Arsenal secured safe passage into the FA Cup quarter-finals with as goals from Sokratis and Eddie Nketiah secured a 2-0 win against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
After the game, Nketiah and man of the match David Luiz faced the BT Sport cameras.
Here’s what they had to say…
On putting Thursday’s Europa League exit behind them…
DL: I think it’s important to do the job that we are doing every single day. Since I’ve been here we are improving a lot. We have to be humble and understand that we are not there yet. We have to understand these kind of things. The last game, we did an amazing game and then we lose. This is football. Of course, we have to understand why we lost. Tonight, I’m so pleased with the team, with the young boys, they are improving a lot, every single week, they have a great mentality and they understand what is high level. High level is to bounce back every single week, to be ready to react, to understand football.
On the goals coming at good times…
EN: I think so. We knew we were in for a hard game. I think we did well to get the first goal that settled things a bit. It was nice to get the two-nil and get a bit of a cushion. I think the team kept pressing on, we didn’t sit off, we went for the third. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get it but overall it was a great performance by the team.
On what Mikel Arteta said at half time…
EN: To keep going, to up the intensity a bit. In the second half, we played a lot quicker and that’s when the gaps appeared and that’s when we played out best football. They made it hard for us and they came out fast. We fought and battled well and to win 2-0 is a great achievement. All the young boys – and the senior players – did really well and took their opportunities.
On a clean sheet…
DL: The clean sheet was great, this is the kind of things have to learn, we did it great tonight. Everyone is 100% focused. I say to the young lads ‘you are starting with a great opportunity at a big club. I’m the oldest in the team but inside my heart is young forever!’
On the youngsters getting a chance…
EN: We take all competitions very seriously. At the moment we are getting chances and we are all eager to take them – we want to do as well as we can.”
Portsmouth have won a major trophy more recently than Sp*rs…
https://twitter.com/clivebullen/status/1176608269005139968?s=09 sums it up
“We take all competitions very seriously.”
Ok nah.
Nketieh
I like Eddie, got the makings of a proper *fox n the box*, need to hang on to him!
Bloody hell. Don’t put the Jeffers curse upon him.
Was slightly dicey reliant on the young guns up front today. BUT on plus side, they were far more diligent than Ozil or Pepe when tracking back. And Nketiah again found his way to goal. He’s been excellent moving towards the ball instead of waiting for it to come to him. Also Nelson with superb work keeping it simple on the right side and coming up with simple direct crosses. Two assists. Pepe needs to keep it simple. Martinelli as well put in a shift and perhaps not one of his livlier performances but Saka had a very good effort… Read more »
Arteta’s team are not having as much luck as say Emery’s team in the beginning of their reigns respectively. But what’s obvious is that this current tram has a well defined pattern and set up and our wins are mostly not flukes. It is also obvious we seem to seal games once we get the two goal cushion. Nothing wrong with that. I’m confident with a few additions and Aubameyang we’ll start challenging better next season.