Mikel Arteta says his players got sloppy after Gabriel Martinelli doubled Arsenal’s lead when they should have put Newcastle to the sword.
While the Gunners weren’t unduly troubled by the visitors, the fact his young side didn’t score more goals when the visitors were chasing the game seems to have irked the boss.
“After the 2-0 we know we have to go to a different level as a team,” he told Arsenal.com.
“We gave too many sloppy balls away and weren’t organised in the press and we allowed them to run a few times and it created a different feeling.
“That’s the moment that we have to give even more, and go for the third or the fourth and make another step forward.”
On the plus side, Arteta was very pleased with the quality of the two goals his side did score.
Bukayo Saka broke the deadlock with a decisive low drive on 56 minutes after fine interplay featuring Emile Smith Rowe and Nuno Tavares before Martinelli, on as a replacement for the England winger, clipped home a volley having been played through by Takehiro Tomiyasu.
“The finish and the combination from Bukayo and again the composure that he showed inside the box to place the ball in the right area, it was great,” Arteta told his post-game press conference.
“Gabi’s run had great movement and the delivery from Tomi as well. The technique is so tough when the ball is flying over your head to keep that ball down and have that quality to finish. It’s impressive.”
He added: “It was really important to win and bounce back. It was a game that had different phases in the first half and we were able to change the game when we wanted, but without really threatening or hurting them enough.
“We lacked some urgency and some composure in the final third to deliver better balls. We didn’t hit the target enough with the attempts that we had and in the second half we had to maintain and not be impatient to lose any structure in our play because we were controlling them quite well, but we needed to threaten much more certain spaces and I think we did.
“We scored the two goals and after that, the game was in our control.”
Arsenal now have four days at London Colney before taking on Manchester United at Old Trafford.
That sounds a little excessive.
I think winning games should do for now.
Then again, maybe he’s putting himself out there as a possible future Newcastle manager.
Seems like the majority of people are missing the joke. I liked it as well as the follow up, keep it up.
I actually think he is right. We are doing quite well as a team but we really cannot be depending on Saka and ESR alone for goals.
To really challenge for that top 4 we need goals – first and foremost from CF (which is why I guess we are being linked with a striker) and from the wings (again, Raheem anyone?).
For me, that’s a good joke.
Hate to see those thumbs down. I’ve been there man. Just don’t let it effect you. You might not sleep much tonight but when you wake up tomorrow you can focus on the next comment. Chin up.
I found this funny. Thanks Johnny!
You don’t keep progressing by having an average mentality
The guy’s name is literally “sarcasm not”
Fourth could be got by goal difference. I believe Man City once won the league on goal difference. Correct me if I am wrong.
Maybe you are too young, but Arsenal famously won the league on GOALS SCORED, not even goal difference.
Relatively younger fan here, are you talking about the 1989 league win, the Anfield one?
Aye, that’s the one.
2 – 0. 3 points in the bag. Clean sheet. Happy days. We move onto the next game.
Bloody solid performance. Thought the fullbacks were sensational. Tavarez MOTM for mine. Konga partey dominated. Défense solid. Auba another dud. Nice game from esr, ode and Saka too. Enjoyable… Well done team and arteta. Must win game and they took care of business. Why I don’t buy this team being soft… We got spine!
Utd will be different again. Taveres and Tomi struggled to varying degrees against Liverpools excellent wide players. Newcastle are defensively poor, and particularly weak at full back.
Everyone struggled against Liverpool, but it was key they bounced back and tomi and tavares did in style. We’re not close to Liverpool’s level right now, at least with this young team oozing with potential we have a chance to get there. With the old “experienced” heads of Luiz, xhaka, mustafi, Willian, papa, etc. (could even add bellerin who had clearly peaked) we had no chance of getting there. Consistency will be a bit of an issue with a going team, but it was an issue with an “experienced” team, I’d 1000x rather be watching these young guys grow and… Read more »
The killing off will come with maturity and blending more together.
They are still a work in progress.
Secondly, I feel the manager has a key role to play.
I so much want Arteta to succeed here, but I still have this nagging feeling a more experienced manager would get more out of these boys, even now..
Hear what you’re saying but I really think we can all grow and massively develop if we stick together. Still pretty early days given the context
On the contrary I’m fairly satisfied we took our foot off the gas after the second goal to minimise injury risk and conserve energy for Old Trafford.
On the one hand, I think Arteta is right, go put make a statement and start making teams fear us – particularly as the next game is against Utd, who themselves have a new coach.
On the other, the game was won, so no point in picking up injuries etc.
Either was, 3 points, puts pressure on West Ham in 4th and keeps us in touching distance of 4th.
Don’t see any issue here at all. Solid win. They tried and nearly scored a 3rd (striker finishing remains an issue). But nice win… It didn’t look like any other result even at half time.
Or 1st, I don’t want us to get used to fighting for 4th, otherwise we will be synonymous with mediocrity
We still a team in process. Arsenal of now have to break a sweat to win over the smaller teams. The most important thing is the 3points nothing more Cox it not a convincing performance.
I agree. Some misplaced passes and sloppiness, not controlling it completely. If Newcastle weren’t so ineffectual could have got into a spot of trouble. That penalty shout at 1-0 was close.
No way that was a Pen, compared to the shout on martinelli? One was shoulder to shoulder, the other was shoulder to face with no play at anything except knocking him down.
I agree, but seen them given
if Mike Dean was the ref, could have given penalty to Newcastle.
Arteta is right. We were nowhere near good enough in the 1st half and Ramsdale bailed us out with a superb save from Shelvey’s shot. We’re playing at home against a relegation team. It took us 2 moments of individual brilliance to get the 3 points, and kudos to the team for digging deep. But we should do better if the aim is to reach Liverpool’s level eventually.
Agree, it’s about what we expect from ourselves. I think after the previous good run and seeing that we’re now capable of seeing out games, the focus should then be how to be ruthless and not give opposition teams the opportunity to get themselves back into games. That’s how we become unstoppable. I think a manager can praise good performances and still ask for even more – it’s what will drive the team to keep working hard and keep improving. That’s what will get us climbing up the ladder. We can be very happy to have fought for a solid… Read more »
Anyone had a chance to see the AW Invincible film? (I really recommend it if you get the chance.)
That moment with TH14 taking matters into his own hands in the second half of a game and creating a goal out of sheer will – Saka’s goal in this game really reminded me of that! I’m so proud of him!
Defs got a little complacent after 2nd goal – Nuno, Sambi and Thomas particularly with some loose passing through midfield.
Goal difference is something we should never lose sight of – Citeh and Scouse dented us badly in that dept so we need to take the gifts when they’re offered and balance that column out!
What exactly is auba role in arsenal ?
He’s the captain.