Mikel Arteta spoke to TNT Sport after Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Sevilla in the Champions League this evening.
Here’s what he had to say.
On the performance …
Very happy obviously to win here. There’s not many teams that have won here in the last 10 years in Europe and we’ve done it and I really like the team, especially the first 60-65 minutes because we played the game we wanted.
After going 2-0 we should have scored the third one and we had openings to score it. We didn’t and in one corner, first action, they had something, they scored. From there, they have the experience, they have a lot of presence and they have a lot of belief that they can get in the game and we saw that.
Gabriel Jesus’ impact …
Well, that’s what we need. You need magic moments in big games, and you need the big players to step in and create those moments. And we had a big opening in the first few minutes as well with Martinelli through to score. We did it and we need that. We need the players to perform at their best and to let him do something special.
On why Jesus went off …
He felt something in his hamstring. So, let’s see. It’s not good news because Gabi is not a player that does that at all. So, we have to wait and see in the next few days.
Team maturity …
It’s about experiences and learning from those experiences. And when you lose something, you learn much more than when you win. It was a very different team that we played against. We had moments that we were very dominant and today again we had to suffer and it’s necessary to suffer when you are here to win a game.
Like in the bible, on the third day Jesus will rise for the Sheffield game
Imagining a world where Sheffield is mentioned in the Bible…
Well, the Sheffield lads in The Full Monty based one of their dance moves on Tony Adams marshalling the Arsenal back four to step forward together.
Like 2:8 …And there were in the same country Sheffields abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were so afraid.
I’ll get my coat. 🏃🏾♂️
We are both now living in that world.
You know all those sacrifices mentioned in the Old Testament?
Where do you think they got the knives?
I hope that’s the case, but given it is Sheffield, if there is any doubt at all we shouldn’t risk him. Eddie, Havertz, Trossard… we have plenty of players with sufficient quality for a game against (probably) the worst side in the league
If Jesus is injured, ffs mikel don’t start nketiah.
It feels like a massive gulf in class between the two. Jesus is just a freaking brilliant player. Man, I hope it was just a bit of cramp.
Nervy finish, but a solid win away. Well done. Jesus and Rice were simply outstanding. Dam Rice is freaking good. Still feels like we need something extra from somewhere, but we’re a force for sure.
Do you think that Kai may have been signed because he has the potential to replicate GJ qualities? That is the way I see things – a player who can fill several positions – but likewise it would not surprise me one bit if we add an Ivan Toney to the squad in January
For sure Kai was signed for that reason, but the issue is he’s not filling any role all that well, just lots of them in an ok manner. I guess that’s useful, but it’s a heck of a transfer fee for a versatile squad player. It just blows my mind watching him, how little dynamism he adds in attack. He’s pretty good positionally and works hard, but everything is just the easy option and he takes no one on. Weird player.
Do you think there’s a possibility that you can see less than what MA can see when it comes to why he was signed? I know that sounds incredibly patronising, but I am long enough in the tooth to recognise that when there is a decision maker who you can respect that is taking risks, then there is a very valid reason for them to do so
I actually don’t, which is why Havertz is now a sub and not a regular starter. Jorgs has replaced him because Havertz wasn’t bringing enough creativity. I’ve looked at this statistically too – his work rate is really good, defensively he’s making excellent contributions, positionally seems pretty good and improving too – those are great contributions, but contributions more of a defensive midfielder than a player signed as an attacker. In terms of going forward he’s creating next to nothing, he takes no one on with the ball, he’s rarely getting in behind. He just recycles the ball to the… Read more »
Absolutely valid points and I can’t argue with them – but did you ever watch KH playing for Leverkusen before Chelsea signed him? I ask this as I was genuinely crushed when Chelsea signed him ahead of us, as i watch a lot of bundesliga football and I saw a player who is likely to be amongst the best on the planet before he signed for Chelsea… He is genuinely something special, and I think that is why we have taken the punt on him because of we find that player we have another odegaard level talent on our hands
Me too, which is why I had hope even when we signed him. He plays scared with the ball now though. It’s crazy how different he is compared to those Leverkeusen days. If he was bringing more in attack he’d be a first name on the team sheet type player. He has everything (size, technique, speed, work rate) to be absolutely world class, but something is off. It seems mental, the worry is he cannot find the way to fix it.
