02/12/2025

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TUESDAY | DEC 2, 2025

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M IKEL ARTETA praised his Arsenal side at the end of an “immensely difficult” week after they drew 1-1 with 10-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The Gunners started a Premier League match with neither William Saliba nor Gabriel in defence for the first time this season, Martin Odegaard and Viktor Gyokeres only fit enough for the bench and Leandro Trossard injured, they had to come from a goal down to take a point that put them five clear at the top of the table. The sending-off of Moises Caicedo in the first half for a studs-up tackle on the ankle of Mikel Merino seemed to leave the match there for the taking, but after Trevoh Chalobah headed Arsenal in front, there was a sense of relief that the leaders had survived with a point thanks to Merino’s leveller. Despite playing against 10 men for almost an hour, Arteta reflected instead on what his side had achieved in the previous seven days after thrash ing Tottenham in the north London derby and the Champions League win over Bayern Munich. “It’s been a big week,” he said. “The derby, how emotional and the neces sity to win, then Bayern Munich. “We lost players in those games, today we had to play a partnership we haven’t played before in a really diffi cult match. The captain is still not here, the No. 9 is not here, Kai (Havertz) is not here, we lost Leo. “The team had to react to that. It’s been a positive week because the diffi culty was immense. But I have this fla vour that today we should have won the game, and we haven’t.” Saliba was missing after receiving a knock in training and will be assessed again ahead of Thursday’s game against Brentford, whilst Gabriel is set for a longer layoff. “It’s been a headache because we have to have a lot of option and changes in the last few months,” said Arteta. “This (Saliba’s absence) was unexpected. Today was a great learn ing match for all of us.” Arteta named Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie as his centreback pairing for the first time in the Premier League. “The beauty of it is that you have players so willing to play, so willing to connect with each other. We will build a relationship even better,” Arteta added. “So today was a great learning match for all of us and as well gives you the assurance that whoever is there is going to perform.

“Right from the beginning you could sense how much was at stake. Every duel and action was full gas, very short sequences of play. “With the 10 men we expected a different game, we plan it, we went through it in the second half. They get a free kick and they score. Then it becomes a very tricky game to play. “Overall I think that when you don’t win with 10 men for 45 minutes you have to be disappointed. But you have to know the week we had, a tough opponent. “They did everything they can again. They’ve never played together so we need to build that synergy. There were a lot of things happening before the game. The spirit of the team is in tact.” The Arsenal manager will need those who come in to keep performing as he confirmed that it would be “weeks” before Gabriel’s return to the first team. Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca accepted the dismissal of Caicedo but questioned why Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur had not been sent off for a similar challenge on Reece James when the teams met earlier in November. There was also what looked to be an elbow from Piero Hincapie on Chalobah that left the Chelsea defender’s face bloodied but brought only a yellow card.

Arsenal’s Mikel Merino (centre) scores against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

Arteta heaps praise on Arsenal after ‘immensely difficult’ week Proud Gunners

“Moises is a red card, but why Bentancur against Reece was not?” said Maresca. “As managers we try to understand why they judge in different ways. We struggle to understand. “Trev one, I asked the referee, he said it was not an elbow. They judge in different ways. He has a black eye, he was with ice at half-time.” James was outstanding in the cen tre of midfield but when asked if he will be able to play on Thursday at Leeds, Maresca said: “The reality is no. “We have a game on Thursday, for Reece we need to manage him and control his situation.” – The Independent/Agencies

Arsenal’s Mikel Merino (left) and Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo lay injured after a tackle from Caicedo that earned him a red card during yesterday match. – AFPPIC

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