Mikel Arteta and his players need to be more resilient. Photo: AP
Upset? Yes. Frustrated? Completely. This is not the result or level of performance that Arsenal were looking for. But Arteta understands that fighting for the championship is never an easy task. If it sometimes seems like an endless and exhausting battle, that’s because it is.
Arteta knows better than anyone how difficult it is to fight for every point to move up the standings. “I’ve had this feeling since August,” he said, opening his eyes wide, as if to say that those who are not in the world of football cannot imagine how exhausting it is. Every point is earned with immense effort – much of it invisible to outsiders: the training ground, the travel, the gym, the meeting rooms, the receiving and processing of information, the constant experimentation and repetition, the training, the playing, the recovery… and then having to absorb a constant “cascade of expectations.”
“We all have the same feeling,” Arteta added. “Every coach, every player, every team. Because this is the level of this competition, and you see how difficult it is.”
People had seen Manchester City’s recent stumbles and thought the road would be easier for Arsenal. But Liverpool concentrated and controlled the game last night, making things difficult for the Emirates Stadium team. Arsenal themselves also complicated things by playing below their level. They lacked rhythm, intensity and cohesion, so they couldn’t change gears or pick up the pace. After a somewhat optimistic start, with Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber dominating the right flank, creating opportunities where Arsenal’s forwards could not find the right moment, the game gradually slipped away from them. “We had too many careless turnovers,” Arteta reflected. “It was below the level we’re used to.” It was a bad day when they lost the basics.
Let’s stop for a moment. Many centers have left the ball in positions where a striker should go on the attack. Viktor Gyokeres has been working tirelessly for an hour, but he still doesn’t seem to believe his position at the center of the fight for the Premier League title. The Swedish striker seems like just the guy who needs a winter break: a moment to catch his breath, reflect, regain confidence and then return with a renewed mind; maybe that will help you.
The Gyokeres need a winter rest.
And similarly, if we reverse the story, the fact that Arsenal are still at the top of the table after 5 months is quite extraordinary: they are without Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus is almost completely absent and the expensive striker they brought in has faced countless difficulties since his transfer from Sporting CP in the summer.
Arteta tried to take things objectively after Arsenal unexpectedly dropped points at a crucial moment in the title fight. He acknowledged that it was a missed opportunity to widen the gap with Manchester City, but he also remembered how the team reacted after an unusual defeat a few weeks earlier: seven consecutive wins and a draw. Then, he defended the players during the holidays: “I have to congratulate the players for what they have done during these holidays, given the level of demand and the incredible schedule. What they have achieved is incredible, being in such a solid position despite all the problems we have had. I think the boys deserve my praise and everyone’s recognition.”
Arsenal left a bad impression in a game they were expected to win.
But football, especially in the fight for the title, leaves no room for complacency. In August, Arsenal lost to Liverpool in a close match, decided by Dominik Szoboszlai’s long-range free kick, and were criticized for their lack of ambition. Eighteen games later, those criticisms have not completely disappeared, even though the Gunners have risen to the top of the table. Arsenal still have a lot of work to do to rediscover a more effective attacking style. They have shown impressive second-half performances recently, but failed to make much progress against Liverpool last night.
Arteta could have replaced the entire offensive line: Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze came on in an attempt to ignite the game in the final stretch. But then the frustration resurfaced in a very unpleasant way: Martinelli’s reaction to Conor Bradley’s injury was an angry push, as if he were trying to expel his rival from the field; an expression of rash anger, perhaps stemming from Arsenal’s desperation to find a way to win the match.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot was quite lenient with Martinelli and mentioned the disadvantages of wasting time, which is common in football. “I’m 100% sure that if I had known what the injury was, I never would have done it,” declared the Liverpool manager.
It was a calm and dignified response. And later that same night, Martinelli posted an apology to Bradley on Instagram: “I want to say I’m very sorry for my reaction… I wish Conor all the best for a speedy recovery.”
A difficult end to an already difficult night.
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