In the 11th round of the EPL, Arsenal drew 2-2 away to Sunderland. Following the match, Chelsea's head coach, Mikel Arteta, commented on his team's performance at a press conference. According to the Spanish specialist, this match was a real test for the team, and they were ready for this situation.
Speaking about the game, Arteta noted that the opponent was physically very active:
- This game was a real test. We were ready, but Sunderland plays in a style that keeps the opponent under pressure every minute. Unfortunately, we conceded a goal at the end of the match. The number of added minutes also shows how intense the match was," said the coach.
According to him, the team couldn't find their game in the first half, and several important aspects were highlighted during interviews with the players at halftime:
- During the break, I told the guys that we need to act better, not just like that. We knew the opponent's playing style and were prepared for it. "However, sometimes it's difficult to fully implement what was developed in training during the game," Arteta admitted.
The coach especially acknowledged the opponent's effectiveness in attack:
- Both goals were scored from almost identical positions - a long pass, a header, and a quick movement. Sunderland is a team that has mastered this style well. That's why they hold such a high position in the tournament table," he said.
Arteta also noted that the level of competition in the EPL is very high:
- Almost the same picture every week - the difference between teams is insignificant. That's the charm of this championship. Now there is a break due to the national teams' matches, and we will use this time for analysis and recovery," the specialist said.
At the same time, Arteta expressed satisfaction with the team's reaction after the goal:
"We conceded a goal first, but then the guys found strength, equalized the score, and then took the lead. This demonstrated our mental stability. Of course, it's painful that we conceded a goal in the end, but there are many such games in the EPL. This is the unique nature of the competition," the Arsenal manager concluded.
After this draw, the London club is focused solely on winning in subsequent rounds to maintain its position in the championship race.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
