Every word from Arteta’s Bournemouth presser

There were plenty of reasons for Mikel Arteta to smile after our 4-0 beating of Bournemouth on the south coast on Saturday.

Another clean sheet – our fourth of the season on the road – three points and four goals were all positives from the victory, that extended our unbeaten start to the season to ten matches.

Here’s every word from the manager’s post-match press conference…

On the result…

Very happy, very happy, the way we approached the game since yesterday, the team was ready to play we knew about the challenge we had ahead of us against a team that don’t have what they deserve in terms of the games they have played, they don’t give you any time, the ball is always under pressure, small ground, very difficult to get out of that but I think we read the game really well and earnt the right to win it.

On Kai Havertz goal and celebrations with the team…

I am really happy for the win but even happier to be part of something, part of a team that shows the human qualities that they have shown today, without me telling them absolutely nothing to show that and that empathy towards a player that has some question marks to resolve externally, they won me even more today, they’ve done in a really natural way, I am delighted they have made that decision, I’m so thankful to our supporters the way they sang his name, have made him feel in the way he has felt today and if there’s a person in a dressing room that deserve that, it’s Kai Havertz. So happy for him.

On what the goal will do for Kai’s confidence…

It will probably change everything, but first of all if he had any question marks about how we feel about him, how much we love him, how much we appreciate everything that he does, I think that’s out. I think in sport, Usain Bolt said it once, I have to train four years to run nine seconds, sometimes you have to do a lot and you don’t see that, but in that moment you see it, I’m sure what he’s been through in the last few weeks, this moment is worth every moment of the other moments.

On Bukayo Saka’s going off injured…

I don’t know yet I haven’t had a chance to speak to him, I think this one was a stamp, it wasn’t the same area, I don’t know and Gabi was limping after the game, let’s see how they are

On whether he knew Havertz was going to take the penalty…

That’s the beauty of it, they take initiative and they take the leadership to make those calls.

I haven’t asked them, I imagine Bukayo has to take it so first of all he gives it to Martin and then he gave it to Kai, it doesn’t really matter, the beauty is in the gesture and the fact that the players can make those steps and decisions.

On whether Kai Havertz needed that moment today…

We have all tried to give him support and the right tools to do what he has to do, he’s doing so many great things in the game, it was about that moment, that was the question that had to be resolved, and today;s he’s done it and to show that level of empathy and understanding and worrying and caring for somebody, it’s just great.

On what he thinks of the criticism aimed at Kai Havertz…

I don’t know, I am not here to evaluate, what I can tell you is what I see every single day, what we all see every single day his level of commitment, desire, attitude, understanding, quality is top, and he has to come out in every way, he’s coming in many different ways, he has to come today in a way where he puts the ball in the back of the net.

On whether today’s results prove it’s far too early to judge the season...

But this is going to happen, nobody is going to win every single game in this league, playing the way we have to play every three days, we need to be consistent in what we do, try to play and the pick the right team every time to try to win the game, some days it’s not going to be possible, it’s the seventh games of the season, it’s a long marathon.

On facing Manchester City next…

I feel great we have won the game, that’s the only thing we can control, I am just thinking on that bus, how we can prepare Lens, it’s going to be a really tough match away from home on Tuesday to try to win it and City will be the next step, but it’s taking a lot of good things and move them for Tuesday and again try to make the right decision with the line-up and squad to maintain the level we are showing.

On potentially being top of the table with a win next weekend…

It would be great but we have another game and a lot of things are going to happen still.

On not conceding a single goal away from home this season…

It’s a huge one, to win games in this league, keeping clean sheets for us is going to be crucial and away from home is probably even bigger and the challenge is now can we take that into the Emirates as well and be consistent.