Mikel Arteta had plenty to smile about after our 3-1 win over Liverpool on Sunday, that lifted us to within two points of the league leaders.
He faced the media after the final whistle for his post-match press conference and was asked about the win, the team’s mentality, Gabriel Martinelli, the Emirates atmosphere and much more.
Here’s a full transcript…
On the self-belief that the performance will give the team…
It was an extraordinary game, I think it was an incredible performance from the players and our people, the atmosphere that we generated in the stadium is the best I’ve seen this season, we demanded that, we had to go to a different level and connect it again to the demands that this league has in every game and they have responded in an unbelievable way and I think the players left absolutely everything, they put their heart and soul into every ball and I can not be any prouder because I know how difficult it is to beat this team, how much you have to suffer, all the preparation, and how much they have to process to try to do what they did on the pitch so a big thank you.
On whether the win was an ugly one or a beautiful one…
It was all trained, I told you I didn’t know but I knew how to train this. You have to, we conceded a really poor one as well that’s the reality and that really affected us, the dressing room was really touched at half time and I could sense it because we deserved much better after the half we had, and we reacted really well after the 10, 15 minutes where we suffered, we grabbed the game, we controlled it, we modified a few things and we gave ourselves a really good chance to win the game.
On the different energy in the squad after building momentum…
Yeah it does because winning helps and obviously the schedule we had prior to Christmas, the amount of players that played so many minutes, we had injuries, and we needed to recharge and now we’ve got some momentum back, three wins in a row in a really convincing way, the team performing really well we have to go for it, it’s the whole season now ahead of us, we need some players back because right now we have a few injuries - and that’s a big concern that I have, availability of the squad, if we have everybody fit and training we have a really good chance.
On whether the squad has an elite mentality to compete…
Absolutely, we have shown that today - the thing is that to be the best, and have the best mentality you have to do it every three days, and that’s the challenge that we have, certainly we showed that today, especially against in my opinion the most in form team in Europe and now we have to do it tomorrow when we train, the next day, against West Ham and continue, when we have that body language, that attitude, that energy in the team we are a really difficult team to beat.
On Gabriel Martinelli’s performance today…
I think he looks again really confident, really sharp, he was a real threat today not only for the goal that he scored and how intuitive and cheeky and streetwise he was to do what he did, but as well Leo. I think Kai was unbelievable playing as a nine, it was a game that I thought he was going to fit in the same way Jorgi, you need big performances to beat this kind of teams, I think all of them were at their best today.
On Gabriel Jesus and Alex Zinchenko’s fitness…
With Gabby we expect it to be something about days, and with Alex we don’t know because he had some feeling in his calf again and we had to take him off.
On the control and chaos that the team created in the game…
Yeah, control is not really a word that I like. I like dominance and not allowing any teams to breathe, more than control. And especially which part of the pitch that happens in, that’s the most important thing in my opinion. But we can be very chaotic in open spaces, we can create a lot of issues playing in different ways. That’s another weapon that we have.
On reinstalling the belief at half-time after a late equaliser…
Because the energy shifted in this game, and you win two or three duels and you can feel that the people are more confident, and the crowd is going. You lose them, and then they start to run at you, and then you start to feel a bit scared. To manage that emotional state is really important, and we had to do it. Listen, you want to beat them, we’re going to suffer. There’s going to be moments that we’re going to have to deal with things that are going to make us really uncomfortable, and we’re not really used to it. But they’re going to take you to that game, and then we’re going to have to navigate through that to win it. Today, I think we made another step on that.
On why Bukayo Saka came off…
He should be fine, I think. He got a kick, I think, on the ankle or the back of his foot, but he should be fine.
On whether the team are in a title race this season…
We are there, that’s for sure and we want to continue to be there. I think we’ve been really consistent the whole of the season. We’re not where we are today [without that]. We go game-by-game, the availability of the squad is going to be crucial, and we have learnt that from last season. So let’s try to make that happened.
On the difference that Jorginho made today…
It’s a game that I had in my mind and imagining [for him to play], and how much, in my opinion, we were going to need him. It’s a team that doesn’t really allow you to put the fifth player in that front line the way they play. Jorgi’s a really intelligent player, his biggest quality is that he makes the people around him better, he connects everybody, and he was unbelievable. I think he was man of the match.
On Jorginho’s hard work on and off the pitch…
Unbelievable. I’ve always said that he’s an example, a role model. He’s been in a lot of pain as well, because he has an issue that he’s been carrying for months. He didn’t want to stop, he’s been playing with that, he’s been training as the first one in and the last one out, and for all the kids, for everybody at the club, you want to look in the mirror at somebody, just look at him and how he behaves. He’s won everything, and if you ask him not to play, or to play one minute like last week, he’s happy to go there. You ask him to play 98 minutes at the rhythm and he’s able to do that, so I’m really lucky to have players like this.
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