Mikel Arteta criticizes Arsenal players for recurring mistakes.

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, did not hold back in his criticism of his team following the disappointing 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen, highlighting an unusual complacency that had taken hold of the players. The coach expressed his frustration, stating that his squad “knew” about the dangers posed by their Champions League rivals, yet still failed to avoid the trap.

In the first leg of their round of 16 clash, the Gunners were fortunate to leave Leverkusen with a draw. After a lackluster first half, the hosts took the lead just a minute after the restart, capitalizing on a well-worked corner. Youngster Kai Havertz converted a penalty in a moment of emotion in the 89th minute, securing a point for his former team. However, Arteta’s mood was anything but optimistic.

Bayer Leverkusen’s opening goal was a bitter blow for the manager, who prides himself on his team’s superiority in set-piece situations. Moments before the goal, Martin Terrier had nearly made it 1-0 with a rehearsed play, but goalkeeper David Raya managed to deflect the header. However, he could not stop Robert Andrich’s shot, which ultimately found the net. “We discussed this at halftime and expected them to start very quickly, especially because we knew certain routines they have from corners. However, we still got caught,” Arteta lamented. “We weren’t ready enough.”

When asked about how the Leverkusen players managed to create such an effective play, Arteta responded incisively. “There are always two sides to this issue. One is the opponent’s ability to exploit our weakness, and the other is us, because we knew and showed three clips of moments from the last matchday, and still, we were not prepared.”

This season, Arsenal has faced various criticisms, including accusations of time-wasting and dependence on set pieces, but complacency had not been a topic addressed. Andrich’s goal, just at the start of the second half, was only the fourth time the Gunners have conceded a goal in the first five minutes of the second half. In contrast, they scored eight times during that same interval.

The Arsenal set-piece coach, Nicolas Jover, had a tense moment after the match. Known for having a mural in London, Jover saw his reputation shaken when his team conceded a goal from a corner. Bayer’s coach, Kasper Hjulmand, approached him and, in a teasing tone, remarked: “You guys do that too, don’t you?” Hjulmand, who praised Arsenal before the match, admitted that he was inspired by Jover’s routines. “I’m just questioning, is it really allowed to bodycheck and knock down players without the ball?” reflected the Danish coach.

Arsenal certainly failed to deliver a convincing performance. During the first half, the team barely managed to threaten Leverkusen. The only noteworthy opportunity arose from a quick understanding between the players, but Gabriel Martinelli saw his shot hit the crossbar. After conceding the goal, Arteta acknowledged that his team showed no signs of resilience. “We had 10-15 minutes where we didn’t create enough threats nor did we have the necessary understanding to attack their defensive block,” he lamented.

The situation at Arsenal raises questions about the team’s ability to handle pressure in crucial moments, especially in major competitions like the Champions League. With heightened expectations and the need for a solid performance, the pressure mounts on Arteta and his players. What lies ahead for the London side? The answer could very well define their future in the competition.