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
This feels like 2016 when the waves parted and we said “after you” to Leicester.
I don’t think so
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
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.
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”.
“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.
“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?
“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.
I think Arteta sometimes wants to say ‘We were shit’
If we won the league now I’d eat my tea towel.
Let Sterling start on the left wing. He can’t do worse than Martinelli 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.
Handbrake on