Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Post-City quotes round-up: Arteta, Guardiola, Odegaard, Stones, Havertz, Wright, Adams & much more

Arsenal produced a statement 5-1 win against Manchester City to remind everyone they won’t be handing the league title to Liverpool on a plate anytime soon.

Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Kai Havertz and teenagers Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri were all on the scoresheet on an afternoon when Erling Haaland’s equaliser sparked an impressive reaction from the Gunners who ended up coasting to victory in front of a buoyant home crowd.

Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos made of the action…

Mikel Arteta on a fine win…

It’s a great day. Considering the opposition that we played, the result we got and in the manner we did it. It makes it a special day. A lot of things have to go your way. They are so good they force you to be deeper and be in a situation that you don’t want to be. Sometimes you need a bit of luck and after that you have to be efficient. We had to be brave and it paid off. Things have to go your way and the line is so thin. I liked that the team showed a lot of personality and competitiveness.

Source: BBC Match of the Day

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Pep Guardiola on his side’s performance…

I regret the last 15/20 minutes, the rest was a really good game for our side. It’s difficult to understand when you see the result but this is my feeling. It’s happened all season, we are giving away too many things, we are aware this cannot happen, it happened. But we reacted really well and we played with personality and we defended so good and then with the ball we were a threat but unfortunately after the second happened, again many times we had the momentum. For the deflection and in other situations we conceded the goals. You have to overcome [it], you cannot lose the control, it’s 90/95 minutes. You cannot finish in the way we played, we could’ve scored three more but the team has to be stable it doesn’t matter what happened.

Source: BBC Sport

Arsenal 5-1 Man City 📈

Arsenal hammered Manchester City 5-1 to show everyone that the Premier League title race is far from over.

Look back at the action with our Arsenal vs Man City stats page from the game at the Emirates Stadium.

theanalyst.com/2025/02/arse…

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— Opta Analyst (@optaanalyst.optajoe.com) February 2, 2025 at 6:41 PM


Martin Odegaard on Arsenal’s teenage goalscorers…

I think what they’re doing is unbelievable and I cannot praise them enough. Myles played from the start with confidence and Ethan coming on, impacted straight away. I love to see the confidence and the eagerness. I am totally proud of them.

Source: BBC Match of the Day

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John Stones on a humbling defeat…

It’s difficult. All of us don’t take losing well. It’s hard for me to put into words really straight after a game like that. [My] pride’s hurt. Sorry to the fans who travelled to come and watch that and how we played in that last 30 minutes was not acceptable. As a collective, that is not us. It’s not nice to be involved in that. I give credit to Arsenal, it’s not an easy place to come to and they played really well. For 60 or 65 minutes we played some great football at times and were in the game. It was a swinging point I suppose, and it swung the wrong way for us. I’m angry, upset, personally and collectively, for how the game finished for many reasons.

Source: ManCity.com

Ethan Nwaneri’s goal ended a passing sequence of 36 uninterrupted passes in a move that lasted one minute & 54 seconds and involved every Arsenal outfield player.

It was the longest passing move leading to a Premier League goal since September 2023.

[image or embed]

— Opta Analyst (@optaanalyst.optajoe.com) February 2, 2025 at 6:56 PM


Kai Havertz on Arsenal’s press…

I think we managed to press them quite well. Didn’t give them much time. I mean, they are still a top team and sometimes they beat the press, but I think our energy was good. We used all our chances and at the end it was a good game.

Source: Sky Sports

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Arteta on the atmosphere…

To live moments like this with the stadium, that energy, with that cohesion between the team and our supporters, that’s something to build on.

Source: Arsenal.com

Arsenal are only the second team to go unbeaten in four consecutive Premier League games against Man City in Pep Guardiola’s reign.

#ARSMCI

— Orbinho (@orbinho.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 8:20 PM


Declan Rice on a big individual performance…

These big games, this is why Arsenal bought me, you know. I always want to step up in the big games and I know I can deliver for this club in the big moments and today I knew how big it was, I just had that fire in my stomach and wanted to put things right from the first game in the season when we played them, it was 2-2, we all did. To win today like we did, 5-1, it was a real special day.

Source: beIN SPORTS

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Jamie Carragher on Declan Rice…

Rice is one of those, an all-round midfielder – a bit like Roy Keane. He’s almost a throwback to a midfielder in a 4-4-2 who can do anything. His power, his pressing, he’s a wonderful midfield player.

