Mikel Arteta called on Arsenal to 'show their teeth' after their 'nightmare' run culminated in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea, dealing a fresh blow to their Premier League title hopes on Sunday.
Arteta's team squandered the lead provided by Gabriel Martinelli's second-half strike, as Pedro Neto's superb long-range equaliser extended Arsenal's winless streak to four league games. With only three wins in their last nine league matches, the fourth-placed Gunners now trail leaders Liverpool by nine points.
Arsenal's unexpected downturn follows two successive runners-up finishes in the title race. Arteta remains confident they can re-enter the title race, provided they display a tougher side of their character. 'Win, win and win. That is what we have to do,' Arteta said when asked how Arsenal could close the gap on Liverpool. 'When it gets nasty, show your teeth and show how much you want it.'
Arteta has faced numerous challenges, including injuries to key players like Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber, and Bukayo Saka, along with a series of red cards that unsettled his side early in the season. Odegaard's return from an ankle injury, which had sidelined him since August 31, was a bright spot, as he provided a sublime pass for Martinelli's goal against Chelsea.
Despite consecutive defeats against Inter Milan and Newcastle, Arteta found only slight solace in Arsenal's battling performance, particularly after conceding a goal that left him furious. 'We were the better team in many phases, and after going ahead, I'm very disappointed with the way we conceded the goal. It was so poor. It is not our standards and we don't accept it,' he said.
Meanwhile, Chelsea's third-place standing in the Premier League marks their highest position since the final day of the 2021-22 season. Enzo Maresca's tactical acumen and man-management have instilled hope for a brighter future with his emerging young team. 'I enjoyed it, absolutely. We know them quite well and we competed pretty well,' Maresca said.
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