Mikel Arteta spoke to the media after we started our Champions League campaign with a goalless draw away at Atalanta.
The boss was asked about the result, David Raya’s double save and more - and here’s how he answered.
On the result:
I think we started the game really well in the first 20, 25 minutes. I think we played with the ball in the right areas, with a lot of intention and were effective, but without creating too many clear-cut chances. After that, we lost control of the game because we were very inconsistent with the ball, giving a lot of simple balls away - and against a team that are man-to-man [that] costs you moments to transition because the moment you lose your man, there is a space and you are in equal numbers in the backline or overloaded. Defensively we didn’t suffer - that’s the reality. But in the second half we gave a penalty away and I witnessed two of the best saves I’ve probably ever seen in my career to save us from that moment. After that, the game continued in the same way as after the first 25 minutes. We were inconsistent with the ball. We had moments but we never got it to dominance or a threat. Then we had a big chance with Gabi Martinelli to win the game, which unfortunately didn’t go in. [Overall] there’s a lot to improve.
On David Raya’s double save - and if he feels liberated this season:
That’s a question for him but last year was already very impressive and really good, even with a different context. This season he has started exceptionally - the save he made against Villa, today he kept us in the game. That’s the reality. You need that from your keeper at this level. I’m really happy he’s in the form he’s in at the moment.
On if Raya is the best goalkeeper in the world at the moment:
I don’t know. I haven’t seen all the goalkeepers but at the moment he’s been exceptional for us, that’s for sure.
On the way the team managed the closing stages:
It was a really tricky game emotionally because you are all man orientated, so every action counts in your emotions. When we had certain moments that didn’t go our way, I could sense the team was a little bit about to lose the discipline this requires. I think we showed more maturity tonight than last year - if you cannot see a way to win, at least don’t lose. But that is not certainly the message I want to send to the team.
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