Thrilling 1-1 Draw: Mikel Arteta Faces Increasing Pressure to Secure Trophies for Arsenal

Mikel Arteta’s 200th Premier League match as Arsenal’s manager felt more like a lost opportunity than a celebration.

In a 1-1 draw against Manchester United, Arsenal lacked the finishing touch they needed. This match summed up their season; they find themselves 15 points behind Liverpool, who lead the table comfortably.

Arsenal dominated possession with 68.2%, navigating the field beautifully at Old Trafford. However, they struggled to make a real impact on a United team that has shown little flair recently. Although Declan Rice’s striking goal in the 74th minute equalized Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick from first-half stoppage time, it wasn’t enough to ignite a title push.

The team’s struggles have been apparent for a while. Without key players like Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, and Bukayo Saka due to injuries, Arsenal’s decision not to bring in a recognized striker is proving costly. This strategy became painfully clear during the match when, in search of a goal, Arteta opted to substitute Kieran Tierney, who is set to leave for Celtic, instead of bringing in Raheem Sterling, a last-minute loan signing from Chelsea who has yet to shine.

Originally, it seemed like a good idea to give Sterling another chance, as he had great moments under Arteta at Manchester City. Sadly, the fit for Arsenal hasn’t worked out and has left the squad lacking a reliable goalscorer.

In a desperate move, midfielder Mikel Merino even stepped up as an emergency striker but could not make a difference. Arteta acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, stating, “Our efficiency in the final 20 meters wasn’t good enough.” He added that despite performing well at Old Trafford, it didn’t matter since they failed to capitalize on their chances.

Interestingly, Arsenal had an advantage leading up to this match, having 48 more hours to prepare compared to Manchester United, who were busy battling Real Sociedad in the Europa League just days earlier. Yet, even with these benefits, Arsenal could not convert their opportunities into victory.