MIK DROPS SO COSTLY

Arteta's men fail to get job done... again

- JOHN CROSS

THE plain truth is that Arsenal cannot see the job through in 90 minutes.

So how does anyone expect Mikel Arteta's men to get across the line over the course of a full season?

For the fourth time this campaign, Arsenal let a lead slip and they find themselves nine points behind runaway leaders Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table.

We are not quite into last rites territory for Arsenal's title chances but it already feels like they need a miracle.

This time, Arsenal surrendered a lead to Chelsea and you can add that to the list of missed opportunities this season as they took the lead against Brighton, Manchester City and Liverpool and yet only grabbed a point in each.

That at least shows they are competing with their direct rivals. But, ultimately, they are not good enough to get the job done.

They are not as good as they were last season defensively and nowhere near as ruthless with their finishing.

Gabriel Martinelli gave Arsenal the lead on the hour, but they only held out for 10 minutes before Pedro Neto was given time and space to pick his spot for the equaliser.