Mikel Arteta advised of his “disappointment and frustration” after Arsenal have been denied a win by an injury-time Sunderland purpose on the Stadium of Gentle. A 94th-minute strike from the substitute Brian Brobbey claimed a degree for the house facet, who're fourth within the desk.
“It's not a pleasant feeling,” stated Arteta. “It's disappointment and frustration, as a result of we wished the three factors. We needed to navigate via a tricky sport. We knew that. [They were] very disruptive. We needed to take care of conditions that have been clearly troublesome to take care of.”
The previous Arsenal academy participant Dan Ballard had opened the scoring throughout a primary half that had seemingly unsettled the guests; requested how he felt when Arsenal's club-record run of eight clear sheets was ended, Arteta stated: “A ache in my tummy, as a result of I don't wish to concede any objectives.” His facet improved after the break and took the lead via objectives from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard.
Arteta stated of Sunderland's opener: “We conceded a purpose that was not in our requirements, however after that, the group reacted rather well, confirmed plenty of persona and braveness. Scored the primary purpose, scored the second purpose, and we completely dominated the sport.
“It's important to depend on defending the field after they begin to commit six, seven gamers there. It may be from a direct play, it may be from a throw, or it may be from any state of affairs. We are able to defend the motion higher. And right now we haven't accomplished it, we've conceded a purpose.”
Even after Brobbey's equaliser, Ballard needed to block a Mikel Merino shot. Arteta stated: “Within the final minute, we had one other huge likelihood to win, which I feel we deserved.”
Régis Le Bris praised the “character” of his Sunderland group, whose motto in final season's profitable run within the Championship playoffs was: “Until the tip”.
“It exhibits that the group has a very sturdy character,” stated Le Bris. “It's nonetheless robust towards a group like Arsenal, among the best groups in Europe, so it's important to do a masterclass, in any other case it's inconceivable to win one thing.
“I feel the primary half was properly balanced, we tried to defend excessive when attainable, organised a deep block, actually compact, slim, aggressive, and we had the chance to handle the ball generally.
“The second half was a bit harder, since you defend for lengthy intervals, after which it's important to keep composed with the ball, and we nonetheless have a very younger squad, actually younger gamers with out nice expertise within the Premier League, so it's a very good lesson.
“I feel we have been simply on the sting after the 2-1, and Arsenal have been dominant, and so they have been in a position to hold the ball. However with the vitality of the stadium, I feel the traits of our gamers, and the background we've now, I feel it's actually constructive for this religion, and this perception, that we will change the dynamic.”
