Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has delivered his full post-match reaction after the Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The fiercely contested derby swung dramatically late in the first half when Moisés Caicedo received a red card for a heavy tackle on Mikel Merino, but despite the man advantage, Arsenal were unable to take all three points.
Softfootball earlier reported that centre-back Gabriel Magalhães picked up an injury while on international duty with Brazil, leaving supporters frustrated during the break. Hours before kick-off against Chelsea, Arsenal suffered another setback as William Saliba also sustained a minor injury, ruling both starting centre-backs out of this crucial clash at Stamford Bridge. Their absence forced significant reshuffling within the defensive setup.
In a statement shared via the club’s official X handle, Arteta opened his post-match remarks by describing the physical and emotional intensity of the derby saying;
First of all, I think it was a proper London derby. It was really tense, and you could sense from the beginning that every duel, every action, has something on it. Two teams very willing to win, and not much football. A lot of stops, free-kicks, yellow cards, so not a lot of fluidity. But obviously after the sending-off of [Moises] Caicedo, we wanted to settle the game. We didn’t manage to do that – we had four more yellow cards, and those players were obviously targeted in order to even the game in terms of numbers. And at half-time we said, let’s push it now, get what we have to do, and we were very clear on our intention and how we were going to dominate the game in the first action. Long ball, free-kick, corner, and we concede from a set-piece. So then, the momentum shifted, and ultimately the team have to react to that. We managed to get some good spells without having too much momentum and we score a great goal, and after that, we had two or three big chances but lacked certain detail, especially in the manner we attacked, and especially in certain positions, Robert [Sanchez] had the ball in his hands.
The Arsenal boss admitted the demanding fixture schedule may have played a role in the team’s performance levels, he said;
We played every two-and-a-half days, so we had one less day than Chelsea to prepare, and on top of that, we lost players. But this is the schedule – now we’re going to have to play Wednesday, for sure. It drives you on, there was a lot at stake and we had two very intense matches. But, that’s the beauty of it as well. Not many teams have the opportunity to play the games we have played this week, and I’m extremely proud of the team.
Despite the frustration of dropping points, Arteta insisted there were positives to take from the performance, he stated;
That’s the feeling that we have, and the standards that we set to ourselves. Probably it’s because of the spirit, the hunger and how much they want it, that it’s so incredible we’ll overcome everything. So many things have happened, but we have to prepare very well for Wednesday, and try to be better than Brentford.
He then addressed how the last-minute injuries to Saliba and Gabriel affected the team’s game plan and preparation.
It’s been a headache, because we’ve had to have a lot of options and changes over the last few months for different reasons. That one is very unexpected and it happened yesterday, but the beauty of it is that you have players so willing to play, so willing to connect with each other, and it makes their relationship even better. So, it was a great match for all of us, and it gives you the reassurance that whoever is there is going to perform.
Arteta also noted how squad depth continues to be tested as the season progresses, he stated;
To be fair, [our depth] has been tested since pre-season, because we lost six or seven players constantly out of the squad. But I have no doubts with the squad we have and the mentality every player has.
Regarding the condition of his centre-backs, Arteta offered limited updates while confirming further assessments are underway, he said;
I don’t know. I think [Wilo] has another test tomorrow to see the extent of that feeling, that sensation that he had, then we’ll know more. With Gabi, there are still some weeks to go.
To close out the evening, Arsenal will now shift focus to preparing for another intense outing in midweek, with Arteta stressing the need for efficiency, recovery and tactical precision ahead of their next Premier League assignment. The manager believes the resilience shown at Stamford Bridge will serve as a platform for improvement as the team navigates a challenging stretch of the season.
