Mikel Arteta watches on as Arsenal missed the chance to extend their lead over Manchester City to seven points(Image: Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta insisted his team needs to “go through the pain” after they squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with bottom of the Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night. The Gunners had the opportunity to go seven points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table with a win.
Arteta’s side looked all set to do that when Bukayo Saka opened the scoring early on and Piero Hincapie doubled the advantage ten minutes into the second half. Incredibly, Wolves, who have only won once in the Premier League all season, staged a remarkable comeback through Santiago Bueno and a Riccardo Calafiori own goal.
The gap is now five points but will be cut to just two on Saturday night if City beat Newcastle United. Arsenal do not play again until Sunday’s north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur but even if they win, they will have played a game more than Pep Guardiola’s team.
FOLLOW OUR MAN CITY FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester City Facebook page
Reflecting on the missed opportunity, Arteta said: “I think we need to go through the pain, and you need to go through that, looking in the mirror and understanding what the game requires now, and the next action is on Sunday. That’s it.
Try MEN Premium NOW for just £1
“Anything that we say from here today is fine, but we need to keep all that in our tummies to show it on Sunday. That’s what we have to do.” He added: “I think any question, any criticism, any opinion, you have to take it on the chin today.
“I think that’s it. Any hit, any bullet, take it, because we didn’t perform at the level that is required. Anything that anybody says can be right because we didn’t do what we had to do. The way to do it is on that pitch on Sunday, in a great opportunity that we have.
Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as a Preferred Source in your Google search settings
“We’ve always done it, but you’re as strong if you show it the next time you do it. To talk and say it here, it’s simple, and we have to do it on the pitch.”
Read more on Manchester Evening News
