Mikel Arteta defends Kai Havertz after horror show in FA Cup loss to Man Utd, with Gabriel Jesus also injured
"We didn't get what we deserved. But there's an element of putting the ball in the back of the net."
If Arsenal had a slogan for this past week, perhaps even this entire season, it would be close to what Mikel Arteta said above, following this latest FA Cup defeat on penalties to Manchester United.
Playing over an hour with an extra player, Arsenal created 3.15 of Expected Goals in their FA Cup penalty shoot-out loss to Ruben Amorim's side. Nearly 2.0 of that tally went to Kai Havertz.
Arsenal scored once, through Gabriel's deflected strike. The German got none - then missed the only penalty in the shoot-out.
"Incredible how you don't win that game. That's basically [how you] to sum it up," added Arteta. "The dominance, superiority in relation to the opposition, everything we did to try to win the game.
"We [scored] once. With the amount of situations, chances, penalties that we had, you have to score more, we didn't. We go home extremely sad, but I cannot be more proud of my players."
The blame is not completely on Kai Havertz's door. Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard missed a second-half penalty which would have sent the Gunners on the way to the FA Cup fourth round in normal time.
But Havertz had similar, better chances. There was the sliced finish from inside the box just after Arsenal fell behind to Bruno Fernandes' opener. But his off-target scoop from a few yards out had an xG tally of 0.85 - statistically a better chance than a penalty (0.79 xG).
Asked about what he said to Havertz after the game, Arteta replied: "To him and to all of them: that I love them, that we all love them. Individually and collectively they are a joy.
"What this team produces every three days is incredible regardless of what happens. I am not going to lose sight of that, because of a result or two because we didn't deserve it.
"What we can do better, let's try to do it. But it's difficult to achieve, it's an emotional part, it's something related to confidence as well."
The notion that Arsenal's only recognised No 9 option - days after missing another big sitter in the Carabao Cup semi-final loss to Newcastle - spurned a large chunk of their chances in another missed opportunity in a cup competition, begs the question of why Arteta refuses to publicly commit to signing a new forward, let alone actually try and get one.
"I understand that [transfer question], but I cannot love our players more and we very much focus on the players we have to perform at the highest level," said Arteta after the latest defeat on Sunday. "The rest is not in our hands, not in my hands."
But on New Year's Day, weeks after Bukayo Saka was ruled out with a long-term injury, Arteta hinted after victory against Brentford that if his side picked up any more fitness blows, the club may have to act.
"When I see the willingness of each individual to play through anything and the versatility that we can create within our idea, the answer is no," he said on January 1 when asked if his team are stretched.
"But we don't know, if something else happens, then we would have more issues but hopefully no."
Since then Arteta has lost Ethan Nwaneri to a muscle injury, then Gabriel Jesus - who revived his Arsenal career with a great goalscoring run of six goals in his last six games - was stretchered off with a knee injury against United.
"Big worry, that's my feeling," said Arteta of Jesus, who went home on Sunday and could head to hospital on Monday.
"To come off with a stretcher in a lot of pain, touching his knee, it's not looking good."
Earlier this week, Arteta rejected the idea that Arsenal need to bring in a body just to fill a spot, they need someone to really add something to the team.
Given his team's injury situation and recent performance levels from the forward players in the cup competitions that matter, he may have lost that right. Action is now needed.
Kai Havertz missed two big chances - worth 1.98 worth of xG - then had the crucial penalty saved in Arsenals FA Cup shoot-out defeat to Man United; Arteta defended Havertz and refused to commit to getting a new forward after this latest defeat, even with Gabriel Jesus worrying injury
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you tagged other posters when Arteta wins a game, havertz scores a goal, oddegard has a half decent and make out as though these are legends of club etc...
because your football knowledge or complete lack of it holds zero credibility