Source: BBC Sport (via Sky Sports)

18 – In the form of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, this was the first time that two players aged 18 or younger had scored for the same team in a Premier League game since Everton v Fulham in April 2007 (James Vaughan & Victor Anichebe). Fearless.

[image or embed]

— OptaJoe (@optajoe.com) February 2, 2025 at 6:39 PM


Joe Hart on his old team’s struggles…

They are poor at the moment, they are fragile and they haven’t been fragile for so long. You could tell that Arsenal had no fear today. They respected them and know what they are capable of but didn’t roll their eyes when they conceded. The stadium didn’t go ‘oh here we go’. The fear factor that City have built up over the years has slightly gone but they will go back to the drawing board.

Source: premierleague.com

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Jamie Carragher on Lewis-Skelly’s youthful arrogance…

He’s got a football arrogance, the only person that comes to mind is Wayne Rooney, they feel like ‘I’m the man on this football pitch’. Jude Bellingham’s got it, ‘I’ve been here two minutes, I’m owning this place’. It looks like he’s almost one of the leaders in the team.

Source: Sky Sports Super Sunday

5 – Youngest players to score against a Pep Guardiola team in all competitions (in his top-flight career):

17y 289d – Jude Bellingham
17y 318d – Ethan Nwaneri
18y 60d – Niklas Süle
18y 63d – Kylian Mbappé
18y 129d – Myles Lewis-Skelly

Generation.

[image or embed]

— OptaJoe (@optajoe.com) February 2, 2025 at 6:47 PM


Tony Adams on Lewis-Skelly…

It was great to see the kids come on and play well. Myles has invented this new position. We used to have inside forwards, we have inside defenders now. Phenomenal, what a kid what a prospect.

Source: premierleague.com

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Arteta on Lewis-Skelly threatening in the final third…

I wasn’t expecting it. I was talking today with one of our staff members about that he needs to threaten more in the final third when he gets in this position. Riccy did it the other day against Wolves and he scored. Our full backs are now generating these kind of things. The same with Jurrien, he adds threat, he gave a different kind of problem to the opposition, so great.

Source: Post-game press conference

Ian Wright on Arsenal proving they can be ruthless…

I did say at the start you have to respect City but what has been happening with Arsenal is chances. They’ve had chances in games and not taken them and then other teams have got into the games. Today they were so well drilled and go the goals. Everyone’s confidence rose and that is what we are capable of doing.

Source: premierleague.com
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Gary Neville on where Arsenal go from here…

It’s so important Arsenal made a statement today and they’ve done just that. Mikel Arteta has to get that intensity and tempo from the last 30 minutes for the rest of the season. Hang in there. Be there if Liverpool fall.

Source: Sky Sports

Only two players have scored more goals in all competitions for Arsenal this season than Ethan Nwaneri:

15 Havertz
9 Saka
7 Gabriel Jesus
7 Martinelli
7 Nwaneri

#ARSMCI

[image or embed]

— Orbinho (@orbinho.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 8:18 PM


Pep Guardiola on Lewis-Skelly doing Haaland’s meditation celebration…

What happened? Oh, I didn’t see. They did that, that’s good, that’s good. Haaland’s celebration, they have done it? [Keeps staring at desk] That’s good…that’s good. [Walks off]

Source: Post-game press conference

__

Arteta on transfer news…

I don’t know, my phone has been off with the transfer window, forbidden to call me, text me about any of that. My focus is that we have the best preparation we can have for Wednesday and that was the only thing I was interested in.

Source: Post-game press conference

Arsenal's Premier League record with Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice starting together in midfield: P12 W10 D2 L0. Twenty-nine goals scored and only seven conceded.

— Nick Wright (@nickpwright.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 8:23 PM

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thw14

I feel for Pep, difficult to play against a full 11 for the full 90. Ref should’ve done something.

OmoOba

😂😂

Negative Pete

I’m sure he’ll be much cheered up when his oil oppressor masters save his legacy by bribing their way out of the 115 charges.

CAGooner

Brilliant!

Xuan

Ref tried.. the non-yellow for bernardo, and the yellow for Ødegaard..

