Arteta critcises Arsenal for making Zurich win 'difficult' in closing stages

By Sports Desk November 03, 2022

Mikel Arteta lamented Arsenal making the closing stages "difficult" in the 1-0 win over Zurich that sealed Europa League Group A top spot on Thursday.

The Gunners registered their ninth home win in as many games across all competitions this season, their longest such run at the start of a campaign since 2009-10 (11), after Kieran Tierney's first-half winner.

Arsenal also kept a clean sheet in all three of their home group games in Europe for the first time since the 2008-09 Champions League, owing to a resolute defensive performance at Emirates Stadium.

Arteta suggested his side were at fault in the latter parts of the game, though, bemoaning the hosts for inviting pressure on themselves as Adria Guerrero saw a second-half equaliser disallowed.

"We always try to start faster. We have an opponent that has something to say in the game," the Arsenal manager said. "We made the game difficult in the last 15, 20 minutes."

Arsenal will take the positives from topping their Europa League group for a fifth time in as many attempts, with no side topping a pool more often since the rebranding of the competition in 2009-10.

But a second-half injury to Takehiro Tomiyasu somewhat marred the win, leaving the full-back as a potential doubt for the World Cup with Japan, who start their campaign against Germany in 20 days.

"He felt something," Arteta said of the Japan international's injury, though he refused to give a timescale on his return as he added: "We don't know yet.

"We have Chelsea at the weekend, that's my focus."

Tierney's sumptuous first-half strike was his third in the Europa League (two for Arsenal, one for Celtic), with only Kris Commons (six) netting more among Scottish players in the competition since 2009-10.

The left-back has had to play an understudy role to Tomiyasu for large parts of the season but insisted his performance levels will not drop, whether in the starting XI or not.

"We wanted to get the game done by 60-70 minutes and score a couple of goals, but we never did that," he told BT Sport. 

"I thought we saw the game out. They put a lot of pressure on us but we saw it out well. We had to show fight and hunger because they came here with so much of that.

"We knew they would. Their last couple of results have been good so they have grown in confidence. We dealt quite well, it's just a pity we couldn't score a couple more.

"We won 5-0 a few days ago so it's not like this [struggling for a second goal] happens all the time. Teams win 1-0. As long as we get a clean sheet we are confident we will score.

"I want to play every game I can. I have to keep working hard. The manager knows I will give 100 per cent whether I start or not."

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    Saka was taken off in the 81st minute, having earlier received treatment on a problem with his leg, while Rice left the pitch 10 minutes earlier having been playing with a broken toe.

    While their injuries represent a problem for Arteta, both Saka and Rice were included in the England squad to face Greece and the Republic of Ireland.

    It could be a blow for England interim manager Lee Carsley, with Arteta doubtful they will be able to contribute.

    "It doesn't look good because for two players of that importance to say they want to come off is unusual," Arteta told reporters after the match. "I don't expect them to be fit [for the international break] because if not, they don't come off."

    Saka has already missed two games for Arsenal this season, having picked up an injury during the previous international break. The Gunners have had to deal with numerous injuries to key players, including that of Martin Odegaard, who made his first start for the club since August on Sunday.

    "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," he added.

    "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."

  • Arteta: Arsenal let their standards drop in Chelsea draw Arteta: Arsenal let their standards drop in Chelsea draw

    Mikel Arteta said Arsenal must not accept the standards they showed defensively for Chelsea's equaliser in Sunday's 1-1 draw.

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    Arsenal have gone four consecutive Premier League games without a win for the first time since April 2023 (D2 L2); the Gunners had picked up all three points in 21 of their previous 25 league matches before this (D3 L1).

    This was the fourth time that Arsenal have faced 15+ shots in a Premier League game this season, already twice as many times as they did so across the whole of the 2023-24 campaign (twice).

    Arteta was at least buoyed by the return to fitness of Martin Odegaard, who assisted Martinelli on his first appearance since September. Declan Rice, who missed Wednesday's loss to Inter in the Champions League, also played despite injury concerns.

     

    "[He] has been out for six weeks and barely trained with the team," Arteta said of Odegaard, who played the entire match.

    "To be able to play at this level in the Premier League tells you how much he looks after himself and the leadership and character he has. Everything flows better with players like this. We clicked much better. You could see everything was flowing but again it is about winning.

    "What we have found is that every day we have had to change something big, because we've had problem after problem.

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    The draw left Arsenal in fourth, nine points back from Premier League leaders Liverpool heading into the final international break of 2024.

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    Having lost two of their last three league games, Mikel Arteta's Gunners entered Sunday's match 10 points adrift of Liverpool and in need of a victory.

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    Having been beaten at Bournemouth and Newcastle United either side of a 2-2 home draw with Liverpool ahead of Sunday's game, Arsenal have now gone four Premier League matches without a victory.

    They last endured a run of that length in April 2023, when their title tilt fell apart at the tail end of the 2022-23 campaign. They had won 21 of their previous 25 league games before their current run began (three draws, one loss).

    Arsenal never truly felt in control of proceedings and Chelsea – who fired off 17 attempts – deserved their point after a battling performance.

    Arteta's team have now faced 15 or more shots in four Premier League games this season, already twice as many times as they did across the entirety of 2023-24 (twice).

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