MX23RW : Friday, December 27 22:57:36| >> :60:83:83:
[monks data]
Attendance: 60,310
Arsenal logo
Premier League | Gameweek 23
Jan 18, 2020 at 3pm UK
 
Sheffield United logo

1-1

FT(HT: 1-0)
Fleck (83')

Mikel Arteta heaps praise on "terrific" Arsenal fans

Mikel Arteta heaps praise on
© Reuters
The Gunners shared the points from a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta believes his Arsenal players are starting to rebuild their relationship with the club's supporters.

The Spaniard was appointed last month to succeed Unai Emery, whose own 18-month reign ended with plenty of animosity pouring down from the Emirates Stadium crowd.

The Gunners were pegged back by Sheffield United on Saturday as Gabriel Martinelli's opener on the stroke of half-time was cancelled out by John Fleck's late leveller.

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli celebrates scoring
Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli celebrates scoring (Adam Davy/PA)

The 1-1 draw leaves Arsenal 10th in the Premier League and with just one win from their last seven games.

But, unlike the jeering and negativity which greeted the final whistle during the majority of Emery's last games at the helm, Arteta praised Arsenal's supporters for sticking with the team against the Blades.

"The fans were terrific," he told Arsenal Player.

"They were right behind the team and they appreciated every action as we were pushing them.

"I'm so thankful to them because compared to how it was a month ago, I think it's completely different.

"We have to keep trying to convincing them and encouraging them to keep doing it, and hopefully they can deserve and enjoy more good results."

Meanwhile, defender Shkodran Mustafi believes is not just in the stands where unity is being used to drive Arsenal forward.

"I feel that we are united," he said when asked about the belief within the squad.

"I think we stay together and the dressing room has always been top during good and bad periods.

"That's the only way to get out of it and I think if we want to be successful, we need to stick together, players, staff and everyone at the club.

"Obviously all the people that comes to the games, we want them to be happy but it's always good when a game like this finishes and you go round and applaud and they are too, it shows that we are united."

Fleck's equaliser seven minutes from the end of the game means newly promoted Sheffield United have lost only two of the 12 away games they have contested since returning to the top flight.

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder gestures on the touchline
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder gestures on the touchline (Adam Davy/PA)

Chris Wilder's side sit seventh, four points ahead of Arsenal, but the United boss felt his team could have left north London with all three points – even if that would have been more than they warranted.

"I thought we started the game on the front foot and should have been ahead in the first 10 minutes, we didn't show the killer instinct," he said.

"I didn't think it was a game full of quality from both sides. Really, my overriding emotion, obviously we are delighted with the result but in the last 10 minutes we probably should have won it.

"I don't think we would have deserved to win it because the performance level wasn't of the highest standard."

ID:386670: cacheID:386670:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8011:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta pictured in January 2020
Read Next:
Arteta: 'Arsenal deserved three points'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool17133140172342
2Arsenal18106235161936
3Chelsea18105338211735
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1810442419534
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle188553021929
6Bournemouth188552721629
7Manchester CityMan City188463026428
8Fulham187742623328
9Aston Villa188462629-328
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton186842726126
11Brentford187383232024
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs1872939261323
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham186572330-723
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd186482124-322
15Everton173861522-717
16Crystal Palace183871826-817
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1843112940-1115
18Leicester CityLeicester1835102240-1814
19Ipswich TownIpswich1826101633-1712
20Southampton1813141137-266


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!