Mikel Arteta said he was disappointed his side didn’t take all three points against Nottingham Forest, after dominating large parts of the game.
We hit the woodwork and created several other promising openings, while giving very little away at the back, but in the end had to settle for a single point at the City Ground.
“It was very disappointing not to win after such a dominant performance,” the manager said afterwards. “We did very well in many aspects of the game without really conceding anything. With all the territory and control we had in the final third, we should have found a way to win.
“We had a one-on-one chance that we didn’t score. In set pieces, I felt that was an area where we needed to be more efficient — to unlock the game, create more shots on target, and ultimately get the win. At the end of the day, when you dominate like this against these teams, you have to win the game.
“This team always gives you reasons to believe, to keep going. The frustration comes from knowing that when you control a game like this, you have to win it. But in this league, the margins are so small, and unfortunately, we didn’t find a way to score.”
The boss praised the defensive work of the team, as we recorded another clean sheet on the road, but admitted it’s the other end of the pitch that is the challenge at the moment.
“For many years, that (our defensive record) has not been a problem, but in order to win, you have to score goals. We need to find ways to convert more chances and get goals from different areas of the pitch. That’s something we certainly need to improve.”
He also revealed what his message to the players was in the dressing room after the game.
“Stay with them. They’re an absolute joy to work with. They feel stretched, they feel like they are giving everything they possibly can. The way they behave and the way they want it. So be with them, because that’s what we all need right now.”
With no game this weekend, we return to action next weekend when we resume our Champions League campaign, away to PSV in the first leg of our Round of 16 tie.
“We are very much looking forward to it,” the boss added. “It’s a competition we’ve performed tremendously well in this season. We fought hard to get into this position, and now, as we enter the knockout stages, the building starts now.”
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