Arsenal may have extended their unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions, but their faltering attacking displays risk derailing a season filled with high expectations. For the second Premier League match in a row, Mikel Arteta’s side dominated possession, yet Everton, like Fulham last weekend, held on for a draw.
Tellingly, the Gunners have won just half of their 16 league games this season – a record unworthy of a team with title ambitions.
Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos made of another frustrating afternoon for Gooners.
Mikel Arteta on failing to capitalise on a dominant performance…
I’m very disappointed not to win the game because we fully deserved to win the game. We conceded no shot on target, no shots off target, we dominated the direct play that they wanted to generate the chaos from, no set pieces, they didn’t run, we did all the right things up to the last 20 metres when we generated big situations, three big chances and at the end, we didn’t manage to score the goals. That’s the disappointment.
Source: Sky Sports
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Sean Dyche on a disciplined shift from his players…
You’ve got to know how to work without the ball. It’s very difficult at these grounds to think you’re going to have a lot of the ball so, therefore, you’ve got to do everything else well. I think we did that today. I thought the shape was good, the energy, the commitment to the cause to look after ourselves and get a clean sheet. All them things are part of a season’s work.
Source: BBC Sport
Arsenal (1.58) 0-0 (0.17) Everton
— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) December 14, 2024
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford on his side’s performance…
It’s about how we apply ourselves – stick to the game plan and suffer. We suffered a lot without the ball. We dug a point out. Two defeats in 10 or 11. The discipline is there. Against Arsenal, you’d smash and grab a point all day long. I made some good saves at good times. The lads made some brilliant blocks. A good performance from everyone.
Source: Sky Sports
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Kai Havertz on Arsenal’s struggles in attack…
They are a tough team to break down. They are very solid in the box. Just the little details in the box, we didn’t manage to do them. We didn’t find the final pass. Sometimes I think the positioning in the box wasn’t perfect so we have to look at that and make it better next game.
Source: Arsenal.com
Arsenal 0-0 Everton FT
Arsenal miss a big opportunity to close the gap on Liverpool. A disjointed performance from the Gunners:
— Opta Analyst (@optaanalyst.optajoe.com) December 14, 2024 at 5:22 PM
Arteta on what his side are missing…
It’s all the moments that we need to have a little more composure and more quality in those moments, that’s normal. That’s it. Tracking back? Unbelievable. Putting in the high press? Unbelievable. Dominating a lot of things? Unbelievable, but the disappointing thing is that you want to come away winning after what you’ve done on the pitch.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Theo Walcott on Arsenal dropping points…
Any opportunity that Arsenal don’t get a result is always going to be a missed opportunity because Liverpool are relentless. It was a dogged performance from Everton – you could have predicted that performance before the game but of course, it’s a missed opportunity.
Source: BBC Radio 5 Live
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Since returning from injury on November 10, Martin Ødegaard has created the most chances of any player in the Premier League (17), pic.twitter.com/c19iRuv11m
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) December 14, 2024
Havertz on whether fatigue was a factor in Arsenal’s performance…
I don’t think so. Of course, it’s tough, we play every three days, we see some players are injured, not fit, try to come back, it’s always tough, but we are professionals, we try to recover, I think that’s not an excuse. Today we wanted to win and we should win that game. We have to stick together now and stay positive.
Source: Viaplay Fotball
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Arteta on his decision to sub Rice and Odegaard…
Well, with Declan, I had to take him out because he was feeling something. And with Martin it was a tactical decision to try to change their rhythm, especially on that side. If Ethan comes in [for Odegaard] and scores a goal, is he a great sub? If he doesn’t, you have taken your captain out. That‘s football. He [Rice] has been with a little niggle for the last week or so. He has to be subbed in that moment. We have to do it.
Source: Post-game press conference
I think we need to get real about the level that is required to win a Premier League.
🎥 On the Whistle | Arsenal 0-0 Evertonhttps://t.co/P7Lra0bwDS
— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) December 14, 2024
David Raya on his performance…
You say I had nothing to do but I thought I played really well in that aspect. Maybe not in making saves but trying to help the team, stopping the ball from going behind, managing possession regains and all that stuff. That stuff is just part of the game. Part of how we play and that’s what the team needed. They needed me when the ball went in behind. I just try to come out and keep the ball and not just kick it out of play or make rash decisions. So I thought it was a complete game for myself.
Source: The Mirror
This feels like 2016 when the waves parted and we said “after you” to Leicester.