PeteyB

Bernardo really is a petulant little fucker isnt he. He was lucky not to get carded

Jasonissimo

Was it down to luck, though?

Olawale Olayemi

I’m going to be on the internet for 3 days straight reliving every moment, gobbling every analysis and basking in this win

PGunner

I can’t stop smiling, just reading that Pep interview excerpt, I had to read it word for word to my Mrs in my best Pep accent. I think I did it justice 😂

Sephirothevic

Our wives do put up with a lot, don’t they? I’m often banging on about refs etc in the car at 7 on a Monday morning.. 😄

Billy bob

Oh and taking the p!$$ out of city fans?

C.B.

Keep it going the rest of the season and we may have a chance of the PL. Let’s hope…

Bobbert

Pep is such an ass- can’t wait to see the back of his bald head.

Jeremy

Look, it’s hard for me to say this Pep is one of the best managers to have ever graced the game. Regardless of the fact he only managed top teams (who wouldn’t) and spent lots of (unearned) money. He’ll be remembered fondly, in the same way the likes of Arsene and Ferguson have been. He makes an everyone better and raises the competition. And yes, he has some weird eccentricities, but the PL would be poorer without him. Mikel loves and respects him and I think he’s a pretty good judge of character.

Bobbert

He’s walked into favorable situations in every job he’s had, and never faced a rebuild until now, and he’s being found out.

CAGooner

Time to pile on with 115 guilty charges. Then watch the bald b@Ggar run!!

gooner

To be fair to the man, looks like he’s going through a lot in his life. Wanted to quit city at the end of the season, they had a difficult run probably tied to that and not wanting to refresh the squad on your way out, he decides to stick around and his family falls apart for that and suddenly he does the rebuild in a difficult window as we are also witnessing with our forward search. Before I’d call the being found out I’d also imagine any man in any job having to cope with his family breaking apart… Read more »

Santi’s Phonebox

Love the compassion/no fucking compassion thing you did there. His dry mouth spittle thing is very weird.

Jimster

Funny how it’s still alright to dig out human beings with hair shortage, that can lead to mental health issues, yet god forbid you mention other personal traits. Hypocrisy!!!
Great result by the way!

Simon

Hairprocy you mean.

Ast R

Nearly

Tt gunnr

Bald guys are awesome!

Tony2

Stop being a wipmy woke. I had a great head of hair until 53 then the fekka started to fall. Used minoxidil etc but hair n head and head said no so just accepted an here I am baldcas a coote (an no not the ex ref lol)

Sephirothevic

Of all the bald men in all the world through all of history and you compare yourself to Coote? Telly Savalas was not before your time, surely. And if it has to be a ref, why not Collina?

Ebo

“an all-round midfielder – a bit like Roy Keane”??? Jesus christ Carragher, just when we thought you couldn’t get any stupider. That’s such an insult to Declan Rice, whose striking of the ball on crosses is almost Beckham-ish, is an incredible athlete, can make deep runs with the ball and whose open play passing seems to be taking a leap too. That’s an actual all around midfielder, not a leg crunching brute like Keane.

thw14

“Roy could play a bit you know”. With himself maybe. Every time he kicked a ball, he’d missed somebody’s ankle.

Bobbert

The only thing roy Keane was all around was the pub.

Ebo

😂

CAGooner

Completely agree! I could handle the compare with Vieira, Lampard, Gerrard or Robson. But Keane – crap thug. Vieira had his number every time.

thw14

Tony Adams seems to have messed about 10 years in the evolution of football tactics, bless him.

thw14

*missed

PeteyB

I had similar thoughts.
1. Have you not been watching Zinchenko since he arrived?
2. You think MLS is not following the coaching teams instructions?

Chris

Phenomenal result. I’ve got to say, we look so much better with Partey in the middle. He looks like he gets lucky sometimes with his tackles and ball retention but he is an asset. I will miss him when he goes.

Chris

Phenomenal performance. I have to say that we look so much better with Partey in the middle. I know it looks like he gets abit lucky with some of his tackles, passing, shooting and general ball retention but I think he is an asset. I will miss him when he goes at the end of the season.

