‘We could have ended up losing to Manchester United’ – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s Old Trafford verdict | OneFootball

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was once again left ruing his side’s lack of attacking edge after they lost further ground on Premier League leaders Liverpool in a disappointing draw away to Manchester United.

Just like last season, Arsenal needed a win to keep the title race alive. This time, however, they had to come from behind to a Bruno Fernandes free-kick to salvage a draw through Declan Rice after dominating a one-sided match.

Arteta said afterwards: “We had some unbelievable situations but we didn’t get the last shot or the last pass. We didn’t capitalise, we rushed the game, we started to lose duels and we could have ended up losing it.”

An attacking positive was the substitute return from injury of Gabriel Martinelli, but he was again quizzed on his side’s lack of goalscoring threat from a side without forwards Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

The Catalan coach conceded: “Sometimes that is what is missing. The execution has to be in to the right player and the right player to shoot. How we conceded [chances] in certain moments was not acceptable. They have so much quality and they pick the right player and normally that would end in a goal.

“We opened the gate to lose the game. There was no chance to lose the game and we opened it ourselves. I will defend my players all the time but in those moments we have to do better.”