I don’t think so
Even Arteta admits its about scoring goals but we don’t need a striker according to many.
That’s not the right interpretation. Just buying a striker is not going to solve that problem. Even if you have an elite striker but move the ball so slowly that allows defenders to predict your move and mark him, like we are doing now, then it wouldn’t help. Our system needs a change, we shouldn’t expect the striker to take defensive positions if we want to counter attack, need to move ball faster thru midfield, get 1-2 combinations & dribbles in the box back, then a striker would be effective.
We need a creative midfielder and a goal scoring left winger. Strikers need service and we are not providing much at the moment.
John Moncur and Stuart Ripley should do the trick I reckon
Nope – in our past half dozen matches, we have had more than a dozen very good shots on goal put wide or scuffed or ballooned over the bar or hit straight at the keeper.
The chances are coming… but the current lads (Saka largely excepted) just CANNOT finish!
Arteta ‘I’m very disappointed not to win the game because we fully deserved to win the game’ but we didn’t. Said it last week against Fulham too. Slow passionless football and deserved no more than the point we got. Does this team want or believe they can win the title? Have to realise you have to fight
agree with your comment except for the last part. i don’t think it’s a matter of trying to fight. if you saw wenger’s final season you know what “not fighting” looks like. these players give everything every match. it’s not enough for many reasons, but commitment is not an issue at all.
Honestly I’m a big fan of Arteta’s interviews because he generally reads the situation well. I read his full transcript and it was the first time it genuinely seemed like he had run out of ideas. You have this moment when managers like ETH, Ange and Mourinho start to give clues that they’ve lost their grip, and Arteta will need to stop and take stock and figure some things out.
Agreed.
Because we had the ball, that means we deserved to win the game? NO. Sorry Mikkie but that’s not how football works old bean. It’s the effing scoreline that influences winning sir, not if your press was good…
We created more than them. The issue is the finishing.
Exactly. And Arteta hasn’t “lost his grip” – his influence on the club is why we are strong and very hard to beat. Look at the table for goals scored and allowed and try to figure out why spuds are so far down the table. They have almost the exact goals for and against as chel$ – but that team is weak – doesn’t understand how to control and dictate what they want to happen when on the field – and so they don’t get results. I know some folks want to say “backflips to back Arteta” or whatever –… Read more »
Agree. Slow even in the counter. Too many lumps, not enough dynamoes.
I think what we witnessed on Saturday was the football equivalent of ‘Rope-a-dope’ (copyright Muhammad Ali)
Fortunately the nearest thing Sean Dyche gets to a sucker punch these days is a straw and Mrs Dyche’s best silver bowl.
I thought Ødegaard was poor today. Subbing him was the right decision.
More like it would be unwise to keep overplaying him after such a miraculous return.
He’s a first-time dad of a newborn. Many of us were worried this would be an issue and we saw it today. I wonder how many new dads can tell their lady: “but I’m a world class professional footballer, the baby is not my job”.
My dad knows a guy who played for one of the top Spanish clubs and was told by his wife something along the lines of: “I sacrificed everything and took the first ten years at home with the kids, the next ten are yours, I’m off.”. That was the end of his career abroad.
He has enough money to hire an army of Nannies…I very much doubt lack of sleep is an issue!
He might not have been his usual self today but he was our only creative spark. Unless he was injured, wrong to sub him.
Subbing him didn’t make us any better he’s still not the level he has been. It’s understandable having just coming back from a fairly long injury but we need him back to the level he was.
He wasn’t great, but he had just started to grow in influence when he was subbed. He had just created 2 chances out of thin air earn a couple of minutes before he was taken off. Baffling.
“If Ethan comes in [for Odegaard] and scores a goal, is he a great sub?”
I don’t think anyone is arguing against subbing in Ethan mi querido Mikel, that’s such a failure to understand or answer the question. What needs to be explained here is why you think Odegaard is the one that has to come out.
Nwaneri is promising but, he is not Messi. Also, I couldn’t understand subbing on Partey at RB when we were looking for a goal.
Managing Timber’s fitness I guess?
Play them both, that’s what I say.
Creation overload. It’s Christmas, let’s be grateful and greedy all at once.
