Arteta: This is what we were missing, and I will defend my players

Arsenal's head coach Mikel Arteta appeared in a press statement after the 1-1 draw against Manchester United in the 28th round of the Premier League.

He said: "When we delivered an exceptional performance in the first half, we didn't threaten their goal. We faced some incredible situations, but we failed in the final shot or the final pass. We didn't capitalize on the opportunity, we rushed the game, and we started losing the duels, and we could have lost.

Regarding the missed opportunities, he stated: "Sometimes this is what we lack. The execution must come from the right player and the right player to shoot. It was unacceptable how we received the chances at certain moments. They have a lot of quality and choose the right player, and that usually ends in a goal."

He concluded: "We opened the door to losing the match. There was no chance of losing the match, and we opened it ourselves. I will defend my players at all times, but in those moments, we have to perform better."