Arsenal: Mikel Arteta 'positive' after 'massive' week but admits disappointment with Chelsea draw | OneFootball

Gunners boss proud of his players after three huge games in seven days, but feels they should have beaten 10-man Blues

Mixed emotions: Mikel Arteta was proud but disappointed as Arsenal ended a big week by drawing with 10-man Chelsea

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Mikel Arteta left Stamford Bridge disappointed after Arsenal failed to capitalise on Chelsea playing over 50 minutes with 10 men.

The Blues had Moises Caicedo sent off in the 38th minute of Sunday’s high-profile London derby in the Premier League after a late tackle on Mikel Merino.

Trevoh Chalobah headed Chelsea in front early in the second half, but Merino levelled 10 minutes after that.

“It’s been a big week, starting with the [north London] derby, how emotional [it was] and the necessity and the intention we have to win it,” said Arteta.

“Then to play Bayern Munich three days later. We lost players in those games.

“Today, for example, we had to play a partnership [in defence] that we never played before in a really difficult match.

“The captain [Martin Odegaard] is still not here [starting]. The No9 [Viktor Gyokeres] is still not here [starting]. Kai [Havertz] is still not here. We lost Leo [Trossard] in midweek as well. But the team had to react to that.

“I think overall it’s been a really positive week because the difficulty was immense.

“But I have this flavour that today we should have and we could have won the game and we haven’t. That’s a learning point for me.

“Right from the beginning you could sense how much was at stake. Every duel and action was full gas, very short sequences of play.

“With the 10 men we expected a different game, we plan it, we went through it in the second half. They get a corner and they score.

“Then it becomes a very tricky game to play. Overall I think that when you don’t win with 10 men for 45 minutes you have to be disappointed. But you have to know the week we had, a tough opponent.

“They did everything they can again. They’ve never played together so we need to build that synergy.

“There were a lot of things happening before the game. The spirit of the team is intact. We’ve had a massive week both mentally and physically and I think overall it’s a positive week.”