There were plenty of talking points during a dramatic Champions League quarter-final first leg at Emirates Stadium.
Both sides had enjoyed the lead in an eventful match, but in the end we will go to Munich next week needing a win to progress.
After the game Mikel Arteta was asked about the performance, how we conceded the goals, the state of play in the tie, and what he made of the late penalty decision.
Here’s a transcript of his post-match press conference…
On the penalty appeal at the end...
I haven’t seen it, the decision is made and we have to focus on other aspects that we can control, we could’ve done much better tonight.
On whether Bukayo Saka could’ve stayed on his feet at the end…
I haven’t seen the image, for me it’s easy to say with distance but I will review it.
On the confidence from the first leg going into the second leg at Bayern Munich…
I think we started the game really well, we were dominant we played in the opponents’ half, we generated some momentum, scored the first goal, and then it’s a critical moment of the match, Ben White is in front of Neuer to make it two-nil and we have to put the ball in the back of the net and it becomes a different moment, and then in Champions League you cannot give anything to the opponent. We had given them two goals today and when you have this situation they are going to punish you. The margins are really small in this competition, it’s really difficult to penetrate the opponents and create big quality chances against this level of opposition, make sure you don’t give them anything but i think the team showed a lot of composure especially after 2-1 because you can throw your toys away and generate a lot of spaces for the opponent and lose the tie in 20 minutes. We haven’t done that and I think the subs made a huge impact and the way they came on the pitch, the body language, the attitude, the initiative to make things happen made a big difference to the team.
On conceding two-goals after positive defensive performances lately…
This happens and maybe it happened before and you don’t get punished, but this is the level against this kind of players this kind of opposition, especially they have space that they can punish you, we have let them run in a few occasions, that’s is something in the return leg we have to do much better.
On Harry Kane’s challenge on Gabriel…
I haven’t seen it again, the referee has made a decision and that’s done.
On the positive impact of the substitutes tonight…
Absolutely, when you bring two or three players like we have done, with Alex straight away at half time to change a few things, and then with Leo and Gabby, then Thomas when it needs, because the game became a bit chaotic, and it was a big danger to lose it. I think they all had a big impact tonight.
On the momentum shift being down to inexperience in this competition…
I don’t know but obviously that created some insecurity in the team because we have given them things that they have to earn it and then you start to defend open spaces where they have a huge capacity to hurt you there, but afterwards we reacted well and we never give up. Thank you again to the crowd for the atmosphere. It was unbelievable. We go again in Munich.
On the lessons learnt about our squad playing in the Champions League…
Yeah that is the experiences and they have done that really well, there are moments in games that are very defining, especially in the Champions League and we have seen a clear example of that.
On Saka’s reaction to the penalty not being given…
I was already looking at the other goal, because we are with 10-men the game hasn’t been finished so I was more worried about that than his reaction.
On whether he sympathises with Saka…
Yeah for sure if he had that belief that it’s a penalty, you are going to react like this.
On the mood in the dressing room after tonight’s draw…
Yeah obviously, in certain way we are alive and we’ve done what we had to do when the game became very difficult for us but as well as understanding that we have to step up the level in certain aspects of the game, to be much better and to have a real chance to win the game.
On managing a squad without much experience in the Champions League…
Well I think we have made some mistakes today and for the next time for that to happen there are less and okay it happened today but let’s learn from it, let’s support those players who have been unbelievable and it’s part of football.
On the positives to take from the result…
Yeah, you have to feel it on the pitch, and the game state tells you and gives you a lot of information is the game there for the taking, raise the level of risk and commit more players forward or do something out of the game, when it’s in a state, be careful and I think the game after scoring, giving three, four or five straight balls away and allow certain transition it wasn’t there to win it. It was closer to lose it if we make a few mistakes.
On whether he is proud of the reaction from the players after going 2-1 down…
I am very proud, now I sense the belief there, we are going to go to Munich and have the chance to win it and we’re going to be better in certain areas and that’s how we are going to prepare it.
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