Mikel Arteta ‘very disappointed’ in Arsenal’s draw with Man City

September 22, 2025

The Gunners drew 1-1 with the Blues in their Premier League match on Sunday (21.09.25), despite having 67.2 per cent of the possession during the game, and the Arsenal manager, 43, has admitted he is unhappy with the result.

Speaking with Sky Sports after the match, Arteta said: “I am very proud of the team … the way we played, we dominated them, and I am very disappointed with the result.

“We started incredibly well, so dominant again, we were playing in their half and did not allow them to breathe, but in one action it is very chaotic because the ball bounces, there is a duel there, we lose it and suddenly find themselves in the spaces, and they are lethal there and they finish with the quality they have.

“After that we had five shaky minutes and we had to reset mentally because it was so unfair to concede that goal with what we were doing, then after that we just completely dominated the game again.”

City’s Erling Haaland opened with a ninth-minute goal for the Blues, though Arsenal snatched victory away from their opponents after Gabriel Martinelli, 24, scored a late goal in extra time.

In a rare tactical departure, City manager Pep Guardiola, 54, ended the match in a 5-4-1, fielding centre-backs Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake and John Stones after withdrawing all three forwards.

The Blues limited Arsenal to 12 shots, only three on target, and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, 26, was quick to note the significance of Guardiola’s adjustment.

Rice reflected: “I think we have obviously gained the respect of the opposition, the quality we have from back to front, I think in my time here at Arsenal we probably have not dominated a game like that against Man City as we did today.

“I thought in the first half we passed and moved really well and the same second half, but it was always that threat from them of the counter-attack. I think in the end we thoroughly deserved a goal.

“If we had come away losing we would have been really disappointed so I think in the end a point’s probably fair but we want to win that one.”