Furious Mikel Arteta gives scathing verdict on Chelsea draw and worries about 'nightmare'

Mikel Arteta provided a scathing assessment of the goal Arsenal conceded against Chelsea in their 1-1 Premier League draw. The Spaniard says he has endured a “nightmare” eight-week period in which his side’s form has fallen off a cliff amid a series of key player absences.

Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are the latest stars set for a spell on the sidelines after being withdrawn at Stamford Bridge. Arteta had only just welcomed back Martin Odegaard from a two-month ankle injury lay-off. Rice had been a doubt for the game after it was revealed that he was prepared to play through a broken toe.

Pedro Neto cancelled out Gabriel Martinelli’s opener before Leandro Trossard missed a golden chance to score with the last kick of the game. Arteta was unhappy with the space afforded to Neto to strike from 25 yards.

Asked if he was satisfied or disappointed with a point, the Arsenal head coach told Sky Sports: “Both I would say. But obviously the disappointment of not getting the three points is bigger and it will be bigger tomorrow after watching it back.

“Again, the team turned up and I think we dominated and were the better team in many situations. After going ahead, I’m very disappointed with the way we concede a goal. So poor and it is not in our standards.

“We don’t accept it but after that, the reaction of the team [was] unbelievable.

“There’s nothing we can change today about that. What I’m praying [for] is after the international break I have the team fully equipped physically. It has been an absolute nightmare for eight weeks.”

Asked why he was upset with the goal Arsenal conceded, Arteta continued: “It’s a second-phase set-piece. We are disorganised because the set-piece is organised in a different way to the low block.

“We don’t react quickly enough and you cannot allow it past that way. Of course, there is the individual quality of Neto. But our job between the defenders and the goalkeeper is to defend the spaces, and our standards were not good enough.”

Arsenal have not won in the Premier League since October 5, losing games against Bournemouth and Newcastle while drawing with title rivals Liverpool. There was also a disappointing 1-0 reverse against Inter Milan in the Champions League in midweek.

Arteta will want his injured stars back fit during the international break. Arsenal’s next league outing comes against Nottingham Forest on November 23.