Arsenal picked up two points at home against Everton Mikel Arteta’s team drew 0-0 on Saturday.

Jordan Pickford produced a brilliant performance to stop Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard on multiple occasions, while Sean Dyche’s Everton were disciplined and stood firm.

Arsenal have failed to score a single goal from play in their last three Premier League games and Arteta was not happy with the way his side beat Everton.

He also provided an update on Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard as Arsenal’s star midfield duo were substituted with 30 minutes remaining.

Mikel Arteta’s reaction to Arsenal’s draw with Everton – “We absolutely deserved to win the game”

Mikel Arteta told Sky Sports that Arsenal “absolutely deserved the game” and when speaking to the BBC after the game he was asked if he was frustrated with the result.

“Of course I’m very disappointed not to have won the game,” Arteta said. “You don’t concede shots next to the goal, on goal. They don’t run at all. You don’t concede set pieces. You arrive there and have chances, it’s all about scoring goals. That’s what we were missing today.”

Arteta was then asked about Everton being so well organized and how Arsenal seemed to become more and more frustrated as the game went on. He said the main problem was that Arsenal needed to improve in the final third.

“We opened it up. We had the chances. In the end you have to put them away,” said Arteta. “When we have to run back, we are among the best in the world. If we have to dominate the direct game, it’s the same thing. The next phase, same thing. Up.” Press again, we win every ball.

“But we now have to be the best in the last 25 meters when we have situations in which we can overcome them. You obviously won’t generate 20 open chances against a block like this. That’s the disappointment. For the rest, I can’t ask for much more from the players.”

Arteta update on Rice, Odegaard

In his post-match press conference, Arteta also confirmed that he took off Declan Rice because “he sensed something” and that he took off captain Martin Odegaard for “tactical” reasons.

The crucial duo both departed with 30 minutes remaining and Arsenal never really got going again as substitutes failed to make an impact.