Arteta on the win, Trossard, and Martinelli

We recorded our 10th away win of the season on Saturday, more than we managed in the whole of our last Premier League campaign.

It was a success built on a solid, controlled performance, a vital clean sheet, and ultimately Gabriel Martinelli’s second-half goal.

After the game, Mikel Arteta spoke to the media about the win, Leandro Trossard’s performance up front, our away form and our goalscorer Martinelli.

Here’s a full transcript of what he said….

On the key to our away record this season...

I think performances. I think to do what to do what the team has done here today is very, very difficult. I think we dominated the game from the start almost to finish, we had a difficult 10 or so minutes where we gave so many balls away that we lost a little bit of control, but in general, I think our play and understanding of the space, how they were pressing, how we got into final third positions was excellent. We lacked a little bit of that final pass to score more or create bigger chances, I think we weren't over the decision with the disallowed goal, which was difficult to take, but to stay really focussed and determined to do that, I think defensively we were incredible because we restrict Leicester to one shot on target in the whole game at home is a difficult thing to do. The players did really well.

On whether Bukayo Saka should have been awarded a penalty...

I don't know, I haven't seen that image. It's over now, I don't want to be talking about these situations too much, we are extremely happy to win these two away games against Aston Villa and Leicester and we deserved to win the games with the way we played. Now onto the next one, against Everton.

On Leandro Trossard's performance...

He did really well. I think he was really good, I think he got involved in many situations that could have ended up in many more big chances, he was involved in the incredible goal that he scored that was disallowed, involved in the goal of Gabi, the pass that he played to him, he's so good in small spaces, tight spaces, with his creativity to open people up and I'm really happy with him.

On whether Trossard could play in that position again...

We had the option to play Gabi [Martinelli] as a nine and Leo on the left, we had to see how the game developed and what Leicester wanted to do. I wanted to have that option from midfield to make that change if necessary, and it was great because I think his contribution was really good.

On the achievement of winning the last two away games…

Really important obviously, it creates more belief, more belief in the players, more belief around our club, and externally, I had full faith the players could do it, it was coming back to some basics and some details that can get games away from us, we made it much more than what we got. In the last two games, especially today, we’ve done those things much better.

On the importance of coming away with a clean sheet…

Set players, sloppy goals, and individual errors, it’s part of football sometimes you are going to concede in games but the fact we are not conceding and giving chances away is really important if you want to be constantly winning matches

On the impact that Jorginho and Trossard have had on the team so far…

Two players already that have experience in the league, that really fitted our way of playing, really intelligent both of them to understand what is required in many situations that we demand them to execute certain things and they have the personality to come here and play the way they played is what is required at this level

On the club’s transfer strategy to bring in the January signings…

Really happy, because we were very clear what we wanted to do, we could not do it and we had to adapt, in the window you have to be able to do that, not feel sorry for ourselves, and I think everybody from owners to the board, Edu especially, they were really, really strong in trying to do what we have to do and we were first there to get the options we wanted.

On the basics and details that the team needed to go back to before winning at Villa Park…

Especially against teams like Everton, the way we concede the goal, the way we conceded certain set-pieces were very avoidable, and sometimes the wave is created that is very far from the beach, you know? And then it’s too late to avoid what is going to happen.

And we had to improve on those things, and I think today we have done really, really well.

On Martinelli’s performance after being rested last week…

It was really important for him as well, sometimes you have to give someone a breather to come back with more enthusiasm and more energy, he contributed with a fantastic goal that gives us the win, and with his contract, delighted because we’ve been working for a while on that and we want to keep our best players with us, he committed to what we are doing as a club.

On Martinelli’s not losing any motivation on the pitch…

We’re not going to lose that on Gabi, my worry if anything is sometimes you have to slow him down because he has got too much, he’s in a great place.