Mikel Arteta was left regretting wasted chances as his side could not capitalize on their moments of ascendency to take all three points against Tottenham in the north London derby on Sunday.
Tottenham came from behind twice to claim a point and bring their three-match losing streak against Arsenal to an end, but it was a game Arsenal had for the taking and could have won it all but for wasted chances that eventually proved to be too costly.
Arteta felt Arsenal deserved win against Tottenham
Asked if Arsenal deserved to win after their performance, he said: “Well especially when you go up twice, and the moments and the chances that we didn’t make, especially in the first half.
“We wanted more but you have to make the most out of it and we didn’t. The moments where we had dominance of the game and control, we conceded the goals and that was a big, big blow.
“Playing in front of this crowd in a derby doesn’t get much better than that, and I think the players were so excited but sometimes you can be too hyped because then we lacked some composure on the ball to get more control, but we have to take the draw, there is nothing else we can do.”
Asked if Arsenal’s Champions League game in midweek last week against PSV contributed to his side being leggy against Tottenham, Arteta responded: “I don’t know, because we finished the game really strong. We were very dominant; we were playing in their third and they couldn’t get out. There were moments that we played super hype, and in these derbies, the stage, the atmosphere and the energy to play there, and to play at the same pace when you don’t have the ball, and when you get it back. We lacked that composure to be much more dangerous, because we could have been.”
Arteta also refused to put blame on Jorginho’s mistake that led to the Spurs equaliser: “I love him, and we love him. We all love him. That is a part of football, and they are allowed to make errors because they play. We don’t play and for us it’s really easy, but if there is someone who is there that will help the team and do the most, it’s him. He’s got it, and for Jorgi, we’re all with him.”
Arsenal will be looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they take on Bournemouth at the weekend.
