Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted the 1‑1 draw at Stamford Bridge was tough.
Mikel Arteta reflected on the 1‑1 draw with Chelsea, saying the match turned into “a tricky game to play.” Arsenal failed to stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points despite dominating parts of the game.
Chelsea went down to 10 men after Moises Caicedo was sent off in the first half, a moment Arteta admitted they had expected to change the dynamics. However, the Blues took advantage of a second‑half set piece, with Trevor Chalobah heading home to give them the lead.
The Gunners equalised through Mikel Merino, who met Bukayo Saka’s cross with a header, restoring parity and keeping the score at 1‑1.
Arteta told reporters “They get a free kick and they score. Then it becomes a very tricky game to play.”
Arteta expressed disappointment for not winning despite Chelsea being reduced to ten players for the final 45 minutes. “Overall I think that when you don’t win with 10 men for 45 minutes you have to be disappointed,” he said.
He also highlighted the challenges of the week, noting Chelsea’s quality and the lack of cohesion in their squad. “We had a tough opponent. They did everything they can again. They’ve never played together so we need to build that synergy. There were a lot of things happening before the game.”
The result leaves Arsenal still ahead on points but without the cushion they hoped for. Chelsea’s resilience with a man down showed their character and kept the title race tight.
Both managers will now look ahead to the upcoming fixtures, aiming to turn the momentum in their favor as the season progresses. Arteta emphasized the need for continuous improvement and patience.
