Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed that he is frustrated after the clean sheet streak came to an end against Sunderland at the Stadium of light. He wanted to secure all three points, but had to settle for a draw after Brian Brobbey scored an injury-time equaliser.
Mikel Arteta on Arsenal's bad defending
Interacting with the media after the match, Arteta praised Sunderland for the fight but admitted that his players should have defended better in two situations that led to the goals. He said:
"Again, unsatisfied because I want to win. And the game was almost there, but you know this is the Premier League and the manner that they play, they're going to hang in there when it's just one goal difference there."
"I'm upset and frustrated because it's an action that we can defend better, but as well you have to give credit to the opposition to do what they've done, to put the ball there, to head the ball the way they've done it, and then they strike it to do that action and to put the ball in the net and sometimes you have to do that and recognise that as well."
discussing the run of eight back-to-back clean sheets coming to an end Arteta added:
"I felt a pain in my tummy. I don't want to concede any goals. It was a goal and put the game in a difficult position."
Arsenal stays on the top of the Premier League standings, six points clear of Chelsea. The lead could be cut to four if Manchester City beat Liverpool, or five if the Reds beat the Cityzens.
Mikel Arteta appreciates Sunderland after Arsenal draw
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said that there were no easy matches in the Premier League, heaping praise on Sunderland for their efforts in the draw. He said that the Black Cats have shown why the league is competitive and said:
"That's the Premier League, you don't get to any place in the Premier League where you think you're going to have a comfortable afternoon, evening, how you want to call it. And again, it's not a coincidence what they are doing, and they decide to be where they are, and we do as well."
Arsenal players split for the international break and will be back next week, days before they take on Tottenham in the league. They will lock horns with Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League and Chelsea in the Premier League later in November.