After watching Arsenal cruise to a 5-0 win over Norwich City at Carrow Road, Mikel Arteta faced the Sky Sports cameras.
Here’s what he had to say about a win that keeps us in fourth place ahead of Tuesday’s game with Wolves.
On how satisfactory it was to win…
Very much because in this festive period you have to keep the focus. The performance level was really high against a team that here [at home] against top teams, have done really well even if they didn’t win. I think today is a great performance, we scored some great goals and it was a big away win.
On the goals being proof of newfound confidence in attack…
It is but all the phases are much better done so we arrive in much better conditions in the final third, we are able to counter-press in those positions and then you need effectiveness and the confidence, as you mentioned, to make the right action and put the ball in the net.
On there being more to come from Bukayo Saka…
To play in those positions for a big club like us, you need to be producing goals and assists every game. It’s what we demand from him and he has the capacity to do it and he’s doing it better and better.
On the importance of the academy kids…
Everybody is important. I think the senior players are performing and giving a lot of stability and direction to the young players and it’s the right mix.
On whether Aubameyang still has a future at the club…
He wasn’t selected for today’s match. Today’s decision was not to select him and we selected other players.
On it being unfair that Wolves have nine days to prepare for Arsenal…
That word [fairness] to describe the position that both teams are going to be playing in one and a half days, obviously you cannot use it because it’s not fair, but we will push and we will go there [to the Emirates] to try to recover as good as we can, play as good as we can and prepare the game to win it.
They can have 30 days for all I care. Big teams are resilient when the odds don’t tip in their favour.
You can see the confidence building in the players (and fans) so it should be Wolves that aren’t looking forward to playing us away, regardless of perceived energy levels.
Well, it’s not just energy levels, though that does matter–we’re not talking about six days vs. seven days. It is the vastly increased risk of injury once you eliminate a recovery period, as you must in a 48 hour turnaround.
Apparently, the game is gonna be postponed due to COVID breakout in the Wolves camp, as per The Athletic
Look, a 5-0 win looks good. But let’s start doing that against teams not at the bottom of the table.
Saka is our most influential player. Has been so for a while now too. I hope he keeps at it.
Yeah. For sure.
And, one Martin odegaard looked particularly good today as well.
Martinelli was everywhere, it seemed. And Laca (Laca!, Laca!, Laca!) looked really good.
We won’t have opposition as obliging as Norwich much longer, however.
Winning games is great, eh?
The game is off due to covid and injuries. Arteta needs to put an end to this Auba issue because the more he tries to divert from the questions the more the speculations continues..He should allow him return and stay on bench and fight for his place except there’s something else we don’t know.
I suspect he is off to another club sooner than we think, just hope it isn’t a swap deal with Barca’s courtiniho – as mooted in the papers!!!
Where will coutinho fit in in our team?
There’s something else we don’t know.
Seems that way, the punishment doesn’t really fit the crime otherwise.
Arteta knows better than us, that’s why he is the Boss.
The team look so much better balanced without Auba. Martinelli has been a revelation. So much energy and passion for the game. Saka hitting the next level, Ødegaard showing why Real signed him so young, the lads in defence looking comfortable and Ramsdale just doing what he does. The process is starting to show what it’s all about. By no means do I think we’re the finished article, but this team has the potential to be amazing. Merry Christmas Gooners!
Auba is still in wilderness- I hope he comes out a better player/person.
In the wilderness
In truth their keeper should have saved those.
I suspect Gunn is really Gunnersaurus giving us a helping non-hand with his new employers.
Its great we are scoring from many areas.
Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Smith-Rowe all weighed in recently. LAca hopefully can fire and Nketiah another one. Some goals as well from the fullbacks hopefully.
We need to be clinical with chances. Good that we are attempting shots now more often.