Mikel Arteta was back on familiar turf on Saturday when he took his Arsenal team to the Etihad to face his old club Manchester City.
After the game we caught up with the manager. Here's what he said:
on the performance...
Well obviously I'm upset because we lost the game but I have to say that I'm extremely proud of the players for the performance they put in, and the type of game that we were able to play. Where we took the game, what we were able to do, how we were able to restrict them... and for me it was the attitude of the team, to come here and do what we did today... I was there for four years, I've seen a lot of teams come here and it's very, very difficult to do that.
on the hard work and attitude...
Yes, but the courage as well that we had without the ball and with the ball to play, and create the chances that we created. But at the end of the day, when you come here and create three or four big chances you have to put them in the net.
on the progress since we lost 3-0 at City in June...
I'm very encouraged because I see the progress every day. I see how united they come in, I see the chemistry that they are creating them, how much belief they have in what we are trying to do. To compare the two games, I don't think it's fair because we had two very early injuries [in June] and we played 45 minutes with 10 men. So it's difficult.
on Holding's injury...
Yes he felt something in the warm-up and we had to make the decision to get him [out], but thanks God David was very ready to play and I think that he had a really good game.
on a chance to bounce back in Vienna...
Absolutely. We have to get used to this because we are going to be playing every three days in different competitions. We have a big squad at the moment, everyone is so willing to play so we'll give opportunities to everyone.
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