Mikel Arteta 'raging' at Arsenal trio despite Champions League win over Napoli
Mikel Arteta was furious with Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, and Christos Tzolis for their failure to track back during Arsenal's Champions League victory.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Ank kumar
Arsenal maintained their flawless start to the 2026-27 campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Napoli in the Champions League. Martin Odegaard finally broke the deadlock in the 75th minute, securing three points after the visitors dominated proceedings in Italy.
Despite the win, manager Mikel Arteta was vocal about his frustration regarding the team's wastefulness in front of goal. The boss believed the Gunners should have settled the match much earlier given the volume of clear-cut opportunities created. "We fully deserved the three points," Arteta said. "It was a shame because we missed so many great chances."
Mikel Arteta was absolutely raging on the sidelines that Havertz, Madueke and Tzolis weren’t recovering after that attack. Lucy Ward, TNT Sports co-commentator
The manager’s mood soured significantly during the final stages when Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, and Christos Tzolis failed to track back during a dangerous Napoli counter-attack. The incident prompted a furious reaction from the touchline, highlighting Arteta's uncompromising standards. The squad now turns its attention to the Premier League, with a trip to Sunderland scheduled for this weekend.