Mikel Arteta admitted ‘something is missing’ in his Arsenal team as they blew a two-goal lead to draw against Aston Villa and plummet further ground behind leaders Liverpool in the title race.
The Gunners looked to be on course for victory after Kai Havertz doubled their lead eight minutes into the second half, following Gabriel Martinelli’s first-half strike.
But Villa staged a stunning comeback, halving the deficit through Youri Tielemans' header on the hour mark before equalising eight minutes later with an Ollie Watkins volley.
The result leaves the Gunners six points behind Arne Slot’s men who also have a game in hand. The Reds overcame Brentford earlier in the day with two injury-time Darwin Nunez goals.
Arteta said: ‘In attack, in defending, the level we are playing is so, so, so high. But there is something missing and that line is so thin and we have to find it.
‘Today how we concede goals cannot be part of our game if we want to be up there. Today it was clear we conceded two goals.
'After everything done with discipline, commitment, resilience, quality, that line is so thin especially against them, we have been punished before and you cannot do it.’
On Liverpool’s late win, Arteta said: ‘There are moments — obviously they (Liverpool) managed to do that. They made the subs and the subs made the impact and they managed to change the game.
‘In our side it was the opposite, even after conceding the two goals very close to each other. The danger was that I knew half the team could go downhill because we were physically drained.
'Suddenly the team found another gear to go again and just put Aston Villa in their box and go and try to find the goal that we haven't been able to score at the end.’
Arsenal have now dropped 12 points from winning positions — the most since their 2019-20 campaign.
Havertz thought he had struck the winner with a minute left in normal time, but the goal was disallowed by the VAR after replays showed the ball struck his arm off Mikel Merino's shot.
On Havertz’s disallowed goal, goalscorer Watkins said: ‘Seeing it back there (on the screen) I am not sure. I think it's gone in favour for us.
‘If that was against me I think I would be disappointed. From that angle I'm not sure but that's what VAR is there for.’
Weocdeilsz
1
my team arzenal
£mm123
0
It will be hard for MA to lift any trophy the way things are going. he always like to blame somebody for his failure.
Settledown
0
mugu
ciskntuy
0
just talkative
ciskntuy
0
stupid coach
Kassemjian
0
After what? Asshole!
Kassemjian
0
Verycjabes hasgtsav….echak sepasse!
tedaikruy
0
You know very well what's missing.
Evans0323
1
No nothing is missing put your trust in Havertz and Martinelli useless Coach
yoobcklpsy
1
Stubborn, clueless and TROPHYLESS. Your days in Arsenal are numbered, just as your couching career is finished.
Bokacdilot
0
You still just checking?
GaddafiJamal
0
if he thinks he can win the league without a striker then he is a joke
A Lot Of People Have Done It, Jon 🤧🤮
GaddafiJamal
0
no striker no trophy, he should put that in his mind
Striker Won’t Do Anything, Guardiola Won Trophies Without A Striker. Spain Won World Cup Without A Striker, They Used Fabregas.. Arsenal Is Just Sh*t 🤧🤮
ritcestuyz
0
the problem is not Arteta but the owners. Arteta can't fund the players he wants, if they make money available, he will do his best. With a very depleted squad due to injuries, he still managed to keep the team at second position. The board should give him fund to broaden the squad and see what will happen.
I would play Kivior as central back and Timber rb back
Kedanruz
1
yeah you don't know when to sub havertz
Yohkwabs
2
I thank God thaf Arteta can admit now that there is a problem with the Arsenal attack. The truth is, the problem of Arsenal attack did not start this season and it didn't start with the current Saka injury. Arsenal‘s striker problem has been on since Aubameyang left but Arteta has sturbonly and arrogantly refused to listen to calls by fans and pundits to address the issue. If Arsenal had a top class natural goal scorer they'd have won the league at once in the last two seasons. Last season's situation was so painful and everybody begged Arteta to buy a natural forward but he defiantly refused. If Arteta had listened and bought a top class, proven natural #9 last summer, with the ongoing poor form of Manchester City, Arsenal would have run away with the EPL title by now. This season would have been Arsenal‘s if they had strong fire power upfront. It is all Mikel Arteta's fault. Arteta is too arrogant even if you give Arteta a billion pounds today he'll go and spend it all on defensive players. I hope he's learning his lessons very well.
cozacmru
1
Everything is missing free kick specialist… the striker who score from head to toe and the good play maker too
Allianceofficial
0
he plays Partey out of position to accommodate his brother Merino and ths thing is costing us
as a coach, who would you play at rb when timber replaced the injured Saliba at cb. who would you play?
