Mikel Arteta spoke to TNT Sport after today’s 5-0 win over Crystal Palace at the Emirates. Here’s what he had to say.
On the result and performance after three defeats
The positivity that we had right from the beginning, I had a really good feeling the last 10 days about the team and how they reacted against City. They are great players, we have a great team and today they really won it and I could feel that. I’m really pleased, first of all with the clean sheet and then scoring five goals.
Did Gabriel’s early goal settle nerves?
It does. Opening the game up the way we did, that is really helpful because then the opponent has to adapt and they have to be a bit more aggressive and allow more spaces and we exploited that really well.
13 set-piece goals, how hard to do you work on them?
We work on everything. We have to control and dominate every phase of play. If we want to be the best team in the world, you have to be the best team at everything that you do. We can still do better and we’ll continue to work on everything that can make us better.
Raya’s quick throw for the third saw the keeper get praise
Absolutely, because those are moments that you can exploit the spaces and we had a really good execution with Gabi Jesus as well – the pass and the timing, and the composure to show that. He’s got that. He’s probably one of the best in that moment to disguise you and to use the space in the right way. It was a great goal.
Chasing the leaders this season as opposed to setting the pace last season.
It is what it is. I enjoy it more when we win every single game, but it is what it is. We’re in a really good moment. I think we still have the second half of the season to play for everything and we’re going to go for it.
Does the squad have enough to compete with Liverpool and Man City?
We’re going to try our best and what we have to do is love our players and make sure that they feel trusted and they have the confidence because when a player lives like this, he can get to a level that you can never imagine. If he’s doubting and hearing too many things, that’s not helpful and we will love the players that we have.
Injury updates on Declan Rice and Gabriel.
Declan was feeling a sensation in the hamstring, so we didn’t want to take any risk at 3-0. The other one was Gabi Magalhaes, he had a tackle I think in the first half on his knee and his was struggling a bit. I hope it’s not serious but let’s see.
Great result. Let’s hope we don’t have any injuries and we keep scoring, it makes such a difference!
Dang…a hamstring injury to Rice Rice Baby might be about the worst thing that could happen to this squad right now. Please don’t let that be a thing!
Arteta said it was just a sensation so probably not severe and recovery normally days or a week or so.
What the doctor ordered.. 5 goals, clean sheet, 3 points..
Yep, Raya continues to be the signing of the season.
Losing to Liverpool really was a blessing, we’ll be hungrier for these next games (especially Liverpool next week) no FA cup replays, and fresher for when champions league restarts.
Will be crossing all digits for good injury news, hope Rice and Big Gabi are okay