Mikel Arteta spoke to Sky Sports after Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Fulham at the Emirates this evening.
Here’s what he had to say.
Satisfaction from digging in?
Big boost. Obviously winning like this is really nice. When you feel that adversity during the match after controlling the game and being on top of it, just hoping it was a matter of time and suddenly we made a big mistake, and they punished us.
But then how we reacted, the connection again with those supporters, how we went about it, the mentality we showed. The first one Gabi, the way he played after that mistake.
The team believed, we wanted to win the match, and in the end we managed to do it.
What did you say at half-time?
We tweaked a few things that I think we could do better. We had a lot of the ball in the final third without having too many actions. We had two big, big chances still that we didn’t put away, but we knew as well that they a threat and we had to keep them away from our box.
Every time Mitrovic is in the box you have the feeling that something is going to happen and we experienced that today, but overall we’re really pleased.
Eddie made a difference … was it just a case of putting a striker on?
It’s not as simple as that, it’s what we’ve practiced, the variety of formations we can use, how we can make each other better, attack different spaces.
But then you look in his eye, and you say ‘He is ready for a fight.’
Gabriel winner after the mistake …
It shows his character and how far he’s come. He’s changed his mentality and the way he looks at himself, and I’m really pleased because that’s when you have to show it – in difficult moments.
Atmosphere in the ground … Alan Smith said it’s the best in 10 years.
I’ve got a friend who used to work for the club, he hasn’t been here for many years, and he said the same thing as Alan, so it must be true.
Thank you so much.
Four wins in a row, how excited should we get?
Now it’s just onto the next one. We have two games this week, we have to prepare and recover well, and get ready because every game in this league is so demanding. You can see the results, and we need to be ready.
Will it be a different kind of season due to some crazy results?
You can see how difficult the games are, how results are happening, how physical it is, quality teams with top coaches that make life really difficult every game.
It’s the start of the season, everybody is going to suffer at some stage. We’re on a good run and we have to try to maintain it.
Be humble and hungry.
Arsenal defender Gabriel, speaking to Sky Sports: “After I lost the ball my head was down, but my brothers kept saying ‘let’s go’. I lifted my head up – my team-mates were a big help to me.”
Brothers
Credit to him for not giving up. We needed this never give up attitude in every game.
I loved that second half, there was so much fight in us even when we conceded we kept going until the end it just felt great the energy in the stadium, we kept pushing, the energy in the stadium was building and finally we got the winner – and what a goal for Gabriel after the mistake as well. Odegaard is just superb player in my opinion with his skills and brain in the game, he brings so much positivity with and without the ball. Mikel was surely proud on the team after the game in the dressing room, just… Read more »
Love having excellent player chants eg Saka and ESR, Saliba. Team and supporters coming together!
I know that friend who used to work at the club, and I miss him 😭😭😭
Pepe?
Gunnersaurus?
Amazing result tonight. We just need to add a CDM and winger to this team, and we should be set! Injury to either Xhaka or Partey can handicap our season in the big moments, and we need to have a strong backup cover in that role. The change in mentality this season is noticeable. Great start to the season. Let’s keep going! COYG!
It’s great to see how appreciated Xhaka has become after all the flack he’s had to take.
He really seems like a completely new player.
Almost like saka once we shifted him forward.
One things is for sure, fulham are a strong side that will not be easily beaten. We gave them Leno.
What i love is that we relied on heart, tenacity and effort to win this game.
To be fair Leno gave us the win in return 😅
Joking aside, I’m so proud of our backline mitrovic is an amazing CF one of the best in the league when he keeps his head.
34 more W to go
38 likes….🤔. Seems we’ll be unbeaten this season😁
🙏🏾
Great win and comeback today, but defensively we have a lot to improve on. Giving goals away like that is just unacceptable and giving them so many headed opportunities is dangerous. We need to win more duels in our own box. Credit to Fulham too, they are not an easy team to play against right now. Hopefully against Villa we will do better at the back.
The team showed some real testicular fortitude today
Cojones you mean? 😜
Balls
Cojones😄
was that friend ‘who hasn’t been for many years’ AW?
No, if Wenger was at the stadium today then the media would be all over it.
I suspect David Dein because someone said they saw and chatted to him today.
BIG BOOOOOOOOOST
This is the new Arsenal! With this test passed of winning after not scoring in the first half and conceding first, we have acquired a new mental token. We CAN always win no matter the adversity.
We look like a real team again. Everyone fighting for each other.
Mitrovic is a total bastard of a centre forward and other than the mistake for the goal we dealt well with his threat. I’m quite surprised no one tried to prize him away from Fulham in the last couple of years. Other than his wild temper I think he’s a really good striker and still just 27.
If we were after a different option up front I’d consider him, only his price tag will be pretty hefty nowadays.
Maybe in another universe if Nketiah didn’t sign a new contract, we could have signed Mitrovic to be striker #2. Think he would get a few goals in the Europa League.
“Be humble and hungry”- that’s the key.