Put yourself in his position – wunderkid thriving – move to London at 21 and there is a global pandemic. You can put saliba in the same bracket – these young men have had their worlds turned upside down and are expected to just take it on the chin because they are paid well. I was paid well and it did not equate to shit – I’m happier now I work in a low paid job that is satisfying. It took me until the age of 42 to get this kind of satisfaction from life – I’d be the oldest… Read more »
He’s a very fortunate person. He has choices. Many don’t.
Nketiah should be fine against Sheffield. But I like our team better with Trossard or Havertz as a 9, rather than Nketiah.
I think this summer (this winter doesn’t sound realistic) we should target a new 9 to truly compete with Jesus.
The scrutiny David Raya is getting is simply diabolical. Yes, he’s had some dodgy moments, but so does Ramsdale if we are being honest. I am not against a Ramsdale return but I wouldn’t wish what Raya’s going through on my worst enemy! Gabriel Jesus put in a five star performance tonight; Tomiyasu was immense; Rice was brilliant again and Martinelli gave a good account of himself on his CL debut. In spite of all these positives, some have contrived to make Raya the centre of attention. Disgusting!
They’re not allowed to blame Havertz anymore so they need a new victim.
Just going to repost the comment I made last week after there was a big call for a killer up front: I gotta say, I find this whole “we need a killer upfront” malarky to be absolute BS. Find me a striker that can do what Gabby Jesus does for us and score 25 goals a season. They simply don’t exist. GJ offers us so much more than a Vlahovic or an Osimhen or even a Haaland ever could. Our system only truly works when GJ is on the field. His technique and close control is utterly outstanding. He is… Read more »
People going on about Toney, half his goals were penalties and he was the lone striker in a decent team. 20 goals in a season flatters him. He’s not worth 60m+ that people are talking about.
Watch his compilations.
All his goals are fucking awful.
Sorry. Not good enough to play ArtetaBall. I really hope we give him a miss.
To be honest if there is one striker I’d be happy for us to sign in Jan it is Ivan Toney. And it is for the reasons that you point out about why GJ is so valuable and unique for us. Toney would give us another option (and the raya stans would see why his stats were so good as he can put a ball just about anywhere in the opposition half and Toney wins it – which incidentally I think GJ and KH can also do). I can only really see us signing someone of Toney’s ilk as opposed… Read more »
I absolutely think Jesus is exactly what we need, but the concern is he gets hurt. I’d like to see Havertz given a chance in the role if Jesus is out here. For sure he didn’t convince at Chelsea, but his positioning and hold up play would help other, but his lack of creativity (still quite shocking how conservatively he plays in attack) is a major drop of from the son of god. Please don’t be injured [ever again] Jesus!
Offhand, I can think of only one player who is better than Gabriel Jesus for our style. That is Griezmann, who is nearing the end of his career and has never been interested in playing in England. For me, saying Griezmann is the only guy better is an enormous compliment.
I can see where you are coming from, but he won’t have the hunger for this project
Let’s be honest seville weren’t very good, yes we scored 2 spectacular goals and our performance was just about a 7/10 and i get no easy games away from home in CL especially for us in Spain but this was a 0-3 game for us from the 1st 10 mins, gloss taken off through Jesus being injured again but more than happy to top the group at this stage.
What color is the sky in your world?
Can’t afford another Jesus injury. Nketia is just not doing it right now.
Can’t make up my mind what was the better goal, rounding keeper having taken a pass from the half-way line or cutting inside and curling top corner 🤔
Why not both! 😀
So, let’s get this straight — Gabriel booted the ball out of defence, and it was won by Gabriel, who turned his defender and sent a through ball for Gabriel to run on and score.
If we don’t win anything this season, it will be because we don’t have enough Gabriels in the side!
P.S. I love the way the French commentator described the pass by Jesus to Martinelli … “oo la la!”
je pourrais regarder ça toute la journée
In a fortnight I would like to see the old Sevilla boys get tired n busted in the 60 th minute and drop on their knees on the Emirates turf.. after putting 3 past them.