Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal are ‘missing something’ following Villa draw

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·18 January 2025

Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal are ‘missing something’ following Villa draw

Mikel Arteta was blown away by Arsenal’s performance against Aston Villa – but admitted that “something is missing” after they failed to hold onto a two-goal lead.

Leandro Trossard set up Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz to score either side of halftime, but Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins both found the net in an eight-minute period to stun the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening.

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Despite the disappointing result, Arteta told Sky Sports after the final whistle that he was proud of how Arsenal played against Villa.

“The way we played and competed, for the third time in six days and after playing 120-minutes, to deliver that dominance and performance, it was outstanding,” he beamed.

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“We deserve much more, that is clear. But the way we defended for the second goal cannot be part of our game if we want to constantly win games. Overall, they were exceptional.

“There were players who were absolutely dead. They perform like this, wow. They just go about it and try to be the best version.

“Villa are a top side and we did a lot of good things.”

The north London outfit did put the ball in the net a third time, but Mikel Merino’s late strike was disallowed after a VAR check found that the ball deflected in off Havertz’ arm.

“One angle it looks [like a handball], from the other it does not,” Arteta noted. “The decision is made. Difficult as you have so much emotion and it is taken away. It is not easy.”

Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal are ‘missing something’

Arsenal remain second in the Premier League table, but have lost ground to leaders Liverpool, who stretched their lead at the top to six points following their win over Brentford earlier in the day.

“In attack and defending, the level we are playing is so high,” said Arteta. “We were so good but there is something missing, that line is so thin.

“Today we cannot concede the goals we have done. That line is so thin, we have been punished before and we cannot do it.”

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