Sammy Nelsons Arse

What I would like to say is I concur with the 3 chaps above and say it was a jolly nice day

Sammy Nelsons Arse

Bollocks I was a bit slow with that

Sephirothevic

😆

Chippy

Villa have just signed Rashford on loan with option to buy.. Watkins back on?

onenil

I had always assumed we would sign Rashford in the last 5 minutes of the window.

matthinc

Yeah I fancied Arteta working his magic and Rashford smashing a hatrick for us at OT

Up4GrabsNow!

Watkins went off injured at HT on Sat. I doubt if that one will happen. The fee being quoted is crazy for a 29 y.o.

Billy bob

Arteta is too polite regarding ole baldy slaphead and his oil greased monkies, just say it how it is “yes we spanked the scum, and that was for cheating us out of three points earlier in the season you BLEEPS”

Ben Swain

Nice of Pep to take the moral high ground on MLS’ celebration after Haaland’s multiple antics at the Etihad. I’m all for players being wankers every now and again but don’t cry when it comes back to bite you.

Ebo

Not sure if he was taking the moral high ground there, sounds like he just couldn’t be arsed to give much of a fuck about a question like that at that point, which is fair enough when you just lost 5-1 to your biggest rival.

Tt gunnr

I think he was biting his tongue,, he must have been really pissed, because he walked off but turned to the some interview consultant and pleaded “is that good enough”?
Lol, i giggled and thought
‘Yee-haaa Peppy that was So, So good’ 😇

PeanutGunner

Guardiola’s reply to MLS doing Haaland’s celebration shows how rattled he was by this result, his head must have been spinning.

Absolutely brilliant today from the team; can’t wait to see the idiot 115er fan at my work place tomorrow!

Billy bob

Enjoy every minute brother 👍

Rvp

Tell us how it goes:)

Tt gunnr

Haha, dont get upset , but your mate just contracted chicken pox and you wont see him for a fortnight.
I would go serenade him, at his crib
🎵”He’s one of our own, hes one of our OWN….Myles Lewis Skelly- he’s one of our own 🎵

And_Arteta_Said...

”Myles, you got asked who are you by Haaland in September. You think he knows now?”

*Laughs* “I’ve been working hard, staying grounded and just trying my best for the team”

“Any words to Haaland?”

“Stay humble bro”

Our very own MLK

Naked Cygan

I hope this team learns from this performance. Do not sit back on a 1 goal lead. At 1-0 we sat back and invited the goal for city. At 2-1 up we did the opposite. We should always go for the kill and take more shots. 10/10 for everyone today. 👏 👏 👏

Scrubbychubby

Pep being all passive aggressive about MLS celebration is such a perfect example of, ‘dish it out but can’t take it’. Haaland was quick with the banter earlier in the season, MLS was just giving some of it back.

matthinc

I didn’t see the interview, but was he being passive aggressive? Sounds like he was just spinning out after watching all his work crumbling around him

Ako

Even if we don’t win the league, this is definitely match of the season and one to remember 😁

Naked Cygan

Don’t forget beating sp*rs twice.

Dr. Gooner

Ok I’m going to try this joke again (actually the lyrics don’t need much adjustment!):

Skelly’s left stroke just went viral
His right stroke keeping Haaland in a spiral
City know we like to keep it on a high note
It’s levels to it, you and I know

Tell ‘em be humble
Sit down
Be humble

Sephirothevic

What’s the tune?

Mentalista

That Declan first touch cross field pass to Ethan from a Gabriel layoff was disgusting.

turcofeo

And the first touch pre-assist for the first goal? Phew!

ScotchEggsRule

I cannot believe more isn’t being said about it. On the half volley, 50 yards, inch perfect. Glorious to watch.

Udes

In anticipation of the podcast. Goodly fucking morning everyone!!

Tt gunnr

Even the guy who hates ‘goodly mornings’ should wake up with a smile on his dial

Zet

Everyone is fantastic today. Partey is my MOM. How he turn a defending into an attacking posture is just amazing.

Goongot

City was the last team in my mind amongst top 6 whom I assumed we would stuff, so absolutely chuffed about the result.

gerundgunner

Hello Blogs – your daily post for 3rd February links to this article if you select the “Player Ratings” hyperlink.

arseblog

Thanks – fixed now!

Carole

We were brilliant throughout and everyone on the pitch deserves praise, but the two goals from Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri were fantastic and David Raya made some great saves.

Jasonissimo

David Raya doing David Raya things.

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