Arteta frustrated with one point from Everton trip

After we were forced to leave Goodison Park for the final time with just a point in our back pocket, Mikel Arteta was disappointed we didn’t get the win we merited.

Leandro Trossard had put us in front by completing a nice counter-attacking move to put us in control, but a controversial penalty award within the opening minute of the second half allowed Ilian Ndiaye to fire in an equaliser.

That’s the way things remained despite some late pressure, but having made five changes to his team and coming close to getting a third-straight league victory, the boss was left regretting the opening moments of the second 45.

“It’s disappointing not to get the three points because we conceded nothing,” he said. “But when you come here, you know that the margin is going to be so small, and you're going to have to deal with a lot of direct play. It was a very physical game with second balls and you're going have to dominate that and have sequences of play and momentum throughout. We adapted really well in parts, especially in the first half.

“We have some big openings that we didn't finish. We’re 1-0 up, you want to go into a second half understanding they're going to be more aggressive, more spaces and we're going to play the game that we want. We started very poorly, giving the ball away straight to the keeper, then direct play, a problem, it come back, direct play, and the referee decides to give a penalty that, after watching 15 times, in my opinion, is never a penalty.”

After 120 years and 113 matches, this was our last ever visit to Goodison Park, a place that Mikel knows like the back of his hand after spending six-and-a-half years on the blue half of Merseyside during his playing days.

The famous old ground will have a special place in a lot of football supporters’ hearts, including the boss who can’t quite believe he won’t step foot in the ground again.

“It’s very strange,” he added. “I think the Premier League is special and described as one of the best leagues in the world with the best atmosphere because we have a places like Goodison Park. I understand it is evolution of football, of a football club as well. But it is sad not to come here again.”

Tuesday night sees us head into our biggest game of the season when we host Real Madrid at Emirates Stadium, and just like our supporters Mikel cannot wait for what he feels will be a beauitful occasion in north London as we battle with Los Blancos for a spot in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

“It's going to be an amazing game, so I’m really looking forward to that now we can have full focus on that game. It’ll be one of the nicest moments and opponents that you can play, I’m so really looking forward to that.”

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