Mikel Arteta was disappointed with his side’s draw with Nottingham Forest after Arsenal failed to score for the second league game in a row. Mikel Merino was again chosen up top and despite the display being better, it remained short in the areas that mattered in the final third.
Arteta was asked for updates on the substitutions made during the game with both Riccardo Calafiori and Nwaneri coming off. He was asked about the options from the bench, including the youth players, but failed to commit to looking to use them.
Very disappointed not to win it. Today the standards were very different to the previous game. The energy, the willingness to make things happen. We certainly tried many different ways. We dominated the game, apart from one in the second half after one or two direct free-kicks where they had something in the box and one or two giveaways that allowed them to run. Apart from that, nothing. With the amount of situations we generated, the moment we opened them up, we lacked certainly that final pass, the quality on that delivery and certainly more shots on target to actually win it and be more efficient.
How difficult is it for you to find players in the system that you need to score goals?
We try and adapt to the qualities they have, how we can help the team to create different things, to have threats from different qualities. Probably they are not about arriving in the box and creating some magic moments. They are all the kind of players and we try to adapt to that and do the best that we can.
Even the set-pieces, which you’ve been so good at this season, you’re struggling to almost make them work and capitalise on them.
We have two big chances, I think. We generated at least much more but it’s true that it has to go on the net and it’s been so helpful, especially when we lost so much threat in the attacking options that we have. Set-pieces are a key element of that, especially against a team that defends in such a low block. We couldn’t open it up even with that and very disappointed.
How can you solve it? There’s still a lot in this season, isn’t there? How can you solve it to get goals?
Well, we have another day or two now to think before the PSV game. Other options that we have, especially against a team that are in this low block. If we wouldn’t arrive, if they would open up, if they would be an opponent much better than us, I would be probably in a very defensive state. I know what it’s like. It’s a lot to play for and we need to find a solution to unlock it.
Can I just check if Riccardo was injured or was that a tactical?
No, I took him off because he had a yellow in the second minute. I think he had one or two situations, defending Hudson-Odoi. We could not play again with ten men.
Just with Ethan as well, some of the crowd didn’t seem too happy about him taking off because he was playing quite well. Is that about managing him?
No, he was cramping from minute 45. So we tried as much as we possibly can but we cannot lose the player and he was really fatigued.
I know we’re all talking about what more can you do to try and find a solution for goals but it feels like you’ve tried everything almost the last three weeks. Is it going to come to a point soon where the young boys on the bench, you maybe need to give them a shot?
We will think about that. I think we have many more options still to explore but we certainly can do better with the situation that we are in. Especially, unlocking certain moments, the final pass, the quality on the deliveries, the consistency after sustained attacks. We have to insist. There’s no reason not to insist and support them and give the best that we all have.
How hard is the challenge when you see that gap to Liverpool with the score widening to meet the momentum up and the motivation of the players?
It’s about what we can do. It was like this a week before, two weeks before, three months ago. It’s the same. That’s the only thing we can control. We’re going to have a real chance to do anything. Today we dropped two points which is very painful again and we have to step up. We have the Champions League, we have a beautiful competition in front of us and we need to be ready for Tuesday.
