Mikel Arteta Disappointed Arsenal Failed To Win Three Points At Home

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. (Photo: Twitter @Arsenal)

JAKARTA - Arsenal had to settle for sharing one point with Tottenham Hotspur in the 2023/2024 Premier League continued at the Emirates Stadium, Sunday, September 24. Both teams drew 2-2.

In that match, the Gunners always took the lead through own goals Cristian Romero (26') and Bukayo Saka (54'). However, that advantage always failed to be maintained because Tottenham could equalize thanks to goals from Son Heung-min (42', 55').

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his disappointment over the results achieved. According to him, Martin Odegaard and his friends played less calmly so they were careless and missed twice.

"We are very disappointed that we didn't get the exact three points, especially when you were twice ahead in the game and you had a chance to win it, and especially when we conceded a goal," Arteta said, quoted from the club's official website via Antara.

"We scored and it's a shame you conceded another minute. I think it will quite affect the team's emotions. We're less calm in controlling the ball to get more passes in the final third of the pitch and this is a transition game," said Arteta.

In the second half, Arsenal made two quick changes. Declan Rice and Fabio Vieira came out and were replaced by Jorginho and Kai Havertz.

"He (Rice) felt uncomfortable on his back, and he told us in the first half that he felt uncomfortable. When we examined him in the first half, he couldn't continue, so we had to replace him," said Arteta.

"Fabio was not injured, it was a tactical decision," he added of Vieira's replacement.

Unfortunately, the change did not go smoothly because in the 55th minute, one minute after Bukayo Saka's penalty goal, Jorginho made a blunder holding the ball too long until it was stolen by James Maddison which led to Son Heung-min's goal when equalizing 2-2.

However, Arteta did not blame Jorginho and said that the mistakes in football were very natural for every player who was playing.

"This is part of football, and they are allowed to make mistakes because they play," said Arteta.