Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta points finger at players after Fulham draw
Arsenal V Fulham: Pictures
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta hit out at his players after they let a lead slip to draw 2-2 against 10-man Fulham on Saturday. The Spaniard slammed several missed chances and the Gunners’ inability to hold onto their 2-1 advantage.
Aaron Ramsdale’s bizarre error allowed Andreas Pereira to give Fulham the lead inside the first minute. Frustrated by a lack of conviction in the first half, Arteta introduced Eddie Nketiah at half-time and then Fabio Veira early in the second half.
And both substitutes combined to turn around the game. Vieira’s footwork drew a penalty, from which Bukayo Saka scored. The Portuguese playmaker then provided a wonderful cross for Nketiah to slide home.
But despite Calvin Bassey’s second yellow card for a foul on the Arsenal striker, Fulham equalised through Joao Palhinha. Arteta failed to hide his anger over several mistakes and the missed opportunities – claiming his side could have scored seven times.
READ MORE: Kai Havertz leaves Arteta red-faced as five players let Arsenal down in draw[ANALYSIS]
Arteta said: “Right from the beginning, we gave an incredible goal away. You make life really difficult for yourself. But the team reacted really well. We dominated the game and created countless chances and should have scored five, six, seven goals easily.
“And when you have done the most difficult thing which is to get back ahead against a team that is well organised, you have to defend your box from one corner. It is the only chance they have and you get punished.
“Yet still you get another two chances and don’t score – that is the story of the game. The amount of things we did to merit to win the game comfortably, we end up with one point. We have this situation a thousand times in football [for the first goal]. We gave the ball away in a really dangerous area and it was a really cool finish. All three substitutes changed the game.
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“Fabio was involved in everything we created and I am really happy with that. To see players with the ability to make and take chances with quality. The same with Eddie.”
Arteta then took a pop at his players by questioning their commitment. He added: “We have to show another level of commitment and desire and [wanting to win] ‘over my dead body’. With 10 men, you cannot concede a goal.”
Arsenal have not been particularly convincing in their first three games. They narrowly edged past Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace in their opening two games. Arteta’s side welcome Manchester United to the Emirates Stadium on September 3.
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