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.”
Lucy Bronze refused to count Chelsea out of the Champions League after they went down 4-1 to holders Barcelona in the first leg of their semi-final in Spain.Ewa Pajor fired the hosts in front in the 35th minute at the Johan Cruyff Stadium and substitute Claudia Pina made it two with 20 minutes left.Sandy Baltimore pulled one back in the 74th minute, but Irene Paredes got Barcelona’s third wi...
Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold says his late winner at Leicester, which put his side on the brink of the Premier League title, will live with him forever.Alexander-Arnold made a stunning return from injury as he climbed off the bench to score the decisive 76th-minute goal in the visitors’ 1-0 triumph at the King Power Stadium.It relegated Leicester and left the Reds needing just t...
Chelsea gave themselves plenty of work to do at Stamford Bridge after substitute Claudia Pina’s brace inspired holders Barcelona to a 4-1 victory in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final in Spain.Ewa Pajor opened the scoring for the hosts in the 35th minute at the Johan Cruyff Stadium after Blues keeper Hannah Hampton had saved a ninth-minute penalty.Pina scored her first with 2...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has his sights set on history after his side moved another step closer to a sixth treble in nine years.A 5-0 Hampden win over St Johnstone set up a Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen on May 24.Rodgers and Jock Stein have both completed two trebles, while Martin O’Neill, Neil Lennon and Ange Postecoglou have one each, and Celtic won three trophies ...
Trent Alexander-Arnold put the Premier League title champagne on ice for Liverpool after scoring the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win which confirmed Leicester’s relegation.Alexander-Arnold, making his comeback from injury, climbed off the bench to score the 76th-minute winner at the King Power and put his side on the brink of glory.The Reds will get their hands on a 20th top-flight title ...
Ruben Amorim admitted Manchester United “lack a lot” as their ongoing struggles in front of goal saw them return to earth with a bump in Sunday’s Premier League defeat at home to Wolves.Three days on from the dramatic 5-4 Europa League quarter-final comeback win against Lyon, the rotated Red Devils’ positive performance counted for nothing due to their futility in the final...
Mikel Arteta said he hopes Leif Davis’ “dangerous” red-card tackle on Bukayo Saka will not stop his star winger from playing in Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final against Paris St Germain.Saka was withdrawn just 10 minutes into the second half of Arsenal’s 4-0 win at Ipswich and had an ice pack applied to his right ankle following Davis’ late challenge.Davis ...
Celtic hit four goals in 12 first-half minutes to sweep past St Johnstone and into the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final.The holders wreaked vengeance following defeat in Perth two weeks ago as they won 5-0 to set up a return trip to Hampden to face Aberdeen on May 24.With Celtic needing just one point from their last five matches to wrap up the William Hill Premiership title, the final is set to gi...
According to a report from Fichajes, Tottenham are impressed with the performances of the 25-year-old Ghana international, and they are ready to pay €60 million in order to get the deal done. The player has 16 goal contributions this season and the opportunity to play for a big club will be quite exciting for him.There have been rumours that the player could cost around £70 million.It c...
The 23-year-old has managed to get his career back on track with a move to Marseille, and he has been outstanding this season. The former Manchester United striker has 19 goals to his name this season. According to a report from Fichajes, Liverpool would be willing to pay around €75-80 million in order to get the deal done.Greenwood will be hoping to play for a big club and the opportunity t...
- 1 Four Tottenham stars could leave this summer
- 2 PL side eyeing summer move for Rashford
- 3 Man City in pole position to secure Morgan Gibbs
- 4 Pop icon with £580M net worth makes appearance at Stamford Bridge
- 5 Big Brother legend Chanelle Hayes flaunts weight loss in red bikini
- 6 Ronaldo shows a side fans never see in tender video for their daughter birthday
- 7 Arteta makes exciting Arsenal transfer claim
- 8 Man Utd & Man City join PSG in race for Akliouche
- 9 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 10 Cole Palmer’s girlfriend Connie Grace dazzles in low-cut top and mini skirt