A quick-fire brace from Eddie Nketiah was enough for Arsenal to secure a 2-1 win over Leeds United at Emirates Stadium although the Gunners, in the words of manager Mikel Arteta, “suffered more than needed” considering the visitors played with 10 men for more than an hour.
Here’s what the boss had to say when he faced the BBC cameras…
On the performance…
We started extremely well, really determined, really brave, we were showing the right quality, creating chances and scored two goals and didn’t allow anything to happen against us. Then, with 10 men, it’s always more complicated. We controlled the game really well, didn’t have any moments where they could run at us or create any chances but this is the league and when you don’t score the third or the fourth goal, when we had chances to do it, out of a set piece we conceded a goal and then it becomes nervy because you know what you’re playing for and then you start to defend that result and we suffered much more than we needed.
On qualifying for the Champions League with a win at White Hart Lane…
And we know that we’ve earned the right to play that game in that context and we’re going to prepare the game to win it.
On how impressive it is to be in this situation given the start to the season…
Yes, but it’s about staying patient and trusting the players that we have and obviously the context is everything. We started the season with nine or 10 players out and playing the best two teams [Chelsea and Manchester City] in Europe. When you do that, yeah, you can have an assessment but our assessment was very clear. Then you put your head down, accept the criticism and work and try to convince everybody. You see the stadium, how magnificent it is to play here, I think the boys deserve that.
On being in pole position for a top four finish…
Yes, but winning matches is extremely difficult. We know for both teams, it’s going to be a decisive moment. We’re going to prepare the game as best as we can.
North London forever
Whatever the weather!
Never been to a game at the emirates but I will happily stand on my coffee table and sing it loud, as long the emirates faithful do it with me. COYG
Whatever the weather
If the emirates faithful get this one going it could become historic, I’m talking ‘never walk alone’ levels of power and resonance and then some. I know it’s not fashionable but when the Pool get that one out for champions league nights, you’d be hard pressed not to feel something. The team does for sure. We’ve missed something like that at times. Let’s do It !
I’ll be totally honest.
I really dislike Liverpool, but on a Champions League night, I’m standing up and signing along with them
Kings of London. All the talk about the top 3 in the league, I always maintained there was just a clear top 2. Chelsea were always a runaway leader in the race for top 4 race. They had that champions of Europe bounce and fear factor. Even with our bad start we could’ve been clear of them in third but for these 3 forgettable games we lost recently.
Beyond the top two we are just as good as anyone and we might be top dogs in London sooner than people expect.
London is red
Apologies, doubled up my comments there, I think I got message across! 😄
Speaking of songs, this new Arcade Fire song “The Lightning” sounds like it was written by an Arsenal fan after we dropped those 3 matches in a row: “Fourth place anthem playing tonight, on a broken radio I thought we reached the mountaintop, but now, we just feel so low The sky is breaking open, we keep hoping, in the distance we’ll see a glow Lightning, light our way ’til the black sky turns back to indigo We can make it if you don’t quit on me I won’t quit on you Don’t quit on me We can make it,… Read more »
Thank you for posting this. I had to give it a little youtube to figure it out. Got to be honest, I get a bit sad living far from the stadium, I miss out on learning new chants ‘organically’ but this song choice is so moving! I really hope others agree and we sing it for years to come.
Job done for today. Shame Liverpool couldn’t have done more for us yesterday, but it’s still in our hands
Spurs like to play on the counter attack, but they have to come out against us on Thursday.
Will be interesting to see how Arteta sets up for that…..
I’m not sure that they will. Their one game plan (and an effective one) is based on drawing the opposition into their own half before kicking it long to Kane/Son. I think they’ll stick to that on Thursday.
We may as well sit back and take a draw then !
I will take a draw but would prefer team to be brave and pragmatic at decision making. Keep our heads and sanity and we should be good.
Hopefully we sit back and play on the counter. Spurs have a difficult time against teams that sit back and play well against teams that plow forward or press them.
I’d like to see white at right back if he’s fit.
I’d love to start 5 at the back, give them a double parked bus, and hit in the counter. A total Italian job!
Back 5, 3 CDMs, 2 strikers, Martinelli and Eddie 2 man counter with the pace.🤣
Hopefully Benjamin White is back for the game. Although I have to say Rob Holdinho has been great since coming in.
A ‘park the bus’ kinda scenario would suit holding fairly well
We will win the game on Thursday. I can just feel it in my waters.
So that would be John Waters then?
But still, this match was one of the most fun performances I have seen from this team this season.
Is relief the same as happiness ?
We have what we hold. I also have what I hold, which is small and uncooperative.
Let Spuds into the game like we did Leeds in the second half and they’ll punish us for sure.
Leeds were terrible by the way. Really awful. They clearly over achieved under Bielsa and are now left exposed without him.
Was really irritated that he kept 2 DM‘s on the pitch when they didn‘t even try to get out of their own half. Smith-Rowe for either Xhaka or Elneny at half-time at the latest and the game would have been finished around the hour mark for sure. I would even have taken Cedric and a DM off at halftime and played Saka as right back (wasn’t anything to defend anyway) and Laca as a second striker. Thought Mik was way too cautious today. But in the end 3 points are all that matters. Let‘s beat that lot on Thursday and… Read more »
We won. I just want St Totteringhams day. Please make it happen. Thanks in advance
Win at the toilet bowl and it’s ours
We all suffered, Mikel.
3 points was the target and that’s all that matters today
YOU suffered!? I aged about a decade in 20 minutes.
Er, Mikel. We started the season against Brentford!
Think he referred to Brentford when he said “tou start the season with 9 or 10 players out”, with the two best teams in Europe (city and chelsea) following.
Do we still need,to play CL qualifiers if we come in 4th or is it auto, and how does liverfool winning the CL impact the qualification process for us?
CL qualifiers dont exist anymore for the top 4 countries in the UEFA 5-year rankings (which includes England). So direct to the group stage.
Other teams performances in Europe(!) never effect your own team. They can only lead to upgrades for the team in Europe.