Mikel Arteta bemoans a lack of an end product as Arsenal are held
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Mikel Arteta admitted the magic was missing as Arsenal missed a golden opportunity to edge closer to Liverpool at the summit of the Premier League following a “very disappointing” goalless draw with Everton. Arsenal dominated Saturday’s fixture against Sean Dyche’s resilient Toffees at the Emirates, but the sluggish championship contenders were guilty of failing to create enough clear-cut chances.
Arsenal have now gone three consecutive matches in the league without scoring from open play, leaving them six points behind Liverpool – who drew 2-2 against Fulham – having played a game more. The full-time whistle was greeted with a smattering of boos inside a frustrated Emirates.
Arteta was also forced to defend his surprising decision to withdraw captain Martin Odegaard shortly after the hour mark. Arsenal’s hot prospect, Ethan Nwaneri, 17, replaced the club’s most creative player, but he could not unlock an Everton backline which has kept four clean sheets from their last five outings.
“I feel very disappointed not to win the game,” said Arteta. “Obviously there was only one team who deserves to win, and that was Arsenal. “We gave nothing away, didn’t concede any shots. We dominated play. We didn’t allow them to run, we generated chances, but in the last 20 metres we were missing a goal. And when you do what we’ve done against them today, you have to win the game.
“If you draw you always want more, but I cannot ask much more from the boys apart from putting the ball in the net. Individually can we do things a bit better, with a little bit more quality, and deliver that magic moment when it’s necessary? Yes. But that is not easy.”.
