"With 10 men, you cannot concede a goal" - Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta laments lack of desired commitment from players after Fulham draw

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was unhappy with his team conceding a late goal against Fulham in their 2-2 Premier League draw on Saturday (August 7).

The Cottagers scored in the first minute as Andreas Pereira capitalized on a mistake from Bukayo Saka. The English winger made amends in the 70th minute, though, netting from the spot.

Fabio Vieira, the substitute who won the penalty, then assisted Eddie Nketiah for his team's second goal two minutes later. The Gunners seemed destined to walk away with three points after Calvin Bassey was sent off in the 83rd minute.

However, a valiant Fulham ensured that they scored the game's next goal, converting a set-piece chance three minutes from time. Jorginho and Oleksandr Zinchenko both rushed to meet the corner played in by Harrison Reed but missed it completely before Joao Palhinha provided a neat first-time finish.

Lamenting the split points, Arteta told BBC Match of the Day:

"Yet still you get another two chances and don't score - that is the story of the game. The amount of things we did to merit to win the game comfortably, we (shouldn't have) end(ed) up with one point.

"We have to show another level of commitment and desire and 'over my dead body'. With 10 men, you cannot concede a goal."

The Gunners have kept only four clean sheets in their last 15 competitive games across competitions.

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Mikel Arteta backs Arsenal midfielder Kai Havertz after lacklustre display against Fulham

Kai Havertz was hardly impactful in Arsenal's draw against Fulham at the Emirates.

The German midfielder started in the No. 8 role once again but failed to impress at either end of the pitch. With his team trailing 1-0, Mikel Arteta hauled off the 24-year-old in the 56th minute for Fabio Vieira.

The Portuguese playmaker went on to play a pivotal role in both his team's goals, raising questions if he should replace Havertz in the starting XI. Arteta, though, defended the former Chelsea forward (via the Metro):

"Yes I think so (if Havertz can prove his doubters wrong), and, I think, he’s done already really good things. Today, it was tough for him in certain moments.

"He got in great areas again today, and the ball didn’t arrive, and a lot of situations he should’ve scored a lot of goals already this season, and that is the thing that is missing."

Havertz, 24, is yet to register a goal contribution for Arsenal since his £65 million from Chelsea this summer.