"We Should Have Done Much More" – Mikel Arteta Demands More from Arsenal Despite Chelsea Win

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was not completely happy with his team’s performance, even though they secured a crucial 1-0 win over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners grabbed all three points thanks to a well-taken header by Mikel Merino, but Arteta believes his team should have done better.

This victory helped Arsenal strengthen their position in the Premier League, putting them nine points ahead of Chelsea. However, they remain 12 points behind league leaders Liverpool, with only nine games left to play.

Arsenal took an early lead in the game but failed to extend their advantage, which left Arteta frustrated. While he was pleased with the win, he felt his team could have been more dominant.

“We should have done much more, but we are very happy because this was an important game,” Arteta told Sky Sports. “We played against a top opponent, and the team showed an incredible spirit. Now, we go into the international break, and the only thing we can do is try to win all our matches. If we do that, we will be in a better position.”

With key players like Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus missing due to injuries, Arteta has been forced to rely on Mikel Merino up front. The midfielder has taken on an unfamiliar role but has delivered with important goals.

Arteta praised Merino’s efforts, saying: “He really wants to do well. He has never played in this position before, but he is scoring goals. He is a very dangerous player inside the box, and he is helping us a lot. I am really pleased with him.”

The Arsenal boss also provided a positive update on Bukayo Saka, who has been out injured but is expected to return after the international break. “Saka has a good chance of playing in April when we face Fulham,” he confirmed.

On the other side, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca remained optimistic despite the defeat. His team competed well but struggled in attack due to missing key players. Cole Palmer, who has been Chelsea’s best player this season, was unavailable for the first time in the Premier League campaign. Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke are also recovering from injuries and are expected to return soon.

“We fought until the end despite the injuries,” Maresca told Sky Sports. “After the international break, we will have more players back, like Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke, for the final sprint.”

Although Chelsea lost, Maresca felt his team performed well overall. “We controlled the game and created some chances,” he said. “Arsenal scored from a set-piece, which is one of their strengths. That was the difference. It is disappointing, but I feel we are moving in the right direction.”

With the international break coming up, both teams will have time to recover and prepare for the crucial final stretch of the season. Arsenal will face Fulham when the league resumes, hoping to close the gap on Liverpool, while Chelsea will look to bounce back and push for a strong finish.