Mikel Arteta Arsenal
Have you ever heard an atmosphere better than that at the Emirates?
I don’t know but I don’t think it gets better much than that. It was a beautiful moment, a really special one because we were pushing and pushing and pushing and it wasn’t coming. It came at the end – VAR made it more difficult – but it was electric and really emotional and really passionate and I loved it.
How big does that result feel in the context of the title?
Especially after coming back. Winning the London derby (at Spurs), the way we played and then playing a team that has a completely different way of playing. Going down straight away against this team is dangerous because you can start to attack in ways that they’re going to punish you. We came back to 2-1 and it was exactly what happened at Old Trafford. At 2-1 we were in control and they scored. It was a moment where if emotionally you’re not sound and not intelligent enough to understand what the game needs now, you’re going to lose it. We did the opposite and we got better and better. We fully deserved to win the game
Does a result like that help the players believe that they can be champions?
I hope they do. Not that they (believe they) are champions, but they are good enough to play against these teams and they have done it. We talked about that in the last two or three days. We know our reality, we know still how much we have to improve, we know what’s taken us to the position we are today and we have to reinforce that every day.
There were worries when Jesus got injured. Nketiah has stepped up and is now your top scorer. What more can you say about him?
What Eddie is doing is incredible. I cannot say we saw that (coming). We were hoping that he could do that because of the way he is, his mentality, and how his qualities fit in the team. Losing Gabi was a big blow. It is a big blow losing Gabi today but Eddie is responding with the team in an exceptional way.
How do you keep the youngsters level-headed after a game like today?
Reminding them every single day. That’s why we always talk about what we’re going to do tomorrow, what we’re going to control today that is in our hands. This league is so demanding that the opponents are going to make life very difficult so make sure that we allow ourselves every day to get better.
People were questioning whether it was right to extend Eddie in the summer but you saw something in him. What was that specifically?
The qualities that he has, how much he wants it, how much belief he has to be Arsenal number nine, his desire, his background. We are with him every single day. He’s a special kid. He’s so loved by everybody at the football club. He’s got a real Arsenal heart and that’s very special. You cannot put that into numbers, but he’s really, really good.
He missed the chance before scoring. What does that say about his character?
The next time he’s going to try again. He’s going to miss chances, and he’s going to miss more chances this season I guarantee you that the next one he’s going to try to do that again. He’s not going to hid.
Jakub Kiwior was watching on. What can you say about his arrival?
We can talk about that when it’s finalised.
What do each of these big wins add to the dressing room?
Belief and confidence that we are going in the right direction. That the way we’re playing is going to reward them. It has to be the case. When I see Tomiyasu chasing the goalkeeper, and the way he comes back, that’s someone that feels it no? You don’t do that kind of action because you cannot train it. It’s just pure spirit, pure belief and testament to what we do. In my opinion that’s what we have to continue.
What is your verdict halfway through the season?
Extraordinary. It doesn’t get much better than that. We deserved the points that we have. I think we have played well enough to win most of the matches. But the reality is that we have things we can get better at. Attacking and defending in transitions. That’s the aim.
What can you say about how Saka is progressing?
I wouldn’t like to talk individually about players, but the courage and the personality that the players showed today. The initiative to make things happen when the game is at a stage of ‘I don’t know what’s going to happen’ they are not looking at each other saying he’s going to do it. (they say) I take responsibility I’m going to do it, and I absolutely loved that today.
Do you accept that you are viewed as the title favourites now?
I don’t have an opinion. It can be a perception. I know my team so well. I know where we are, I know why we are here and I know where we want to be and we are far from that. I know the levels of the other teams and one especially that has won in the last five or six years and we are not there yet.
Will it take 100 points to win the league?
I don’t know. That number has been achieved in the past and those teams have the quality to do that for sure. I don’t know what the number will be but it’s going to be big for sure.
Do you feel the mentality of your squad is where you want it to be?
Today, what I’ve seen particularly today, yes. Tomorrow, next week, I don’t know, or next week I don’t know. That’s the thin balance and the temperature of a team that you, unfortunately, have to tweak it. But today yes.
