behind them,” said Maresca, who played down forward Noni Madueke’s frustrated reaction to being substituted.

“For sure, very soon we are going to win this kind of game. We were trying to win until the end.”
AFP, REUTERS