Arsenal find themselves nine points off the Premier League summit and league leaders Liverpool after failing to hang on for victory at Chelsea in a 1-1 draw on Sunday
Arsenal find themselves nine points off the Premier League summit and league leaders Liverpool after failing to hang on for victory at Chelsea in a 1-1 draw on Sunday Arsenal find themselves nine points off the Premier League summit and league leaders Liverpool after failing to hang on for victory at Chelsea in a 1-1 draw on Sunday
Mikel Arteta has admitted Arsenal’s fading title hopes have been left on a wing and a prayer.
The Gunners dropped two more points after surrendering the lead for a fourth time this season to leave them nine points adrift of runaway leaders Liverpool.
Arteta refused to write off their chances but said they need a change of luck because their whole season has been hit by injuries and both Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka both asked to be substituted.
Gunners boss Arteta said: “Disappointed with the result because I think we deserved more. And at the same time very proud of the team for the way we played against this opponent in this stadium. They have battered everyone here and it wasn’t the case today.
“What I’m praying for is that after the international break we have the team fully physically equipped. That they are available and that they are fit, because it’s been a nightmare for eight weeks.
“Doubt after doubt, issue after issue, not only with the ones that are not able to play, but with the ones who are able to play only for certain moments and not able to play.
“So I’m just asking that, because the desire the team has and how much we want it there’s no question. It’s going to come. We just need that on our side to be more consistent.
“After scoring the first goal I’m very disappointed with how we conceded their goal. That’s nowhere near the standards of our defensive habits. The moment you give space and time to any of their players with the quality that they have you’re going to get punished, so that’s not bad luck.
“Then the team showed its teeth. How much we wanted it, we took risks, we were very aggressive, we created three big chances. Unfortunately we weren’t able to put the ball in the net, but we deserved to win it.”
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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca admitted winger Noni Madueke was not happy to be substituted but said his team deserved a draw as they are now third for the first time since 2021/22.
Maresca said: “The problem is that when you change a player, they are never happy. Probably the only time he would be happy was at Wolves, he scored a hat trick and we changed him. It was a tactical decision, no more than that.
“For sure, we at least 100 per cent deserved a point. It’s nice, especially for the fans after the last period that has not been great or in the way this club used to do it. We are happy, now we have an international break, we can recover energy and for sure it’s something nice.”
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