After seeing his side come back from a goal down to beat Fulham, Mikel Arteta was thrilled with the response of his players, especially Gabriel who popped up with the winner five minutes from time.
The Brazilian defender atoned for his error that cost us the opening goal, and Arteta was quick to inform those gathered for his post-match press conference of the efforts he has made to improve his game over recent months.
Here is everything the boss had to say about today's game:
on the match...
I'm really happy with the performance, with the attitude and the mentality that the team showed. I think we were on top of the game, so it was about being patient and the goal would come because we deserved that.
We had to avoid mistakes, we made an error and it cost us the goal, but even though that happened I think the team showed that against adversity, and Gabi individually how he continued to play. With the supporters, and with the support that we have in the stadium right now, it makes things much easier and the team deserved to win. It's as simple as that.
on Gabriel's reaction after making an error...
It's just the reaction of everybody after the goal. Straight away the stadium just gives support to that player, gives belief and then the player has to show courage to continue playing.
This is part of football, mistakes are part of it and it's going to continue to happen, but it's about how you respond to that and I'm really pleased. It's not a coincidence with Gabi because the way he's changed his mentality and the way he approaches every single day is different to a year or two ago.
on if the error shouldn't have been allowed to happen...
That's clear.
on the changes Gabriel has made...
The way he looks after himself every day, that is the most important thing in his life apart from his little daughter and his family, and how consistent he is every day in his habits and how much he really wants to become one of the best.
on our response to going a goal down...
We have grown up, we have more alternatives. I think we have matured as well. Playing in front of these supporters helps because they are driving you as well and then a lot of that is about belief and confidence that you can do it and really believe that you can do it, and now we have that belief.
on the connection with our supporters...
I don't know any top teams, winning teams, that don't have that connection with their supporters. I just had a person that I really like, that I love, that I haven't seen for a while, it's the first time that he's been at the stadium for two years and he says it's the best he's heard since Highbury, so well done.
on Martin Odegaard's performance...
Influence and in difficult moments, take the ball and make things happen and that's what he's done.
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