Frank Lampard admits Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta outwitted him on Sunday

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Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has admitted Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta got the better of him tactically on Sunday, despite the Blues’ 2-1 win.

Arsenal finished 2019 with another loss, but had plenty to be positive about in Arteta’s second game at the helm.

The Gunners took the lead through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, before a Bernd Leno mistake allowed Jorginho to score a simple equaliser.

Tammy Abraham then hit a winner for Chelsea after some poor defending.

Arsenal may have fallen to another defeat but there were certainly signs of encouragement, and Lampard’s post-match comments further suggest the hosts were unlucky not to get anything from the game.

Asked about his use of three centre-halves again, Lampard said (talkSPORT): “It was the best thing ever last week! That’s football. I don’t want us to be predictable.

“I’m sure Arteta, who is obviously going to be a top manager at this club, watched us against Tottenham, tried to find ways to negate it, make us have too many people at the back, get control of the game, and they did that.”

Arteta will attempt to get the team back to winning ways against Manchester United on New Year’s Day.

TBR’s view – Same old faults

There were indeed some promising signs for Arteta, but ultimately the defensive shortcomings cost the club crucial points once again.

Arteta may have outwitted Lampard tactically, but the performance won’t be of any consolation to the Spaniard, who knows it’s results that matter.

Arteta has quickly discovered that the Gunners fragile defence is going to make life very difficult – unless he strengthens in January, there may be several more Chelsea-esque defeats in the offing.