Mikel Arteta shared mixed feelings after Arsenal’s intense 2-2 draw with Liverpool, acknowledging that his team remains “alive” in the Premier League title race. Despite missing critical players like captain Martin Ødegaard, William Saliba, and Riccardo Calafiori, Arsenal took an early lead, with Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino scoring in the first half after Virgil van Dijk’s 18th-minute equalizer.
However, the match became challenging for Arsenal due to injuries, with Gabriel Magalhães and Jurrien Timber forced off the pitch, leaving Arsenal with a weakened defense. Liverpool capitalized on this with Mohamed Salah’s goal in the 81st minute, equalizing the game and preventing Arsenal from securing the much-needed win.
Arteta expressed his frustration over not claiming all three points, saying, “I’m very disappointed that we haven’t won the game today.” Despite the obstacles, he praised his squad’s efforts, emphasizing their resilience amid challenging conditions.
While Arsenal had control in the first half, defensive errors allowed Liverpool to score twice, which Arteta found disappointing. He noted, “We gave two goals away. That’s the really frustrating part and that we couldn’t see the game out.”
The result favored Manchester City, who moved to the top of the table, one point ahead of Liverpool and five points clear of Arsenal. Arteta acknowledged this challenge, stating, “You don’t want to be in that position. You want to be five points ahead but this is where we are.” Nonetheless, he remained hopeful, asserting his team’s commitment and spirit. “The team is alive, the team wants it. I feel it every single day,” he added, especially noting the frustration of sidelined players due to injuries.
Arteta expressed confidence that improvements would come, saying, “Things will turn up and we are going to be in a better place.” He believed Arsenal outperformed Liverpool overall and regretted the missed chance to gain valuable points.
On the other side, Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, praised his team’s resilience in twice coming back against a strong Arsenal side. He acknowledged the game’s difficulty and expressed contentment with the result, highlighting that it’s still early in the season and that Liverpool can compete effectively.
Slot, however, was disappointed with a yellow card he received during the match, clarifying that his comments had been misinterpreted, especially since he already had two yellow cards this season. Both managers reflected on the match’s intensity and the importance of the result moving forward.
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