Arteta’s Agony: A Missed Opportunity at Old Trafford Leaves Him Fuming!

Mikel Arteta found himself lamenting his team’s lack of decisiveness in the final third after a 1-1 draw with Manchester United. Having witnessed his lads dismantle PSV Eindhoven in midweek with some superb attacking synergy, the gaffer was left feeling frustrated that the same spark didn’t translate at Old Trafford. The first half saw Arsenal dominate proceedings, but they trailed at the break due to Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick, which registered an expected goals total of just 0.11 for United. That goal shifted the game’s dynamics, gifting the hosts a much-needed lift. Although Declan Rice managed to net a well-taken equaliser, the match ended in a stalemate, leaving Arteta displeased. “I’m very frustrated that we didn’t win, as that’s how we prepared for it,” he remarked. “Our first half display was impressive in terms of dominance, with our high press and ability to engage in attacking play. However, we lacked the ruthlessness in critical moments to finish our chances.” He continued, “We had a couple of big opportunities without giving much away, but then one long ball caught us out. A foul led to a set-piece, and they capitalised on it. That gave them belief and momentum." The manager noted the significance of not only securing back-to-back league wins at Old Trafford—something they haven't done in 46 years—but also pointed to their 1-0 victory in the previous season as a model for success in such high-stakes fixtures. “To win here, we need to be as ruthless as we were last year. We have to execute the basics well, particularly in defence, and most importantly, we need greater efficiency in the final stages of our play,” he added. “In the second half, while we managed to score and create some chances, we also invited trouble through a few simple mistakes, with United having three key chances to capitalise on.”