Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that he is disappointed and, at the same time, proud of his team’s performance in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. 

The Gunners who lost their last fixture in the Champions League in a 1-0 loss to Inter Milan on Wednesday, needed a victory as soon as possible in a bit to catch up with out of form Manchester City and Liverpool who have created a five points advantage with City in second and nine points advantage over Arsenal.

Arsenal have dominated this fixture in recent years and even won the last meeting between the two sides in a 5-0 battering of the Blues at the Emirates Stadium. 

The visitors thought they had taken the lead midway into the first half, but Kai Havertz’s effort was ruled out for offside. The Gunners came blazing from the break and broke the deadlock in the second half through Gabriel Martinelli on the hour mark.

However, their lead lasted just 10 minutes as Neto struck a long range effort to put Chelsea back on track. Unfortunately, there was no separating the two sides who both sit in third and fourth with nineteen points each with Arsenal below their rivals on goals difference.

Mikel Arteta admitted Chelsea’s quality and his team gave the Blues the chance to get back into the game.

“I am very disappointed but very proud as well with what I have seen from the team again. We did the most difficult one to score the first goal but were very disappointed with the way we conceded. The standards and our defensive habits were nowhere near. They have quality, and if you give them space, they are going to punish you.” Arteta said.

Both teams will return to League football after the international break, with Arsenal at home to Nottingham Forest and Chelsea away at Leicester City.