Arsenal’s failure to break through Newcastle’s stubborn defence coupled with Mikel Arteta’s decision not to use any attacking substitutes meant journalists were quick on the draw to quiz the Spaniard about a need for squad reinforcements.
Despite speaking openly about his desire to get deals over the line quickly this month, the Gunners are locked in negotiations for ‘priority target’ Mykhailo Mudryk and remain reliant on a core trio of attackers in the absence of Gabriel Jesus and Emile Smith Rowe.
“Listen, we were on top of them, we were chasing the goal. We were in a good moment and I didn’t want to make more changes,” said Arteta on the decision not to switch things up at the top end of the field.
Pressed on whether he has enough options up front, he continued, “I don’t know, it’s something more for Edu and the board to respond to, we’re really trying to improve the squad in every window. This is no different.
“We’re trying to do our best because we cannot waste any windows still with the squad and the numbers that we have. We will try.”
Arsenal don’t play again in the Premier League for 11 days so it’s more than possible new faces could arrive before the north London derby at Sp*rs.
Overall, the boss was pleased with his players’ performance, even though the chance to extend the lead at the top of the Premier League to 10 points was squandered.
“I’m really proud. The way we played, the way we dominated the game. The approach that we had from the beginning. We lacked that spark in the final third to find the opening to find the right moment an extra pass and a little bit of finishing quality but we had a lot of situations in and around the box to do better. There were two scandalous penalties.”
On whether it was two points dropped, he added: “It’s not that, it’s not about the feeling. I think the team was on top of it. We were really chasing it, we were really wanted it.
“You could see that the team was putting everything in to take the three points. We lacked that in the final third and we lacked the big decisions.
“We wanted to win, we tried to get the points and could not do it, but I think we should be proud of the performance against a really good side.”
Be nice if Vieira could become an impact sub. We have seen so little of him.
It’s not even as though Arteta is name checking him as an option but still adapting or whatever. Doesn’t bode well.
Can’t wait for ESR to be back. If we’d had a single sub of comparable quality I think we win that game late on. Would have been great to be able to try something else on our left; love Martinelli but Trippier kinda had him locked down most of the game.
Two Toon players were always doubling on Saka and Martinelli – breathing down their neck. Trippier wasn’t making those marauding runs of his down the flank because he had instructions to man mark Martinelli.
They did double up every time on saka and martinelli, we needed odegarrd to take advantage as there was space created. He just wasn’t at the races last night. A real off game from him,. Let’s hope he’s firing when we play the scum.
Hard to be at your best when they are deliberately kicking you off the park. Cynical but effective strategy by the Magpies.
Only effective when the officials don’t do their job like we had yesterday
The shirt pull from that circus freak on Gabriel was a nailed on penalty.
Once again VAR couldn’t give a shit, because it was an Arsenal appeal.
If we don’t win this title, it will be because of VAR and the twats in black, never mind injuries.
We needed to move the ball quicker. We were taking ages, allowing the Newcastle players to adjust so that each Arsenal man receiving the ball immediately had two or more on him.
I fucking hate Newcastle, but it was highly effective spoiling tactics from them. We didn’t help matters by being sluggish in possession.
We need to wake the fuck up, especially against the scum.
I love ESR, but we’re going to need more than just him to keep up a title challenge.
I wish the club would stop fucking about and just get Mudryk in for £80m – job done.
Such fine margins. If we get a pen and score it would be lauded at the type of game champions win etc etc. Didn’t go for us. On to the next one.
Can we sign old Giroud until the end of the season? Use him as a sub and he does what he does for France?
Think he just extended with milan?
“We can’t waste any (transfer) window…”. There’s clearly a twinge of frustration there. And I love him for that. MA is a fan too😍. No pressure, Edu and company!!!
Spot on.
I can understand our frustration cos winning is now a habit for us.
For today, I have no complaints about the boys. They gave all to won. However, I was seriously disappointed at NU for their negative game. They just sacrificed their game for a draw and were very annoying with time wasting.
Let’s take our frustration for not winning this one to Spurs and smash them.
They are pretty shit now and we win demolish them in their home
Hopefully Leicester will cut their losses with Tielemans and sell him for 15-20 million. Him, Mudryk and another forward player (Felix on loan?) would be perfect window and provide good depth.
Martinelli OUT
Wow, you’re really thirsty for them red thumbs. I’ll give you a green thumb just to spoil the fun 😊.
of this world
benjmin IN
🤣
You might need a dustpan and brush if any more pieces of your brain drop out onto the floor.
Awful refereeing, allowed Newcastle’s strategy of feigning fouls and injuries and wasting time to ruin the flow of the game, and quick with the cards for both sides when he didn’t need to be. That being said, our lack of depth is obvious. We need ESR and a new signing ASAP, and what’s happened to Vieira and Sambi? I would have brought both on for Odegaard and Xhaka in the last 20 just for some fresh legs and ideas as both looked tired but obviously Mikel sees enough in training not to trust them which doesn’t bode well.
We were dominating and controling the game. Changes can work both ways, could have meant we lost the tempo of the match and possibly lost. After Brighton, I think it was fair enough. The only changes that could be made which isn’t as dangerous are wingers/striker which unfortunately we currently lack.
This team is going places. With the right players added in the right places this transfer window we can win the league.
Yes, that’s probably true but it’s adding the right players etc. that could be a problem. According to media reports, Chelsea are apparently preparing to outbid us for Mudryk so we’ll see what happens there. I assume Edu has a Plan B (or Plan C even) should we not get him after all. We do need to strengthen the squad though.
The only ‘problem’ I can see is if we wimp out at the eleventh hour by not paying market value. Like it or not, £80m is what Mudryk’s current market value is. And yes, that’s down to the idiocy of Man Utd paying way over the top for Anthony and Chelsea blindly throwing cash at anything. But here’s the thing; the horse has already bolted and it bolted over 40 years ago. I was only 12 in 1979, yet even I could see how ridiculous it was for Brian Clough (who with his intelligence should have known better) and Nottingham… Read more »
This is why Pierluigi Colina implemented the stoppage time change at the Qatar WC. The proper time keeping stopped a lot of this time wasting at the WC and the games flowed more because players didnt have the incentive to waste time. The Premier League needs to do the same, or stop the clock when ball isnt in play like they do in rugby. We watched 43 minutes of football yesterday. FOURTY THREE. These anti football tactics need to be stamped out and proper time keeping is the way. P.S Bobby Madley is a useless ref and dont get me… Read more »
Spot on re the time keeping, we need added time to be literal not symbolic, or else players/managers will keep taking the piss, and who can really blame them if it achieves results.
No bespoke attacking options from the bench and Chelsea looking to outbid us for Mudryk.
Any of you sanctimonious penny pinchers out there have a problem with us signing the lad now……?
Or would you rather we sat on the extra lousy 20 million and kiss the title bye-bye……..?
😂