Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is taking home plenty of positives after watching his side hold City to a goalless draw on Easter Sunday.
For the second time this season, City have failed to score against Mikel Arteta’s men, having lost 1-0 to the Gunners at the Emirates for the reverse fixture back in October.
Arsenal showed defensive solidarity to keep City at bay, ensuring that their 57-game run of scoring at the Etihad came to an end in humbling fashion.
Though the stalemate meant that Liverpool now top the table, having won Brighton in an earlier fixture, but for Arsenal, Arteta insists that the draw means more than just a point for his side, especially as they avoided defeat at the Etihad for the first time since 2016.
Arteta reflects on positives from City stalemate
Speaking after the draw against City, Arteta said: “It was a really tough, really close match against a team that is unbelievable. I think the boys competed really, really well. We were really disciplined and patient with when we had to be.”
“The upside was that we had some big chances, some big situations that we didn’t convert and the fact that we lacked a little bit of composure, especially with the ball in the first phase to play more, to have more, to be more courageous to play but credit to them because they make your life difficult.”
Arteta further revealed that the Arsenal players were not completely satisfied with the final result of the game.
“That’s the feeling I get every day in the dressing room,” he added.
“That’s unbelievable. You know, we have prevented this team for the first time in three years to score a goal at home. And that tells you the difficulty of it. But they want more. And as individuals, we could have done more. As a team, we could have done more. And that’s good to see.
“We are making the steps, but let’s maintain all the good things we are doing and let’s keep improving.”
After reflecting on the City game, Arteta said his side will now quickly turn their attention to their next game on Wednesday at the Emirates Stadium.
“Now it’s Luton, this has gone now, it’s Luton, a really tough opponent. You know, what they’re doing against the top sides. And we need our people again on Wednesday night to create an unbelievable atmosphere and go again and try to win the game.”
