Bukayo Saka Sad Over Arsenal Draw With Wolves, Paul Merson Questions Arteta’s Reaction

Bukayo Saka did not hide his disappointment after Arsenal were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers in Wednesday night’s Premier League clash.

The Arsenal winger, who wore the captain’s armband in the absence of Martin Odegaard, admitted the Gunners fell short of their own standards, particularly after the break.

Although Saka found the net and Piero Hincapie also struck to rescue a point, the England international cut a frustrated figure at full-time.

“It felt very flat,” Bukayo Saka told Sky Sports. “We’re very disappointed with the result and the way we played, especially in the second half. It’s far from the standards we’ve set as a team this season.”

Arsenal had shown glimpses of their usual sharpness early on, moving the ball with purpose and carving out openings.

But the intensity dipped after the interval, allowing Wolves to grow into the game and leave north London with a share of the spoils.

For a side chasing the Premier League title, the draw felt like a missed opportunity. Saka made it clear that the dressing room will not brush this aside.

“We must fix these issues immediately, so we can get back to winning games,” he added.

The result has also sparked debate about the mood around the club. Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson admitted he was taken aback by manager Mikel Arteta’s post-match remarks.

Arteta conceded his team were below par in the second half, a candid assessment that surprised Merson, who has grown accustomed to the Spaniard striking a more upbeat tone.

“I was quite shocked by Mikel Arteta’s post-match interview then. It is the first time, really, that I have seen him not majorly positive,” Merson said on Sky Sports.

“Usually, he comes out, ‘We have done this, we have done that’, and he will be saying, ‘Oh, we deserved it here, they deserved it here’.

“Instead of coming out saying, ‘We are five points clear, as long as we don’t get beaten by Manchester City, we win the league, but it was not like that, though.

“I was a bit worried about that interview. You can only do so much for the team, and when you are watching that, something is missing. I can’t put my finger on it, but something is missing.”