“We dominated them, we were the better team" - Mikel Arteta reacts as Arsenal play out 1-1 draw with Chelsea

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta believes his side were the better team in their 1-1 draw against Chelsea in the Premier League. The Gunners were held to a stalemate by the Blues on Sunday, November 10, at Stamford Bridge.

Following a goalless first half, Arsenal opened the scoring through Gabriel Martinelli's right-footed shot after being set up by Martin Ødegaard in the 60th minute. Chelsea found their equalizer through Pedro Neto's strike from outside the box in the 70th minute. The Portuguese forward was set up by Enzo Fernandez.

Arsenal maintained 51% possession while creating four big chances against Chelsea, who created only one. Both teams had three shots on target each, but the Blues edged the Gunners in the xG (1.28 - 0.99).

Following the 1-1 draw, Mikel Arteta shared his opinion on the match and expressed his disappointment with the result. The Spanish tactician told Sky Sports (via The Mirror):

"I think we dominated them, we were the better team in many phases and situations in the game and after going ahead, very disappointed in the way we conceded. It was so poor. It is not our standards and we don’t accept."

"Really proud, but at the end we are here to get the three points and we didn't. It is a second phase set piece and we were disorganised. We don’t reorganise quick enough and you can’t allow the pass that way," added Arteta.

Mikel Arteta also praised Pedro Neto's goal for the Blues, adding:

"You need the quality of Neto to do it but our standards were not good enough. They are all disappointed as a team. I'm very proud of the team with how they reacted. We wanted the three points and we didn't get them."

With this draw, both Chelsea and Arsenal have 19 points from 11 Premier League matches. However, the Blues are third in the league table with a greater goal difference (eight) while Mikel Arteta's men are fourth with a goal difference of six.

(Stats via Sofascore. These platforms may change the stats as per their prerogative)

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Mikel Arteta provides updates on injuries sustained during Arsenal's PL clash against Chelsea

Following Arsenal's Premier League draw against Chelsea, Mikel Arteta provided injury updates on Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice. The 25-year-old English midfielder returned to the pitch after missing the Gunners' Champions League loss against Inter Milan on Wednesday. He broke a toe during their 1-0 defeat against Newcastle United in the league on November 2.

However, Rice was replaced by Mikel Merino in the 71st minute against the Blues. Bukayo Saka, meanwhile had to come off the pitch after Marc Cucurella fouled him. The 23-year-old right-winger was replaced by Gabriel Jesus in the 81st minute.

After the 1-1 draw against Chelsea, Mikel Arteta addressed the injuries and mentioned the uncertainty regarding the two players' availability for the upcoming international break. The Spanish coach said (via London Evening Standard):

"It doesn’t look good. For two players of that importance to tell you they cannot continue in the game, obviously it’s not good news. Two players that just came off, I don’t expect them to be fit because if they are, they don’t come off."

Arsenal have won only one out of their last five Premier League fixtures. Mikel Arteta will be counting on his players returning to fitness over the next two weeks to regain their league form.