There was plenty for Mikel Arteta to discuss after a dramatic 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday.
The result extended our fantastic away form, and made it two wins from two at the start of the new season, so the manager was unsurprisingly delighted when he spoke to the media in his post-match press conference.
He was asked about the result, Leandro Trossard’s impact, David Raya’s performance and more. Here’s a full transcript…
On the result:
Well, very happy, first of all. A really tough place to come, great atmosphere of football. A really good team, really well coached, with great collective organisation and huge individual threat, but we found a way to win, especially because the team, I think, played with a lot of personality and understood the game better and better as the game was going, apart from those 10, 12 minutes in the second half. And when we had to rely on certain individuals, we did, like the situation of David, that is an unbelievable save. And when we made the changes, the impact that they had, it was tremendous for the team. So when a team now starts to be equipped that way, and they start to be able to navigate through different context in a match, then becomes a team that can win in any place, and today we've shown that.
On Trossard’s excellent impact away from home:
Well, first of all, when you don't get picked, there is certain ways to react and Leo, he's upset, but he's upset to show on the pitch how good he is. He’s not upset and then come in now because he wasn't playing, then it was like this and that's a huge quality. And then when you put him in the starting 11 he does exactly the same thing and that's a big message and a big example for the rest of the team for myself. But today we had a few because when Ricky had to come in, he was unbelievable and you ask Reiss to come in for five minutes, it's the same. And the boys that unfortunately didn't have the minutes, they are supporting the other ones. So that's what we need.
On efficiency being the difference:
100 per cent. Last year, I think we generated more, obviously because of the context of the game when they scored first. Today they did something a little bit different to what we expected, especially in the first phase of build up in the way they behave. But this is what we have to do, you know, against any formation, any opponent, any behaviour that we are finding to be a threat from many areas, and that's a big compliment for the team.
On whether Trossard should have started:
Yeah, as always, and obviously we have two great left wingers on top of that risk that can play that position. It is always a challenge, but you know that you're going to get the quality, for certain specific games. And what we expected today, I decided to play Gabi and he had a good performance, and after that we had to change the game because it was taking a different route. He came on and made a difference and big credit to him.
On David Raya’s acrobatic save:
I thought it was a goal because I saw the reaction of the defensive line, which was none because the ball goes on the crossbar and we are all watching the ball and I went, no, please. And then I see the striker in that position and normally it’s a goal but David’s reaction. It's unbelievable.
On concerns with Aston Villa players running forward on the ball:
Yes. And they do that every time they play. The moment they have space, and especially the moment that you lose the ball on your own-counter press. They break that press and they are a team that is really, really dangerous. They have a lot of legs, they are really powerful, they can carry the ball and their strikers sit between centre-backs and full-backs. They are a real threat.
On Gabriel Jesus’ injury:
Unfortunately on Thursday at the end of a training session, he felt something in his groin so we need to assess him and need an MRI scan to see. Tomorrow or Monday we will have the results.
On the development and dynamism of our midfield three:
It’s a very important part of the team for us because the way we have structure is to play through them. We had really good moments today. Physically we are still not at our peak and we can still get much better I think.
On Declan Rice learning his new role:
He has already played huge games and made a big impact in that position. He’s so willing because he really likes it and you can tell he enjoys playing there as well.
On whether the physicality of our two centre-backs was a game plan:
You have no choice! If they put the ball in the last lines and you’re man-to-man, you better win those duels and be physical because the ball has to go the other way. They are really good at that to be fair.
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