Mikel Arteta rues 'so poor' Chelsea equaliser but 'proud' of Arsenal reaction in Premier League draw - ‘Not good enough'

React to this story

Arsenal lost more ground on leaders Liverpool in the Premier League title race, slipping nine points behind Arne Slot's side following a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Gabriel Martinelli gave Arsenal the lead at Stamford Bridge, before Pedro Neto pegged back The Gunners to secure Enzo Maresca's side a share of the spoils. Mikel Arteta was angered by Chelsea's equaliser.

Arteta 'praying' Arsenal recover from 'absolute nightmare' injury situation

Video credit: SNTV

Mikel Arteta was left seething after Pedro Neto’s equaliser cost Arsenal all three points in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Arteta admitted he would leave west London with mixed emotions after seeing his side battle hard in a bid to restore their lead, but could not hide his frustration concerning the nature of Neto’s leveller.

When asked if he was disappointed or satisfied with what he had seen, Arteta replied in an interview with Sky Sports: "Both. The disappointment of not getting the three points is bigger, and it will be bigger tomorrow probably when we watch it back, because again, the team stood up.

Premier League

How to watch Forest v Arsenal on TNT Sports and discovery+

10/09/2025 at 16:42

“I think we dominated them and were the better team in many phases and situations of the game, but after going ahead, very disappointed with the way we conceded the goal. So poor, it's not our standards and we don't accept it.

“After that, the reaction here was unbelievable against this team in the problems we caused them and how aggressive we were. I'm really proud of them, but we were here to get the three points, and we didn't manage to do it.”

Elaborating on what specifically angered him about Chelsea’s goal, Arteta added: "It is a second-phase set piece, and we were disorganised. We don’t reorganise quick enough and you can’t allow the pass that way. You need the quality of Neto to do it, but our standards were not good enough."

A positive to come from the match was the return of captain Martin Odegaard, who started his first Premier League game since a 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on August 31.

However, that optimism was tempered by the fact Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice appeared to pick up knocks.

"Our player [Odegaard] has been out for six weeks and barely trained with the team,” Arteta continued. “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. Today 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, you know, the engine, the wheels, the steering wheel, because we've had problem after problem. Normally the team goes down, but this team has unbelievable energy and spirit to play."

Arteta spoke in more detail about his selection issues during his post-match press conference.

He is desperately hoping for a clean bill of health after the upcoming international break, as The Gunners look to get their title challenge back on track following a run of three league games without a win.

"There's nothing that we can do about that," he added when addressing the current nine-point gap to leaders Liverpool.

"What I'm praying 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. 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 only for certain moments and not able to play.

"So I'm just asking that, because the desire the team has and how much we want it there's no question. It's going to come. We just need that on our side to be more consistent.

"When it gets nasty, show your teeth and show how much you want it. When it's Disneyland it's very easy. Everybody's next to you, telling you how beautiful you are.

"When it gets dark and difficult and everybody's questioning it, that's when I want to see people. I'm looking around."

Maresca pleased with ‘message’ to Premier League's elite

Enzo Maresca was the happier of the two managers with a point and was delighted by the way in which his side competed against Arsenal.

The Blues moved up to third in the table – above The Gunners on goal difference – and the Italian believes his side would have earned plenty of respect following this performance.

"I enjoyed it, absolutely,” he told the BBC. “The performance was good.

"We know them quite well, and we competed pretty well. The performance is very important for us in this moment and it was good. We can rest now and go again.

"The performance from Pedro [Neto] was very good, all of them, complete. We played in the way we wanted to, brave, and try and play from the back, always.

"It is the way we want to do things. We try and play face to face against every team. We are Chelsea, so it is important to send this message.”

The Premier League takes a break for a spell of international action. Chelsea's next outing is a trip to Leicester on November 23, while Arsenal entertain Nottingham Forest on the same day.

Stream the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Serie A and more on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Transfers

Chelsea in advanced stages of deal to sign Simons - Paper Round

26/07/2025 at 22:56

Football

Gyokeres 'really excited to get going' as Arsenal complete signing of striker

26/07/2025 at 20:34

Related Matches

Chelsea

Arsenal