“We fully deserved to win the game” yea I don’t think so mate….Having the ball and barely doing anything with it doesn’t mean you deserve to win. Seems a bit entitled here, Spanish ego in coaches has been showing lately, eh?
tf does his ego have to do here and why did you feel the need to mark it as a spanish trait? lame
Come on mate. We did everything but score yesterday, especially in the first half. On another day, one of those early chances goes in and we finish the game with a cricket score; we all know it. If we aren’t making chances, then you have cause for concern. I’ll give you the fact that we dropped off in chance creation in the second half but then Arteta made those daft substitutions – he’ll know he got it wrong. As I speak we have actually gained a point on City this weekend as well as not dropping further behind Liverpool. A… Read more »
“They are a difficult team to break down”
NO THEY AREN’T!!!
We can’t always dismiss the opposition as no marks, they defended well, Pigford made some good saves, they worked hard and we couldn’t create gilt-edged chances. It’s on us, but also some kudos to an opponent doesn’t hurt on occasion.
Spuds put 4 past them.
Spurs are a fast break team, we are not.
You would think it would be harder for a fast break team to break down a team camped in their own box.
We’ve scored plenty in the past on the break via Martinelli or Trossard. That said, we’ve normally been a couple up already.
Don’t compare us to those 1961 clowns up the road.
Jordan Pigfood.
I think Arteta sometimes wants to say ‘We were shit’
If we won the league now I’d eat my tea towel.
enjoy your meal!
After Saturday, there was probably no ‘want to’ about it….
Let Sterling start on the left wing. He can’t do worse than Martinelli at the moment.
Yes he can. Especially defensively. And in the press. And that’s why he won’t play. I’ve no idea why we took him. Always gonna be that player. Arteta must tell himself that he’s not the second George Graham but when it comes to it he very much is. A forward is more likely to get benched for not tracking back than for missing 3 sitters. Has the team with the least goal conceded and best GD ever come 5th before ?
Don’t bank on it!
Hmmm.
You wouldn’t start Martinelli or Trossard on the left wing of your turkey at the moment.
I noticed a big flaw and error in our tactics in the final 20 minutes. When Trossard had the ball on the left, he was totally isolated. Timber pushed central and Trossard lost the ball or had to put in a hopeless cross in. Same thing on the right.Saka was isolated and alone, no overlap from Partey. He pushed central too and when Saka had the ball with 3 players on him he had to force another hopeless cross. Very poor tactics 💩 💩 💩 💩
The fullbacks go to an inside forward position constantly throughout the games. It’s what Arteta instructs them to do. It’s driving me fckin nuts watching it.
Do we need a killer striker in January? Yes. But we also need the right tactics to create the environment for him to score. Right now we are missing both.
I agree. But I also think a lot of people on this platform – and beyond – need to consider the torrid injury list we’ve had and our usual extra helping of soft red cards and dodgy VAR decisions from the morons masquerading as fair minded officials. I’d be the first to admit that we aren’t covering ourselves in glory at the moment, but by the same token no one else is genuinely running away with it and we are, whether people like it or not, still in race with half the season to still play. If we click as… Read more »
Yes – and we need to nick Salah from under their snotty Scouse noses in Jan.
Chance would be a fine thing!
Just one daft phone call to Anfield from Bertie Mee or Terry Neill and the deal is done.
£333,333,333.33
Done.
And I thought it was only me who couldn’t see the point of that!
Thanks, mate
And it was always Benni Blanco that backed Saka, and IMO we’ve lacked that input from the left side, which could be why Martinelli struggles alone. Where is HIS back-up? Only Tierney properly provided that, but I’m sure Timber or Cala could do the same – when fully fit.
Yep – I’d love, just once, to see Kieran bombing down the left flank outside Fast Gabi.
Handbrake on
“Look, errrr…..listen, errr…..we played little bit the handbrake….so now why you look at me?! I am no longer the manager but we are still in the championship and for the rest, everyone thinks he has the best looking wife…”
Full backs moving into crowded central midfield positions and not overlapping wingers and providing the support they need. No striker to take the chances that are created. Possession with no end product. A total reliance on Saka and Odegaard every game. Creative play coming down the right wing and nothing down the left. Players failing to turn up week after week and poncing a wage (Jesus, Martinelli), Players perpetually “injured” (Calafiori, Tomiyasu) We didn’t deserve to win that game. Everton are NOT a difficult team to break down. And Arsenal’s Premiership title challenge is over, it if ever existed in… Read more »
Oh please add Sterling to that list of failing to turn up!
Difficult to turn up when your manager’s locked the dressing door while you’re still sticking yer shin-pads in!
Alright, the catharsis is somehow not arriving this time, even the daily blog didn’t sooth me.
