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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
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2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


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