Mikel Arteta names one thing Arsenal 'can do much better' after Brighton draw

01/04/2025 04:34 PM

Mikel Arteta was left to rue two dropped points as Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw against Brighton in Saturday’s Premier League clash.

The Gunners took an early lead through Ethan Nwaneri but failed to build on that advantage and were pegged back by Joao Pedro’s controversial second half penalty.

As a result, Arsenal missed the chance to cut the gap at the top to six points ahead of Liverpool’s game against Manchester United on Sunday.

While Arteta was angry at the decision to award the home side a spot kick he admitted his team were well short of their best in an attacking sense.

Arsenal registered a season low nine shots on goal over the course of the 90 minutes and Arteta admitted a significant improvement in that department is required.

‘You cannot rely just on one player to work, I think the process in the second half, especially we lack certain things and it's normal because the fluidity that we have in certain areas with the player we have is not the same,’ he said.

‘But certainly it's something we can do much better and that's on us.’

Arsenal’s attacking options for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi final first leg against Newcastle will be reduced even further after Arteta confirmed Nwaneri suffered a muscular injury that forced his half time subsitution.

Bukayo Saka is out for another two months at least, while Martin Odegaard was fit enough only to take his place on the bench while Kai Havertz missed out altogether through sickness.

Loan signing Raheem Sterling could be in contention to feature against Newcastle but the clamour for January reinforcements is only likely to increase after another disappointing display.

Arteta said: ‘Well obviously we cannot make a decision based on one performance on one day where a lot of circumstances as well, not only the players that were lost.

‘But as well but the sub to take Ethan out, the one with Martin is introduced for very limited time, hopefully on Tuesday we will be in a better position, let's see.’