AFC Wimbledon earn praise off Arsenal boss Arteta despite 3-0 defeat in north London
Mikel Arteta admitted that AFC Wimbledon gave his Arsenal side a “tough game” despite the north Londoners progressing to the fourth round of the EFL Cup with a 3-0 win tonight.
Goals from Alexandre Lacazette, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah ensured there was no upset. The Dons, who had knocked out Charlton and Northampton on their current run, failed to muster a shot on target.
Gunners boss Arteta said: “As long as we were 1-0 up, they were obviously still in the game and any situation like a set-piece, you can concede a goal, so we knew that we had to close the game down.
“We did that at the end and it looked comfortable, but it was always a tough game.”
Lacazette scored the first goal from the penalty spot and assisted South London born Smith Rowe.
The French striker said: “We want to go as far as we can in this competition, we want to win, in this kind of game we have to make it easy.
“We should do it earlier but at the end we have to say they [AFC Wimbledon] played well but we are happy with our performance.”
PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD
Everyone at the South London Press thanks you for your continued support.
Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing:
“A FREE COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”
If you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can make a donation which will allow us to continue to bring stories to you, both in print and online. Or please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ
