- After the international break, Arteta seeks to regroup the team’s strength and concentration
- Arsenal are without a top-flight victory in their last four games.
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Mikel Arteta admits he will resort to “praying” in Arsenal’s quest to overturn Liverpool’s nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League as his side’s winless run continues at Chelsea.
After taking the lead through Gabriel Martinelli, the Gunners let their lead slip after Pedro Neto scored the equalizer to leave Arsenal without a top-flight win in their previous four matches.
Arsenal’s start to the season has been ravaged by injuries, which were further aggravated yesterday when Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka limped off, although captain Martin Odegaard started his first game in six weeks following an ankle injury.
And when asked about the nine-point gap to Liverpool, who extended their lead at the top of the table this weekend after Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea all failed to win, Arteta replied: “There is nothing that we can do about it.” What I ask is that after the international break we have the team fully physically equipped.
‘That they are available and that they are fit, because it has been a nightmare for eight weeks. Doubt after doubt, issue after issue, not only with those who cannot play, but with those who can play only for certain moments and cannot play.
Mikel Arteta said he would resort to “prayer” to ensure his Arsenal team stay in touch with the title race.
He saw his team take the lead on Chelsea in the second half thanks to a goal from Gabriel Martinelli.
Arteta’s injury problems appear to have deepened, with Buyako Saka and Declan Rice limping off
“So I’m just asking that, because the desire that the team has and how much we want it, there’s no doubt.” It’s coming. We just need that on our part to be more consistent.
‘When it gets ugly, show your teeth and show how much you want him. When it’s Disneyland it’s very easy. Everyone is by your side, telling you how beautiful you are.
‘When things get dark and difficult and everyone questions it, that’s when I want to see people. I’m looking around.’
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca insists he has no problems with Noni Madueke after the winger, clearly upset, stormed down the tunnel after being substituted in the second half.
“The problem is that when you change a player, he is never happy,” said the Italian.
“Probably the only time I would be happy would be at Wolves, he scored a hat-trick and we changed him. It was a tactical decision, nothing more than that.
Arteta (right) wants his team to bounce back, while Enzo Maresca (left) calmed Madueke speculation
Maresca said there was no problem with Madueke, who burst into the tunnel after the substitution
Maresca said there are injury concerns for Cole Palmer (left), who was “in pain” after the game.
Maresca also revealed that Cole Palmer, who was a doubt for the match, finished the game in pain, news that will worry England interim head coach Lee Carsley, who faces a series of withdrawals ahead of the matches against Greece and Ireland. . this week.
Palmer, Saka, Rice, Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominic Solanke all have injury concerns before the team meets at St George’s Park on Monday.