Todcdmnou
1
nothing is Missing.............. crazy coach
Kawceilpr
1
Arteta go and sleep, baby coach
hiyabmnstu
1
pure fake coach u didn't even know anything about football at all
foocdeikpt
1
God punish that your useless mouth you use in saying this
Punklrtuz
0
Something missing? Since no 9
Tekciklruz
0
but Arteta
rodimnp
0
Whose fault Arteta?
miguelbumba
0
Kai Havertz and Jesus are number nines in the mould of Firmino. False number nines can get you titles as it was proven by Klopp's Liverpool and the present day City of Pep; the wingers score 15 plus goals and midfielders ought to have their share in the goals althou not as much. What is missing in Arsenal’s attacks is a modern day fox in the box; a striker who will deliver 25 plus goals per season and nothing else; every other department is top notch for the time being..
ritcestuyz
0
you are senseless tell me one player arteta want that the management did not find money for Mikel is the main problem arsenal have he need to serious if he want to sign player you have Balogun as a young player but you don't like him in your own foolish interest the opportunity Mikel as at arsenal no coach a the opportunity in arsenal history
he plays Partey out of position to accommodate his brother Merino and ths thing is costing us
ritcestuyz
1
Kai Havertz is waist, I compare him wth a Giraffe
returnofthesaith
1
You never see meme, no go buy top striker before you drop out top of 4
hakknopu
1
I don’t trust Arteta yesterday,today,tomorrow even day after tomorrow
Muycdekost
1
Arsenal give their games away because of poor performance,
Rikacdirsu
1
yes the serious coach is missing better he knows
Muycdekost
1
Arteta his missed correct how come you played Thomas defender while in bench there's someone who can do better then him
tewinotuz
0
A coach who is destined for trophy doesn't keep jumping after every goal... for ARTETA even own goal scored by opponent he go fi jump and run with wild celebration. ....
Juemnprt
0
that was a goal..no handball at all
Nikadlnuy
0
finally dats why he s called baby coach.even a young kid of 10 saw it one year ago
GavivinaGator
3
Arsenal always drop points when Partey plays right back... Sack Arteta
AbSixers
0
the problem is not Arteta but the owners. Arteta can't fund the players he wants, if they make money available, he will do his best. With a very depleted squad due to injuries, he still managed to keep the team at second position. The board should give him fund to broaden the squad and see what will happen.
arteta is making wrong signing and he's a racist. arsenal don't need Kai Havertz and Merino. how can arteta use that amount of money to sign want away player from Chelsea. arteta should've convinced xakha to stay. and use that money for Havertz to sign a striker. why will u sell nketia and balogun and keep injury prone Jesus....when arteta wanted to sign merino. I was telling people that instead of using that money to sign merino. he should sign Free transfer Rabiot just 1 year difference between merino and Rabiot and Rabiot has more experience than merino. he should just add small money to the money spent on merino and get a new winger. he went to sign finished sterling on loan now merino and Sterling are both useless players. even a blind man knows that Thomas partey is our best midfielder and we don't get good results whenever he played as a right back. but because arteta is racist he's trying to get partey out of the team. he can pair kiwior with Gabriel and play partey in his best position....... arteta has spent 700 millions and you are telling me that is the board fault
hahablmpt
0
you be crazy man why you partey in two pisition instead of four position
Pucabnoty
1
I conquer with the one said Arteta is able to identify prolific players he needs feels can improve our strength but the problem with Arsenal owners, they only go for cheaper players. very fewer expensive players Arsenal board managed in hands of Arteta and if not mistaken only Rice. These other high profile players we are just lucky, we bought them at a very cheap rate but they are able to give us best services eg: Martin Ordegard, Leandro Trosard, William Saliba and Gabriel Marg's. All these players were bought at an average rates but are giving us extremely good services. Arsenal board wake up please if you still need trophies like how us Sporters need them too' 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Memaceiklu
0
the problem is not Arteta but the owners. Arteta can't fund the players he wants, if they make money available, he will do his best. With a very depleted squad due to injuries, he still managed to keep the team at second position. The board should give him fund to broaden the squad and see what will happen.
Liverpool signed no one and we don’t blame the owners
Oluwajaywon101
0
the problem is not Arteta but the owners. Arteta can't fund the players he wants, if they make money available, he will do his best. With a very depleted squad due to injuries, he still managed to keep the team at second position. The board should give him fund to broaden the squad and see what will happen.
you are senseless tell me one player arteta want that the management did not find money for Mikel is the main problem arsenal have he need to serious if he want to sign player you have Balogun as a young player but you don't like him in your own foolish interest the opportunity Mikel as at arsenal no coach a the opportunity in arsenal history
Sexymore147
0
a goal scorer yes..
They scored 2 goals the problem is in the midfield Moreno is none sense
ciackloru
2
the problem is not Arteta but the owners. Arteta can't fund the players he wants, if they make money available, he will do his best. With a very depleted squad due to injuries, he still managed to keep the team at second position. The board should give him fund to broaden the squad and see what will happen.
zusdlmst
1
a goal scorer yes..
Babakizito12345
0
he should know that party is not a defender, kiwor was there why not pertarn him with Gabriel and let timber play no. 2, we have lost many games whenever he plays no. 2 , but arteta can't c that
and last time we played with united and we beat them 2 zero, kiwor was there playing good
lungoulenhkip
0
your big mouth is missing...you talk like you won't slip but other will slip
Wemlmnoru
1
You are there for half of decade now still you don't know player to sign who can help you to win big trophy while transfer budget you are given in each window unlike wenger ,,,, Fabio Viela, Nuno Tavelles,Harvetz, Sterling,Joginho,Merino yet you sell Smith Row better than Merino and committed, Loan Nelson who can fill bench for Saka
cuwbclmrtu
1
reasoning is very important always crying about sucking does the coach sign prayers
Wemlmnoru
0
Your there half of decade now still you can't who player to sign that can win you big trophy