Izuchukwu Okosi
Following Arsenal’s 3-1 away defeat to Manchester United On Sunday which is the Gunners’s first defeat of the season, Mikel Arteta says Arsenal failed to “kill the game” when they had the chance to do so.
Bukayo Saka had brought his side level at Old Trafford before Marcus Rashford scored twice to win the game for Manchester United.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelA disappointed Arteta said after the match: “The game was there for the taking. We haven’t won it because we lacked some discipline in some moments and we weren’t ruthless enough in front of goal.
“If we play with more courage we win the game. It is a big lesson – if you want to win here you have to do everything so right.”
“I am really disappointed to lose the game especially with the way it went over the 95 minutes. We had some big periods where we were totally dominant and in total control. We created chance after chance but did not close the game. In any moment, when they have open spaces, they are going to hurt you.
Arteta expressed his frustrations with the lack of cutting edge by his forward players.
“They had three big chances and scored three goals, we have numerous chances and we didn’t score enough.
“We had a period in the first 18 minutes when we struggle and did not control the game but after that it was all us. We lose the ball in a really difficult place and play a ball in an area we don’t have to and one pass and they are through.
“We should come here and win because of the way we play. Because of the performance and the way we dominated the game.”
When asked did he feel vindicated rather more than disappointed he replied? “100 per cent.”
On the disallowed goal he added: “Lack of consistency. One is soft and last week they made a foul on Aaron but it is soft, it is not a foul.
“There is a foul on Bukayo, it is soft but not a penalty. Today it is a foul. The threshold in the first actions, you could see there is no yellow card because they want to keep a threshold in a big game. Really difficult to understand.”
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
