Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal were left having to “pray” during Brentford draw | OneFootball

No complaints from the Arsenal manager as his side drop more points in title race

Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal struggled to cope with a Brentford approach that left his side having to “pray” from dead-ball situations.

Although they were on top for the 20 minutes after half-time, Arsenal otherwise struggled for large periods as Brentford rattled them and left the Premier League leaders looking ragged.

Arteta had no complaints about the result against Brentford,

“We scored the goal and the game was under total control,” Arteta said.

“But against them, that's not enough because they just need somebody making a foul that is unnecessary, a ball in the channel, they push you, the clearance is not good, ball before a throw-in and then you have to pray because they are exceptional at what they do.

“The chaos that is in and around that ball is very, very difficult to defend. We said, you want to win here, you're going to have to defend the box with your life and you're going to have to clear the ball because there are a lot of people there and if you don't do that, it's very difficult for you to win the game.”

Equaliser: Lewis Keane-Potter

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Arsenal did have some big moments at the back to ensure they came away with at least a point.

Cristhian Mosquera made a brilliant last-ditch challenge to block a Thiago shot and Declan Rice got back in stoppage-time to poke the ball away as Brentford looked set to score.

However, Arteta emphasised that was not enough after his side conceded from a long throw.

Michael Kayode flung it in, the ball was flicked on to Lewis Keane-Potter and he provided the headed finish at the back post.

“That has to be every action because they go for volume,” Arteta said of his side’s defensive efforts.

“They know the probability they want to create and they just need volume to increase that probability and they are constantly doing that and they are really good at doing that.”