S Poddar
Mikel Arteta’s frustration boiled over after Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea. The Gunners, once more, let a lead slip, a recurring theme that has marred their season.
That left Arteta visibly angry, unable to understand how his team, dominating great parts of the game, failed to come home with something so crucial. Poorly, the manager was disappointed by the manner Chelsea equalised-the lead from a superlative counter that exposed Arsenal’s weakness on the back.
“It was so terrible,” Arteta said, “It’s not our level, and we cannot accept that.” A collapse in the reshuffle after they have dropped some points was something on which focus was completely lost and has already cost too much for them.
Arsenal gain nothing from the draw with Chelsea, that leaves them nine points behind league leaders Liverpool. Arteta thinks his side are way too thin to close the gap if Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice get injured.
“We are praying to have fully physically equipped,” said Arteta, with a worried tone in his voice. “It does not look good” on the injury front, he said, pointing to the possible ramifications of losing two of his star players.
During the latter stages of the season, games for Gunners have been far from how it started. The team was not able to hold onto its lead, and defense lapses have continued to be a serious set-back in their chase for titles.
With Arsenal fighting to regain their rhythm and catch up on Liverpool, Arteta had much to do. He needed to motivate his team to get back into that mindset of winning after all the troubles the team had come to suffer at the defensive end. It looks like a difficult route ahead, but anything can happen if things fall into place with a little bit of good fortune for the Gunners.
