Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes took another major hit as they were held to a 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford. The result leaves the Gunners 15 points behind league leaders Liverpool with only 10 games left in the season.
The match saw Bruno Fernandes put United ahead just before halftime with a well-taken free kick past David Raya. However, Arsenal responded in the 74th minute, as Declan Rice found the net with a powerful first-time strike, although United goalkeeper Andre Onana could have arguably done better.
Despite Arsenal’s dominance, manager Mikel Arteta was visibly frustrated after the match, criticizing his team’s lack of ruthlessness and decision-making in crucial moments.
Arteta Calls for More Killer Instinct
Speaking after the game, Arteta did not hold back in his assessment of his team’s performance. While he acknowledged Arsenal’s excellent first half, he pointed out that his players failed to make their dominance count by converting their chances.
🗣 Arteta (via BBC Sport):
“When we had the first half that we had where we were exceptional, we didn’t test the keeper. We had some unbelievable situations but we didn’t get the last shot or the last pass. We didn’t capitalise, we rushed the game, we started to lose duels, and we could have ended up losing it.”
The Spaniard also criticized Arsenal’s defending, calling the way they conceded “not acceptable”.
🗣 Arteta:
“How we conceded [chances] in certain moments was not acceptable. They have so much quality and they pick the right player and normally that would end in a goal. We opened the gate to lose the game. There was no chance to lose the game, and we opened it ourselves.”
Despite the dropped points, Arteta insisted that he would defend his players but stressed that they must improve in key moments.
Arsenal’s Title Hopes Fading?
The draw means that Arsenal now face an uphill battle in the title race, as they trail Liverpool by a significant margin with time running out.
🔹 Current Premier League Standings:
1️⃣ Liverpool – 71 points
2️⃣ Manchester City – 68 points
3️⃣ Arsenal – 56 points
With only 10 games remaining, Arsenal must find a ruthless edge if they hope to close the gap and stay in the title race.
What’s Next for Arsenal?
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Arsenal will look to bounce back in their next fixture, but Arteta’s side will need to show greater efficiency in front of goal and tighten up defensively if they are to salvage their title challenge.
Can the Gunners turn things around, or is their title bid slipping away? Share your thoughts below! 👇
