Our perfect start to our Europa League group stage continued on Thursday night as we defeated Bodo/Glimt 3-0 at Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta made eight changes to the starting XI and was delighted with our overall performance - but was quick to point out that there's still plenty of room for improvement.
Read on for a full transcript of Arteta's post-match press conference with the media:
on how he rated our performance…
What I would give is that every game is difficult to win and what we done today is make a lot of changes and giving players who fully deserve the minutes to play, so I’m really happy with the result, scoring three goals and keeping a clean sheet, but as well I’m very conscious that there are many things that we can do much better, especially the way we dominated the game in certain periods.
on why he made three substitutions shortly after the restart…
Well, some of them haven’t played a lot of minutes and we could tell that they were getting tired as well. There were players that needed minutes without overloading them for Sunday and it worked pretty well.
on Kjetil Knutsen…
I said it yesterday, you look at what the team has done under him and the performances that they’ve had and results that they’ve had, big credit to him with the way that they play and how brave they were today here to try to play the game the way they want to play. They’re a difficult team, really well organised, I like them.
on what the next step is for our players trying to break into the Premier League XI…
The same as the others, keep doing better and better. There are still a lot of things individually and collectively that need to be done better and they need to keep their standards as high as possible and to try to reach the next level and the next level. It’s nothing different to the ones that didn’t play.
on what we could have done better tonight…
We had spells that we were too rushed, and we didn’t win enough duels. We didn’t manage the ball well enough when we won it back, so it became a really open game with a lot of transitions and hone you have the result in your hand you need to manage the game much better. We didn’t put 10 or 15 passes together enough times in the game to try to get the ball more in the final third. We were really effective in the final third and we looked a threat, but in terms of composure and sometimes the timing between the units because they haven’t played together much, some levels were lacking a little bit and in football timing is everything.
on Fabio Vieira and whether we should be excited…
Yes, you saw the quality. Every time he’s around the box he’s a real threat, really intelligent player and brave. In defending he still needs to do more and understand it more because organisation is key when you play against good teams in ball possession.
on Jesus’ impressive work rate when he came on…
I love his mentality. It doesn’t matter how long he players, when he plays, in which position. He always gives absolutely everything. You see his pressing when he goes on the pitch, it makes the team different. His energy as well. Obviously today he (made) an outstanding action, to create the third goal.
on whether that shows the attitude that the team (as a whole) has…
Well, especially if he does it. He has won everything in the last five years, imagine what the rest have to do, so follow him, because he’s always in the right spot.
on the last Europa League home game being a defeat, and much he prefers nights when things are going well…
Well, it’s in the DNA of this football club. Obviously, we are used to a different European night, but it was great to play under the lights, to play to a full stadium supporting the team. We need to again start to create those moment, because they are really special.
on whether he has any concerns about fixture congestion and how he’s going to manage it…
Well, have a plan obviously, and we have an understanding of what we want to do. But then this is football, and there are so many uncontrollable circumstances that will determine if we go this way, or that way - we use this player, or that player. It’s something that nobody has experienced before, so we are a little blank there. So, we try to prepare, we try to understand how to especially protect the players, for their wellbeing.
on what pleased him most about Eddie’s performance…
When he puts the ball in the back of the net. For a manager, this is the best moment. Obviously his work rate, his attitude, his application is just phenomenal. But he’s got this natural ability and he does it every time.
on whether Eddie is the perfect second striker to have…
What I can say is that I’m really happy to have him in the team. He has the qualities to play for this team, in any role - as a starter or a finisher, or however you want to call him. We all love his attitude and the qualities that he has, so we are really happy to have him.
on his impressive goalscoring record, and whether it makes it hard to leave him out of the team…
It does, and the good thing is that today he could have scored a couple more. You have done great, but what you can do better. That’s his mentality, and this is where we want to take him. When you see how he has evolved in the last year or two, and he still has a lot of room to do that.
on what impressed him most about Bodo/Glimt…
How clear and brave they are in what they want to do. They came here and they tried to play exactly the same as they have played away or at home against any opponent, and probably that’s credit to the manager. Because they have put that belief in the team. So, a very, very good team.
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