'Show your teeth' Arteta's message to players as Arsenal lose more ground

A disappointed Mikel Arteta told his players to "show their teeth" and said he was praying they remain injury-free during the international break after a 1-1 draw with Chelsea that meant Arsenal lost further ground in the title race.

- Jacob Steinberg

Arsenal, who have fallen nine points behind Liverpool at the top of the table, missed an opportunity to get their campaign back on track during a tense encounter at Stamford Bridge. Arteta's side, in fourth place after squandering eight points from winning positions, could not hold on after going ahead through Gabriel Martinelli, Pedro Neto levelling for Chelsea and lifting them to third.

The frustration gnawed at Arsenal, who missed late chances to end a four-match winless run. Arteta, who does not expect Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice to feature for England during the Nations League after both limped off during the second half, bemoaned a defensive lapse for Neto's goal. He urged his team to dig in and focus on catching Liverpool.