Where’s Dr. Gooner to tell me it’s gonna be fine?
I’m no Doctor, but I’ve been a Gooner since 1971 and I’m telling you now that everything’s gonna be fine.
“Good teams don’t become bad ones overnight” (copyright George Graham).
Seconded by Q’s older bruv (Gooner since ’69) and veteran of too many rainy 0-0s through the late ’70s/early 80s
The worst parts of these defeats is the cesspool that is the Internet and the scum it tends to drag out, hurling abuse at players and the manager. What is wrong with some people?
I agree. I get the disappointment, but we’re still only half way into the season.
The entitlement from the FIFA25 braindead is every bit as amusing as it is nonsensical.
I call ’em that Instagrat fans – raised on the ‘type-it-in-and-demand-gratification’ opium of social media ‘un’reality.
I had a good chuckle Saturday evening. Not with the result, you understand – far from it. But just thinking about all those awful 0-0 draws we sustained at Highbury after Brady and Stapleton had left, between 1980/81/82. At least some of us were dry – the Clock End got soaked! 😂 It was only after we signed Tony Woodcock, Charlie Nicholas and Paul Mariner in 82/83/84 respectively, that we even began to look as if we might have sussed where the opposition net was. Fast forward to now and everyone is losing their shit about being 3rd and still… Read more »
A lot of totally justified frustration, but also a lot of defeatist nonsense on these pages. Yes, we were poor. Yes, a lot of our players are underperforming. And yes, the manager got the substitutions woefully wrong. But to read some of the comments on here, you’d think we were fighting relegation. I don’t expect the media (especially our ‘friends’ at Sky, TalkShite and the Fleet Street vermin) to be anything other than deliberately delighted in our patchy form. But, in the cold light of day, I would urge each and every one of you, as true Arsenal supporters, to… Read more »
Everton had 2 weeks rest before the game. It’s hard work lasting 90 minutes without possession. Fresh legs and minds helps, that’s just sport.
Arsenal like city played at maximum form for 2 years till this summer.
People don’t really like to count physical condition but it’s a fact of life. Did last winters dubai break help or didn’t it?
Couldn’t agree more. Some Dubai sun might just be the ticket again – our schedule permitting.
I do agree with you but it is SO hard to watch when you know what beautiful football we can play
All the more reason to get behind the boys now. They know what they can do, we know what they can do.
So let’s all close ranks, pull up the Emirates drawbridge, get that Arsenal siege mentality going and start believing.
Cheers 😉🍺🍺
Well said Sir! I would only add to this that the problems we have are ‘easier’ to fix – our perenially leaky, brain-fart ridden defence has been transformed into on of the best in the Prem. Likewise our defensive midfield. We have an injury list of whom most would walk into just about any other EPL side, all to come back in the coming weeks. It’s not that we cannot create chances… it’s that we are not finishing the ones we are creating. We need a lethal finisher, certainly – but most of the systemic problems of past seasons have… Read more »
It just occurred to me that Mancity have lost 5 of their last 7games and arsenal are only 3points ahead of them. That tells you all you need to know about our season so far.
A quick perusal through our injury list, VAR disallowed goals list and confetti like red cards list is also informative.
Noted but unfortunately, at the end of the season, those won’t be remembered. The was a season when we were supposed to consolidate but we seem to have taken a step back. The team needed a striker and a substitute for Saka at the very least but what did we do? You know the story
Noted, but you’re talking about the end of the season when we’re still only half way through it. 😉
The difference between a loss and a draw is only one point you know.
Precisely, a lot of people seem to think expecting more and saying that the team up front has been poor is somehow betraying our team. What bollocks. I want them to succeed and if we aren’t doing well enough, we don’t deserve to. Many might think I’m chucking in the towel, but we are done. There is no way we will win this season. We blew probably the best chance we’ll have in another decade
Absolutely not good enough by any of them. We can no longer carry players like Martinelli, Jesus, etc. We need better up top. The amounts of times we have double digit attempts on goal and get zero return from it is annoying beyond belief. If we had true goal getters to support players like Saka, we’d be walking this league.
Beginning to think we should of got Ivan Toney in when we could
Imagine if we’d gone all out for someone like Nico Williams. Hell, Toney would have got us more goals than any of our up front players. My biggest issue is with Jesus, he should be ashamed that he has one more goal than one of our centre backs in roughly the same time. I know he’s had injuries, but still…ashamed. Some people on disgusting wages not pulling their weight