The coach criticized the defensive errors and warned that the team must improve despite the agonizing victory at the Emirates.
LONDON — Mikel Arteta warned that the “horrible defensive habits” of the Arsenal They were about to cost them the victory against Wolves.
The Gunners moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League, but only after a tense and nervous performance at the Emirates Stadium against the worst team in the division.
The Wolves goalkeeper, Sam Johnstone, unintentionally deflected a corner kick from Bukayo Saka in the 70th minute. Arsenal then retreated to try to preserve the lead, but the substitute Three Arokodares equalized the score in the 90th minute.
Arsenal rescued a valuable victory when Yerson Mosquera He headed a Saka cross into his own goal in the 94th minute, although Arteta focused on giving up territory and possession in the final stretch, something that almost caused serious damage to his title aspirations.
“[El ambiente en el vestuario] It is relief, but with a very clear understanding that the difference should have been greater,” Arteta told reporters.
“In the first half we were not precise enough with the number of situations we created within the rival area and we did not choose the correct shirt. We had to improve in the second half.
“We did it, we generated more chances, but then we had a period of two or three minutes very far behind, totally passive, with horrible defensive habits, very far from the level required against a team that had not had a single shot.
“The first time they had a chance, they scored. This is the Premier League. Luckily we are relieved because we scored the winning goal, but we have to improve in that aspect, without a doubt.”
Ben White He limped off in the 31st minute with a hamstring problem, and Arteta suggested the defender will be sidelined for a while.
White had started his fourth consecutive game in the same season for the first time in more than a year.
“He hadn’t played many minutes due to the previous knee problem and when he started to gain rhythm, he had to play a lot because we had no other solution,” Arteta explained.
“Even today we had to take risks with Willy [William Saliba]when it probably wasn’t the best decision for him to play 90 minutes, because we were buying tickets for another injury, but we don’t have anyone else. For Ben, it is certainly bad news.”
