“I can’t just understand why Arteta is benching such amazing player, they won’t go anywhere if he keeps benching him…At times, I wondered if he really learned anything from me”: Pep Guardiola slams Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta for benching ONE player who’s one of the best in Premier League
The Gunners took the lead thanks to a thumping near-post finish from Gabriel Martinelli after the Brazilian was found at the far post by returning captain Martin Odegaard.
It took just ten minutes for Chelsea to restore parity thanks to a mesmerising long-range effort from summer signing Pedro Neto.
Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard missed a chance in the dying seconds to clinch victory, stretching in vain to connect with a William Saliba cross, but the visitors had to settle for a point.
Arteta was less than pleased in the aftermath, slamming his players for failing to hang on to their advantage after doing the same against Liverpool two weeks ago.
He told Sky Sports: ‘I think we dominated them, we were the better team in many phases and situations in the game and after going ahead, very disappointed in the way we conceded. It was so poor. It is not our standards and we don’t accept.
‘Really proud, but at the end we are here to get the three points and we didn’t. It is a second phase set piece and we were disorganised. We don’t reorganise quick enough and you can’t allow the pass that way.
‘You need the quality of Neto to do it but our standards were not good enough. They are all disappointed as a team. I’m very proud of the team with how they reacted. We wanted the three points and we didn’t get them.
‘You could see everything was flowing but again it is about winning. We have a clear vision how we can evolve the team. What we find out is that we have to change something big because we have problem after problem.
‘My biggest fear is physically to get players at their best for 90 minutes. With that I’m fully confident we will have a good season.’
The stalemate did neither side any real favours and leaves both of them nine points adrift of leaders Liverpool with just 11 matches played.
When asked about the nine point gap to Liverpool, Arteta replied: ‘There’s nothing that we can do about that. What I’m praying is that after the international break we have the team fully physically equipped.
‘That they are available and that they are fit, because, it’s been a nightmare for eight weeks.
‘Doubt after doubt, issue after issue, not only with the ones that are not able to play, but with the ones who are able to play only for certain moments and not able to play.
‘So I’m just asking that, because the desire the team has and how much we want it there’s no question. It’s going to come. We just need that on our side to be more consistent.
‘When it gets nasty, show your teeth and show how much you want it. When it’s Disneyland it’s very easy. Everybody’s next to you, telling you how beautiful you are.
‘When it gets dark and difficult and everybody’s questioning it, that’s when I want to see people. I’m looking around.’
To add insult to injury for Arteta, Declan Rice seemed to hobble off on 71 minutes before England team-mate Bukayo Saka was substituted after a heavy tackle from man of the match Marc Cucurella.
The Gunners boss said: ‘They don’t look very good to be fair. I don’t know (if long term) but they both couldn’t finish the game so not good.’
