Mikel Arteta declared Arsenal “alive” in the Premier League title race but was left with mixed emotions after they dropped more points following a pulsating 2-2 draw at home to Liverpool.
The Gunners were without captain Martin Odegaard, William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori, but Bukayo Saka returned to start and scored along with Mikel Merino in the first half to put them 2-1 up after Virgil van Dijk’s 18th-minute leveller.
However, Arteta was dealt further fitness blows as Gabriel Magalhaes limped off before Jurrien Timber had to be replaced and a makeshift back-four wilted as Mohamed Salah’s first-time finish after 81 minutes snatched a point for Arne Slot’s men.
“I’m very disappointed that we haven’t won the game today,” Arteta said.
“Very proud of the team, especially with the situation we are going through at the moment – probably you cannot imagine.
“I think in the first half it was total domination, we were really good, really dominant, really efficient and the result probably should have been bigger.
“Without conceding nothing basically, we gave two goals away. That’s the really frustrating part and that we couldn’t see the game out.”
The biggest winner was arguably Manchester City, who end the weekend back at the summit, a point clear of Liverpool and five ahead of Arsenal.
Man City stay top after Liverpool are held by Arsenal 🔢 pic.twitter.com/qW3f8ltnlj
— Premier League (@premierleague) October 27, 2024
Arteta, who was unsure of the severity of Gabriel and Timber’s injuries, acknowledged: “You don’t want to be in that position. You want to be five points ahead but this is where we are.
“The team is alive, the team wants it. I feel it every single day. The players that cannot play, they are upset that they are not playing. The ones getting injured, the ones that are there, they are in a good moment.
“Things will turn up and we are going to be in a better place, but we are certainly there.
“I see the team and I have no doubts. I think I told you three days before that we are going to be flying on Sunday and we started flying and were the better team by far.
“We needed to get the points today to make a reflection of where we are and where we want to be. We couldn’t do it but for sure we are there.”
Slot was happy despite Liverpool’s eight-match winning streak being halted in north London.
“Going two times behind against a very strong and good Arsenal team, then to get a point is pleasing to see,” he said.
“I know you guys like to talk about title contenders and where we are exactly in the league. That is also part of your job.
“The only thing I look at is can you get a result in a difficult away game as this one? The way we did it pleased me a lot.
“We’re only nine or 10 games into the season, but to see we can compete with such a strong Arsenal team, in their stadium, that is very pleasing to see.
Bukayo Saka now has 50 Premier League goals to his name 👏
Here are some of his very best! pic.twitter.com/RGswvcH5s2
— Premier League (@premierleague) October 27, 2024
“But where it exactly will lead towards the end of the season? I cannot tell you yet.”
Slot was not as impressed with Anthony Taylor’s decision to show him a second-half yellow card, but saw the funny side at full-time.
He added: “Last time (against Chelsea) I said I completely deserve the yellow card and this time I don’t think I did.
“After so many times they were on the floor, which can happen in football and I don’t blame them for that, but they always fell down after they had ball possession and it took the energy out of the game in my opinion.
“I said to Ibou (Ibrahima Konate), ‘this is a f****** joke’ and the fourth official thought I said to him, ‘you are a f****** joke’, so that is definitely not what I said. But I got a yellow and now I am on two, so I have to be careful.”
Team AnalysisVietnam The two-legged finals include home and away games. Vietnam will be at home first, and they hope to grab the advantage in goal difference, with strong morale.Vietnamese naturalized forward Nguyen Xuan Son scored twice in the last game. He made his first cap for Vietnam in this ASEAN Championship, giving 5 goals and 2 assists in his three starting games so far, and he is leading...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Epl week 19 LOL When you spot it Show yourselves. Next match: Supercoppa Italiana Semi-Final: Juventus FC vs AC Milan. Cristiano Ronaldo has Scored 97 GOALS since the start of 2023! Bro Traveled with his Mom all the way from Mongolia to Old Trafford.. ... only to watch Manchester United drop another stinker and lose again. Gotta feel for him and all the Manchest...
Amorim admits Man Utd will NOT have money to spend in JanuaryRuben Amorim has revealed Manchester United will not have money to spend in the January transfer window despite the need for new signings.Speaking candidly to reporters on Monday night about the possibility of January transfers, Amorim stated, "We don't have that possibility in January. You know the situation better than I [do]. It's not...
Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold has been called out by Jamie Carragher after claiming he encouraged Real Madrid to submit a bid for him in January.The Reds have reportedly turned down an attempt from Real Madrid to secure the services of the right-back in the January transfer window.Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold has been called out by Jamie CarragherAlexander-Arnold will be free to n...
Man United star Antony could leave the Premier League club during the January transfer window, and the winger may be offered a way out by a La Liga team. The agent of Antony admitted that several clubs have made approaches for the Brazilian ahead of the January window as the 24-year-old looks for a way out of Old Trafford having fallen out of favour in Manchester.Ruben Amorim vowed to help Antony ...
Barcelona could lose Dani Olmo for the second half of the season after LaLiga said the Catalan club are not in a position to extend the Spain international's registration ahead of Tuesday's deadline.Olmo, 26, joined Barca in the summer and was granted a temporary registration until Dec. 31, giving Barca time to comply with the league's financial fair play rules and prolong his registration until t...
Newcastle's Trippier to be sold in JanuaryNewcastle United could sell Kieran Trippier with a January move abroad on the cards, three years after he first joined the club.Williams and Isak headline Arsenal shortlistNico Williams and Alexander Isak are both under consideration as Arsenal aim to sign a wide forward in January.Could Spurs cancel Werner's loan?Tottenham could cancel Timo Werner's loan ...
Team AnalysisBrentfordBrentford scored 12 goals in the last 5 home games with a great offense.Brentford ended 3 of the last 4 games with UNDER. The percentage of UNDER has rebounded.Brentford are seriously hit by injuries so far. Major goalkeeper Mark Flekken and defender Ben Mee are doubtful with injuries, while Sepp van den Berg and Ethan Pinnock are unavailable with injuries.Brentford drew 0-0 ...
Christopher Nkunku and Mikel Arteta (Photo by Alex Grimm, Julian Finney/Getty Images)Christopher Nkunku remains eager to leave Chelsea in the forthcoming January transfer window, sources have told CaughtOffside.The French attacker has been delegated a role in the club’s ‘B Team’ this campaign, leaving him frustrated. He has only featured in 326 minutes of Premier League action so...
Martin Zubimendi with the Spain national team.The 2024/25 campaign has not gone to plan for Man City and in order to salvage what they can of the season, the Premier League champions are looking to bring Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi to the Etihad. Pep Guardiola is currently facing a crisis that he has never experienced before in his managerial career as the Spaniard’s team sit fift...
