Leandro Trossard’s first half goal was enough for Arsenal to take their title challenge to the final day of the season but Mikel Arteta’s side were far from their fluid best as they beat a depleted Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford.
Knowing they needed to win to keep the pressure on Manchester City, the Gunners settled for a conservative approach and played well within themselves. However, instead of looking controlled, at time they were ragged and unsure of how best to work the ball up the field. In the end, they were thankful the home side had little quality in attack.
After the game, Trossard and the man who assisted him, Kai Havertz, faced questions from Sky Sports. Here’s what they had to say.
On a big win…
KH: Yeah, very important. I think to play here is always tough, we all know that. I think we prepared the game very well, I think we we haven’t got our best game but at the end we needed that three points and we have it now so we can be very happy with that.
On suffering on their way to the win…
LT: We had only one job today, that was winning. Maybe it wasn’t the prettiest one but I think we stuck together, we defended well and at the end it was a good win for us and we did what we had to do.
On the clock going slow in the second half…
LT: Oh yeah, same as always. We were looking for that second goal and if it doesn’t come then it’s going to be a tough second half, especially here with the atmosphere. It’s still a good team and they can hurt you in different ways. So credit to the boys, we defended very well and it’s a good win.
On it feeling different at this time of the season…
KH: I think it feels nice to go in every game. I think we have to win. We have to win every single game because City are always keeping the pressure as well. It’s just so nice. I said that before. It’s so nice to be in that race. Every week you have to play at your best and have to win games. Then when you do it, it even feels better. It’s one game to go for us and we need everyone next week, the fans, the whole club behind us and I think everything’s possible.
On his role in the build-up to Trossard’s goal…
KH: I looked to my right and I saw I’m still on the six-yard line and I called Ben and he saw me straight away. I think it was a one-on-one situation. And this guy [Leo] scored.
On it potentially being a historic goal…
LT: Yeah, that’s nice, but obviously there’s only one objective and that’s try to win the league. Like I said, we have done our job today. We’ll be up to the last game and that’s all we were aiming for. It will be a nice week now and then a great game next week and hopefully we can celebrate something.
On enjoying City’s game against Sp*rs…
LT: Yeah, you never know, it could be [enjoyable]. We can only hope and we have done our job and that’s the only thing we could have done. We just need to enjoy this and look forward to next week.
On supporting Sp*rs
KH: I’m going to be the biggest fan of Tottenham ever. We are going to be, so let’s hope for the best.
COYS
The only time we’re ever gonna see this comment upvoted
YOU HAD ONE JOB!
Good job.
Support Tottenham for one game. Need to see my priest to clean my soul.
More like an acid bath. Might have to scrub myself with sandpaper to get the dirty feeling off, yuck
Yeah, makes me throw up in my mouth a little, but I can always spit it out.
Nvr tot that I’d be supporting and hoping sp*rs to win… Yes, to win.
And u know the scary part about hope.. they sometimes end up in disappointment.. which truly reflect that sh*t club with no history.
“It’s not the despair, Laura. I can take the despair. It’s the hope I can’t stand”
Merson made 1 imp point that it’s crucial that Pool beat Villa tomorrow night; else Spurs wouldn’t be arsed enough to beat City.
Given Sp*rs play Sheffield on the final day while Villa go to Palace, they would have reason to believe.
Before of course Sp*rsing it on the final day. Perfect finish.
Well if Villa beat Liverpool then they will have a 7 point lead over Spurs when they meet City and that is arithmetically invincible.
A draw is an even better result. Then Villa are five points up on Spurms, meaning Spurms have no choice but to win both of their remaining matches to get into the Champions League, while hoping Villa come a cropper away to Palace. If Pool win, four points could be enough for the Tiny Tots. Better for us that they need six points, they will not be able to play for a draw against the Oil Cheats.
We were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off. Job done.
Oh Kai… think it, don’t say it! I feel dirty hoping that lot do us a favour, but I think it’d actually make it that little bit sweeter if they helped us win the title. Almost as good as winning it at their place… twice.
Spurs really can do the funniest thing ever.
They would never live that one down.
You mean beating Man City to hand us the title then losing to Sheffield United thus handing CL qualification to Villa.
Ohhh kai, you don’t have to support Tottenham they won’t do us any favours, they are worse than sh1t, as I said before everyone sit down relax man City have west ham last day of the season, and I know the catering staff
You know a good lasagna recipe?
We need to use reverse psychology, reverse psychosis and reverse the bad fortunes of our North London neighbors. Let’s all say Spurs are so bad they’ll wet their pants as always when it matters. City will steamroll them on their shiny new stadium so easily that most fans will leave at half time.
‘You won us the league at white hart lane’ this could be peak sp*rs
You’ll win nothing if it means expecting a favour from one or two others (Should have beater Villa) BUT I will never, ever support Sp*rs no matter what the outcome or the potential benefit. I have hated that club since the mid to late sixties and wish them nothing but bad luck and relegation.
A draw ruins both teams seasons……support that
Relax, it’s just a game. Let the rivalry be a healthy one.😀
Win one and draw ine game against villa and best Fulham, and we’d have lifted the title here a lá 2001-2002 season