Mikel Arteta highlights Arsenal’s two biggest mistakes after Chelsea draw
Posted by  badge Boss on Oct 22, 2023 - 11:10AM
Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal looked ‘average’ in their draw against Chelsea (Getty)

admits his players made two crucial errors in their 2-2 draw with on Saturday.

Cole Palmer’s penalty and handed Chelsea a two-goal lead at Stamford Bridge .

Arsenal struggled to create chances for large parts of the game and Arteta believes his players had a lack of ‘purpose and clarity’ whilst in possession.

The Arsenal manager also criticised his players for losing too many individual battles which then allowed Chelsea’s players to ‘escape’.

‘I think what went wrong was the start of the game. We didn’t play with enough purpose and clarity,’ Arteta said after Arsenal’s late comeback.

‘We were just moving the ball without the intention to threaten them. That’s a really dangerous thing to do against teams like .

Leandro Trossard’s late goal rescued a draw for Arsenal against Chelsea (Getty)

‘Then we didn’t win enough duels and in tight areas when we had them they escaped from that and they attacked open spaces and they are really dangerous things to do.

‘Credit to them as well because they are a top side full of top players and you have to acknowledge that. If we don’t have those two things then we’re an average team.

‘When we changed that and we changed the level after 20, 25 minutes, especially in the second half then it’s a different game. We became a much better team even though we conceded the second goal and it’s a disappointment.

‘The way the team reacted to the second goal is phenomenal from the players on the pitch and the players on the bench thinking how the hell am I going to change this game. I loved that.

‘I really liked as well going into the dressing room and it’s really quiet, after drawing 2-2 with Chelsea and coming back from 2-0 down, because I know that they wanted more. That’s the positive.’

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