Mikel Arteta speaks after 2-2 draw with Liverpool

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta appreciated his team’s performance at Anfield on Sunday in a 2-2 draw with Liverpool, which has left them six points ahead of Manchester City with eight games left to play.

The Spanish manager after the game stated that while Arsenal will have to move on after letting a two-goal lead slide off their grasp, they performed well at Anfield in a way no other team in the Premier League team has done there this season.

“I haven’t seen anyone do it [dominate] in this ground this season. They beat every big team here. We could have taken three points. We should do that [play like the first half] for another 15 minutes, and then the game would have taken a very different trajectory. We didn’t. We have to take the point. Move on. Convince them to keep playing like we did in the first 30 minutes.” Arteta said.

Arsenal started well, with Gabriel Martinelli sliding through Liverpool’s defense in the eighth minute to score the opening goal, while Gabriel Jesus made it 2-0 twenty minutes later.

Mohammed Salah ensured Liverpool halved the deficit before the break before losing a penalty early in the second half. Liverpool maintained the momentum and pressured the Gunners before Roberto Firmino headed home from Trent Alexander Arnold’s cross with four minutes left to play.

Arsenal now have eight games left in the season to secure their first Premier League title since 2004, while they are six points ahead of Manchester City, who have nine games. Pep Guardiola’s side defeated Southampton 4-1 on Saturday.

In other games at the weekend in the Premier League, Chelsea lost their first game under Frank Lampard’s second tenure with a 1-0 loss at Molineux against Wolves.

Crystal Palace went to Elland Road on Sunday and managed a 5-1 win, while Manchester United got a 1-0 win over Everton.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu