Following our 3-0 win over Oxford United in the FA Cup third round, Mikel Arteta held his post-match press conference at the Kassam Stadium.
Read everything the boss had to say below:
On a difficult first 60 minutes…
Yes, it's always tough to win these kind of matches. It was a physical game in many moments, we have stood by that. They are a really direct team and we had to control certain things better. We changed in the second half and had even more control of the game and we found the openings to win the game.
On the changes made in the second half…
A few things, especially with their direct play and the way they were attacking certain balls - we had some problems to deal with. And in possession as well, we needed more speed, we need more threat, better distances and to occupy certain spaces better to open them up.
On Fabio Vieira’s performance?
I was really happy. Obviously, he contributed in a big way to win the game. That's his quality: to create goals, to decide games in the final third and he had two really good moments that helped us win the game.
Because of the way the game was in the first half, he was man-marked all the time and he didn't have a lot of space. The game became really direct and clear for him, but the moment that we started to do things better, he found more space. And that's his game.
On how Bukayo is doing after being subbed off…
He is fine. He's fine.
On Eddie’s two goals…
He showed great composure. He is a great finisher and the timing of his runs as well. The decision making to wait to the last moment shows his quality. It's not only that - his understanding, his work rate I think is getting better and better. And I'm really happy with him.
On whether extra depth is needed up front considering Eddie’s form…
The problem is we have only one! And to go for that many months til Jesus is back is not easy. But we have to get the most out of the players that we have at the moment and if we can have some reinforcements - great.
On the next round tie against Manchester City…
That's the competition. In the FA Cup, you have to play against the top sides. We experience that every single season.
On playing City in the FA Cup so close to our Premier League clash…
It is what it is. That happens and you have to play the same teams in different competitions and I will try to prepare for the game to win it, obviously. That game will be very different to the game that is in the league, but we know each other really well. Every team knows each other really well and I don't think that will change too much.
On last season’s defeat to Nottingham Forest in the third round…
We made seven changes tonight as well. I think it was a different game right from the beginning. We talked about that: we have to learn the lessons and we really need to know the club that we represent and the history that is related to this competition. So I think the boys really understood that in the right way.
On the midfield changes he made…
There were two different moments in the game and obviously some players have more time on the pitch than others and there are things that obviously we have to improve and become better at, but this is my job
The subs are really important in this competition. Having five subs - you need to use them at the right moment and they had the impact that we're hoping for.
On Smith Rowe’s appearance…
It's good. It’s been four months since he played so I think it was a perfect game to give him some minutes, to get off the blocks and now he needs to start to get available and start to play at the highest level because we're going to need him
On Eddie’s incredible form…
Obviously, he's been waiting for this moment. He's been patient and he's had the right mindset to prepare himself for this moment. And that's why I think he looks ready and is performing the way he's performing.
Copyright 2024 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
