‘Not good enough’ - Mikel Arteta bemoans lack of composure as Arsenal title hopes all but end in Manchester United draw

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was left unhappy with his side's inability to capitalise on their chances during a 1-1 draw away to Manchester United. Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring against the run of play at the end of the first half before Declan Rice equalised with a sublime second-half strike. The result leaves Arsenal 15 points adrift of league leaders Liverpool, while Man Utd moved up to 14th.

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Mikel Arteta admitted his Arsenal side lacked composure and failed to execute in the final third after a 1-1 draw away to Manchester United left their title hopes hanging by a thread.

The Gunners dominated the first half at Old Trafford but went in at the break 1-0 behind after Bruno Fernandes’ fizzed free-kick sailed past David Raya.

Declan Rice equalised with a sublime strike in the 74th minute but neither team could find a winner.

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It was a 10th draw of the season for Arsenal, who have now dropped seven points in their last three matches to fall 15 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.

"In the second half we tried, we scored the goal and when they were really deep and they had a lot of problems, and you could see that they were tired, we didn't capitalise because we rushed the game," Arteta told Sky Sports.

"We gave so many balls away, no circulation, we started to lose duels and we could have ended losing.

"We tried in various ways, but ultimately the execution there has to be in the right moment, with the right weight of pass, into the right player to execute.

"And it's true that we have a lot of situations in the second half, I think we have three or four big chances. But very frustrating as well, how we conceded certain transition moments is not good enough."

Arsenal’s injury woes up front have been well documented this season, and the effects were once again on display at Old Trafford.

For all their dominance in the opening period, they failed to trouble Andre Onana. Then came the sucker-punch when Fernandes converted on the stroke of half-time.

To make matters worse, it turned out the wall was set up more than a yard further away from the ball than it should have been.

"He [Fernandes] has been smart and he took advantage, that is football," Arteta added. "He's been smarter than the ref [Anthony Taylor], that's okay, they allowed him to do it."

With Arsenal chasing in the second half, the game opened up. Raya produced incredible saves either side of Rice’s equaliser to deny Noussair Mazraoui, Joshua Zirkzee and then Fernandes at the death to ensure Arsenal left with something for their efforts.

"You are so good in the first half, you do so many good things and you go one nil down. Mentally, it's painful, but we tried, we went for it, we scored the goal, we were really trying," continued Arteta.

"We opened the gate to lose the game and the gate was completely closed. There was no chance we could lose the game and we opened it up ourselves."

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Amorim: We did well

During Ruben Amorim’s tenure as Manchester United head coach, he has been criticised for sticking to his preferred style of play.

However, the 40-year-old admitted that a level of adaptation was required to limit clear-cut chances for Arsenal to score.

"We did well," Amorim said. "Of course, we don't want to play like this, defending so much and giving the ball to the opponent.

"But with all the games, with all the problems and then the characteristics of the players, try to adapt and imagine the game that we could win and we proved that today.

"In the low block, we can control the game more and then we have some good players for transition. I think [Alejandro] Garnacho made a really complete game. He was upset last Thursday and today, he was amazing."

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