Mikel Arteta spoke to TNT Sports after Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Atalanta in the Champions League, and admitted his side weren’t at their best against the Italians.
Here’s what he had to say.
Thoughts on the point?
As I suspected, it was a very tough match. Not the nicest watch to watch because obviously everything becomes a match-to-man game everywhere. We started the game really, really well. Really commanding the game, playing in the areas that we wanted to play, made one or two chances and after that we gave a lot of balls away, very simply.
We could not get any rhythm or momentum, or sequences of passes that would allow us to play in areas that we wanted. And without conceding almost anything about the penalty.
On the save …
Probably one of the best saves that I’ve seen in my career was the penalty, and the second action from David. He was unbelievable again.
On missing chances …
We needed the other end, the two big chances we had with Gabi to put them in the back of the net. This is Europe, they are very different games to the Premier League. A lot of positives, but a lot of things for sure to improve.
Disappointed in your team for not being at the level?
Well, it’s a game that demands the best individually and in order to do that you need to have your players at their best, really composed, really good in duels and certainly tonight we missed that.
Was Riccardo Calafiori a positive when he came on?
Yes, he was really good as well, I thought when he came on, this will help us to get a bit more composure and dominate the game better. But, yes, we need to improve.
Missing our captain…
I think we will miss Odegard big time, specially with Saka down the right. Let’s hope he comes back sooner than expected.
If you have a chance, watch the penalty again. Kai and Jesus had a low start, ready to run into the penalty area and did not even move after the shot. 🙂
Partey is making too many mistakes nowadays.
He was always making them. You just didn’t notice because he was injured.
Saka doesnt look 100% fit and honestly think Mikel should have thought about not playing him for so long. Martinelli looks frightened in front of goal, leaning back and not confidently attacking it. He is lucky that with Odegaard out he is going to get a good run due to Trossard, Havertz and Jesus covering other areas.
I thinks Saka is a great player, but with Odegard missing he will miss that quality on the right and it will hurt his game. For England too, without white and Odegard he was not the same.
No, I didn’t want Ramsdale to be dropped. No, I didn’t think Raya was tall enough. No, I didn”t think he played well enough at the begin to warrant a place. However, wow, what a keeper!!!
Our attack is heavily reliant on our players over performing and having hot streaks, not because of good attacking foundations from Arteta, and we’re seeing that now. Tactically, we are great at playing forcing the opposing team to not play football, unfortunately that also makes us play negative football, only when players like Odegaard and Saka are playing out of their socks are we able to break out of that mindset. I think Arteta has been very lucky with the talent and performances from certain players, it’s when things aren’t working that show is what managers can do, and see… Read more »
We scored 91 goals last season, our highest ever total, with the same attack.
It was a disappointing performance, thanks to Raya for deterring the defeat.
I’m surprised he hasn’t tried Sterling in the Odegard role in either match since the injury. He has played in that role for City, Chelsea and England. I guess maybe Arteta feels Sterling is not fully up to speed with the rest of the squad yet to play such a linking role, but if Odegard is out for along time (which I really hope he is not) I would love to see Arteta try that.
Can see Zinchenko filling that MO8 Role and Califiori asding creativity from Lb position.