Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance despite the close call against Leicester City, but he voiced some concerns.
After a hard-fought 4-2 victory over the struggling Wolves, Arteta admitted he felt “worried.” The match against Leicester appeared to be in Arsenal’s control when Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard scored in the first half, giving them a 2-0 lead. However, despite numerous opportunities to increase their advantage, Arsenal faced a strong pushback in the second half. Leicester’s James Justin scored twice to equalize, causing anxiety among Arsenal fans.
In the closing moments of the match, Wilfred Ndidi inadvertently scored an own goal, followed by Kai Havertz adding another goal to secure a 4-2 win for Arsenal. This victory puts Arsenal level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, with both teams sitting on 14 points after City’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle.
While Arteta expressed concern over how his team lost control during the game, he praised their ability to regain it. After the match, he stated, “I’m happier with how we managed it—emotionally in control.” He acknowledged his worries, saying, “We shouldn’t have been in this position, but that’s sport. It’s what makes football unique compared to other games.”
Arteta noted that the game became more emotional than expected in the chaotic second half. “It should have been a larger score after going 2-0 up,” he remarked. “But I’m really happy with how we responded.”
Arsenal created numerous opportunities throughout the match, registering 36 shots with 16 on target. However, Leicester’s goalkeeper, Mads Hermansen, delivered an outstanding performance that kept the scoreline close. Arteta acknowledged that the missed chances could impact his title ambitions, saying, “Honestly, it was hard to accept because we should have scored more.”
Despite some tense moments, Arteta expressed overall satisfaction with his team’s performance. In his comments to Match of the Day, he said, “My first thought is that I’m very happy with the performance. We should have scored many more goals, but the team showed incredible spirit in creating chances.”
Looking ahead, Arsenal will face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday, followed by a challenging Premier League match against Southampton on Saturday.