Mikel Arteta offers scathing verdict on wasteful Arsenal forwards

‘We had numerous chances and didn’t score enough’: Mikel Arteta bemoans a wasteful afternoon for Arsenal’s forwards at Old Trafford but insists his Gunners were better side in defeat by Man United

  • Mikel Arteta criticised Arsenal for missing chances in loss to Manchester United 
  • Arsenal had dominant periods but they ended up losing 3-1 at Old Trafford 
  • Arteta felt Arsenal should have had a penalty for a challenge on Bukayo Saka 

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has criticised his team’s lack of ruthlessness following their 3-1 defeat to Manchester United.

The Gunners had periods of dominance at Old Trafford but ended up leaving without any points, with Arteta bemoaning the fact that Arsenal ‘did not close the game’. 

Arsenal’s defeat brought their winning start of five consecutive Premier League games to an end. They had 16 shots against United but just three of them were on target. 

Mikel Arteta criticised Arsenal’s lack of ruthlessness as they lost against Manchester United

Arteta said:  ‘I am really disappointed to lose the game especially with the way it went over the 95 minutes. We had some big periods where we were totally dominant and in total control. We created chance after chance but did not close the game. In any moment, when they have open spaces, they are going to hurt you.

‘They had three big chances and scored three goals, we have numerous chances and we didn’t score enough goals. We had a period in the first 18 minutes when we struggle and did not control the game but after that it was all us.’

Although Gabriel Jesus was very lively, Arsenal only managed to score once at Old Trafford

Arsenal looked as if they would be able to at least earn a point with the game at 1-1, but they afforded United too much space and Marcus Rashford took advantage as he scored a brace.

Arteta said: ‘After 1-1, it was all us. We lose the ball in a really difficult place and play a ball in an area we don’t have to and one pass and they are through.’

In addition, Arteta criticised the decision to rule out Gabriel Martinelli’s strike for a foul by Martin Odegaard on Christian Eriksen.

Arteta was adamant that Arsenal should have been given a penalty for a foul on Bukayo Saka

Arteta commented on a ‘lack of consistency’ with regards to refereeing decisions and expressed his belief that Arsenal should have been given a penalty for a challenge on Bukayo Saka. 

Arteta said: ‘Lack of consistency. One is soft and last week they made a foul on Aaron but it is soft, it is not a foul. There is a foul on Bukayo, it is soft but not a penalty. Today it is a foul. The threshold in the first actions, there were some strong tackles and you could see there is no yellow card because they want to keep a threshold in a big game. Really difficult to understand.’

Arsenal commence their Europa League campaign on Thursday as they face Zurich away before taking on Everton at home in the Premier League three days later.  




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