Coach Mikel Arteta: 'I am disappointed with how the match ended'

Mikel Arteta acknowledged that Arsenal fell short of the necessary level following the draw against Wolves, accepting accountability and calling on his team to self-examine during the fierce championship battle.

Coach Mikel Arteta showed clear disappointment as Arsenal dropped points against Wolves at Molineux in a match that could significantly impact the Premier League title race this season.

The Spanish tactician attracted attention by positioning Bukayo Saka as the number 10, after admitting he was surprised by the connection the player showed in the game against Wigan Athletic last weekend. This quick adjustment paid off when Saka opened the scoring within minutes with a precise header from Declan Rice's cross.

However, Arsenal failed to maintain their dominance. Although Piero Hincapie doubled the lead, which seemed to settle the game, Wolves quickly responded with a goal from Hugo Bueno. The tension peaked in stoppage time when the home team scored an equalizer, causing Arsenal to lose two crucial points bitterly.

After the match, Arteta candidly accepted that the responsibility lies with the entire team. “I am extremely disappointed with how the game finished. But we have to blame ourselves. The performance was below the standard required to win in this league.”

When asked about the psychological aspect and emotional control, Arteta said his players knew what the match demanded but failed to deliver. “If I ask them what the game needs, they all know. But they didn’t execute it. That is something we must improve.”

The 43-year-old manager also called on the players to face criticism: “All criticism today must be accepted. Whatever is said is justified. We need to look at ourselves.”

He further emphasized the lack of control during the match: “Even after scoring the second goal, we still didn’t control the ball. One situation after another.”

This draw makes Arsenal’s title challenge more difficult. For Arteta, the most important thing now is to overcome the pain and respond strongly in the next round.