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Arsenal logo
Premier League | Gameweek 23
Jan 18, 2020 at 3pm UK
 
Sheffield United logo

1-1

FT(HT: 1-0)
Fleck (83')

Arteta: 'Arsenal deserved three points'

Arteta: 'Arsenal deserved three points'
© Reuters
Gabriel Martinelli's goal on the stroke of half-time appeared to have the Gunners on course for a vital victory.

Mikel Arteta was left professing his disappointment after seeing his Arsenal side concede a late equaliser at home to Sheffield United.

Gabriel Martinelli's goal on the stroke of half-time appeared to have the Gunners on course for a vital victory – only for John Fleck to strike with seven minutes remaining and secure a 1-1 draw.

The result leaves Arteta's side four points adrift of the Blades as they continue to struggle for a run of form following the Spaniard's appointment in December.

"I'm very disappointed today," Arteta said after the game.

"I think the performance deserved three points and I think we lost two points.

"In the Premier League, if you don't put the game to bed then in the last 10 or 15 minutes this type of team just need a long ball, a second ball, a set-piece, and you can give the points away. That's it."

Arteta was, however, full of praise for Martinelli after the 18-year-old hit his ninth Arsenal goal in what was just his 10th start for the club he joined last summer.

Arsenal v Sheffield United – Premier League – Emirates Stadium
Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli scored his side's only goal of the game (Adam Davy/PA)

The Brazilian was chosen to replace suspended captain and top goalscorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and missed a couple of chances before putting Arsenal ahead.

Aubameyang, watching from the stands, tweeted that Martinelli is destined to be a "superstar" and Arteta was also left impressed.

"He's an 18-year-old kid with all the enthusiasm but as well, he's so brave to make decisions, to threaten the opponent every time," he added.

"He's all the time in the middle of the goal, waiting for an opportunity to come.
"The fact he hasn't played 90 minutes for a while – since an injury – but is still in the way he went about every single action is impressive."

Arteta bemoaned a VAR decision not to award his side a second-half penalty but he will know his side need to improve if they are to win at London rivals Chelsea on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder felt his team had not been at the races for much of the contest.

After seeing United rescue a point to remain seventh, Wilder echoed the sentiment of Arteta as Arsenal left the door open for them to come back and secure a point.

"I don't think we were anywhere near our best today," he said.

"The result is better than the performance, the game was not put to bed by the opposition.

"When teams don't put you to bed, we have an opportunity to get something from the game. We need to play a lot better than that for us to regularly pick up points."

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Jurgen Klopp and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer prowl their respective areas during the Premier League game between Manchester United and Liverpool on October 20, 2019
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City158342721627
6Aston Villa167452425-125
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Fulham166642422224
10Brentford157263128323
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton153661421-715
16Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1512121131-205


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