Arsenal failed to pile more pressure on Manchester City in the 2022-23 Premier League title race as they played out a goalless draw with Newcastle on Tuesday night, and after the match, manager Mikel Arteta said he was 'extremely proud' of his Gunners.
The North London giants headed into the match in flying colours as they were set to extend the gap at the league summit to 10 points, but low and behold Eddie Howe's Magpies were resilient and ensured the hosts were frustrated in a heated first half.
Mikel Arteta's boys, who have lost just once all season, upped the tempo just after the break but they just couldn't break down Newcastle, with Eddie Nketiah's late chance being the only clear opportunity to open the scoring but goalkeeper Nick Pope made sure both teams shared the spoils.
"Extremely proud of my players," Arteta told Sky Sports. "The way we played, dominated the game, tried, and continued to control the game. We needed that spark in the final third. We had so many situations. And when had two scandalous penalties.
"There were two penalties. It's very simple. I'm talking about what I've seen. It was two scandalous penalties. I'm so proud of the work we have done.
"I think we lacked an extra touch or movement to finish these chances in this game. "Newcastle wanted to set up like this. It is not the way they play. They have not set up like this against anyone else.
"When you cannot win you cannot lose and we kept a clean sheet and had a really good performance. Now we go again. I wanted to win the game are we drew it. We should have done some things better in the final third and we should have had two penalties to win the game."
When quizzed about the options he has on the bench and their transfer activity, the Spaniard replied: "We had what we had. We have some injuries as well and in attacking areas and we don't have that many options but it is what it is. That's something we always try to do to improve our team and every window is important."
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