Mikel Arteta admitted to a mixture of frustration and pride after Arsenal’s unbeaten run came to an end in dramatic fashion at the Stadium of Light, where Sunderland’s late equaliser denied his side all three points.
A scrappy game, disrupted by a physical home side and another erratic performance from Craig Pawson, saw Arsenal’s 10-match winning streak halted by a stoppage-time goal from Brian Brobbey.
The Gunners had recovered from Daniel Ballard’s early goal through Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard, only to let their advantage slip at the death.
Speaking afterwards, Arteta said his overriding emotion was “disappointment and frustration” after a match that he believed Arsenal should have controlled better.
“The last feeling is disappointment and frustration because we wanted the three points,” he said. “We had to navigate through a really tough game, we knew that. It was very disruptive; we have to deal with situations that are difficult to deal with.
“They did really well and we conceded a goal that is not in our standards, but after that I think the team reacted really well, showed a lot of personality and courage.”
He was particularly frustrated that his team, who had “totally dominated the game” after taking the lead, failed to defend their box when Sunderland committed numbers forward. “It can be from a direct play, it can be from a throw-in, it can be from any situation. We can defend the action better and today we haven’t done it; we conceded the goal,” he said.
“In the last minutes we had another massive chance with Richy and Mikel to win it, which I think we deserved to do, but it didn’t happen.”
Arteta pointed out that the result should not detract from the team’s achievements in recent weeks. “It shows what we’ve done in the last 10 games, winning them in the manner that we’ve done it with clean sheets, missing seven players in the front line,” he said. “So, it shows you how difficult it is.”
Asked if he had been angry at half-time, the manager dismissed the idea. “It’s not about that, no,” he said. “We have to adjust certain things, and at the end you have to create against the opposition as well. They are here unbeaten for a reason, and they do what they do really, really well and they make it very difficult for you.
“You have to be very patient; you have to dominate certain things in order to earn the right to dominate the game in the manner that you want. We did much better in the second half.”
Arteta also acknowledged Sunderland’s performance, describing their effort as typical of the Premier League’s competitiveness. “You don’t get to any place in the Premier League where you think you’re going to have a comfortable afternoon,” he said. “It’s not a coincidence what they are doing. They deserve to be where they are, and we do as well.”
When asked about losing their clean sheet record, Arteta’s response was telling. “A pain in my tummy because I don’t want to concede any goals,” he said. “And it was a goal obviously that was putting the game in a difficult position.”
Despite the late setback, Arsenal’s performance across the past six weeks remains exceptional. The team are unbeaten in 14 matches in all competitions, have lost only once in the league, and remain six points clear at the top, albeit having played a game more than Manchester City and Liverpool, who could cut that to four or five points, depending on what happens at the Eithad on Sunday when they play each other.
Arteta accepted that the result “hurts”, but insisted his players would use it as motivation. “Of course it hurts, especially when it costs you points,” he said. “We know that we have to do better, and even though we’re conceding goals, there are things that we have to improve on the ball. I always mention that, and that’s it. Learn from the past and get back.”
The 2-2 draw also ended Arsenal’s record-equalling run of eight consecutive clean sheets, but the manager’s message was one of perspective. “Unsatisfied because I want to win,” he said. “But this is the Premier League. The game was almost there. Sometimes you just have to recognise that as well.”
With the international break offering time to regroup and Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, Martin Ødegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyökeres all expected to return soon, Arteta’s focus will now shift to ensuring this minor stumble does not become more than that.