Mikel Arteta Arsenal
The Brentford goal looks offside. Do you think it was?
Yes I just looked back and it is offside yes.
Have they explained why it wasn’t allowed?
No.
Is that frustrating?
It is, but they will probably give an explanation later in the week. Today we haven’t got one. You have to apply certain principles in defending and you do that by sticking to the rules, suddenly you change the rules and then you have to change your principles. So tell us before so then you don’t hide the line that high, because you’re always going to have an advantage if you get blocked.
Which action did you have an issue with?
The action when you get blocked when you are offside. You cannot block if you are offside.
So Gabriel with Pinnock?
*nods*
Norgaard looked offside when he crossed the ball back too
I think so. But then I’m hoping the cameras and the visuals maybe it looks like there were two actions. I don’t know. It’s too late, it’s fine, the goal was allowed and we dropped two points.
They didn’t even seem to put the lines across
I know.
So you’re saying there’s two offsides?
No, I’m saying the second one I don’t know because you have to see the line the way they see it with the cameras. I don’t know. It’s irrelevant. It’s gone.
Will you bring it up with the Premier League?
Yeah, we always assess the game with them and we give our views and our points. But it’s too late.
You seemed to be talking to officials over the added time. Do you think Brentford wasted time?
Every team tries to do one thing and the other team tries to do another thing. That’s part of the game.
Were you happy with the performance away from the VAR stuff?
Yeah, I think it was a really strong performance. I think we had moments. They are a really tricky team to play against so credit to them. The results they’ve got against top opponents is not a coincidence. But I think we did a lot in the game and we did the most difficult thing which is to score the goal. So after to have what happened in the way it happened it is frustrating. But this is the Premier League.
Do you think maybe the team are getting tired?
You always think about that and with a few players especially when you lose. Those questions are always when you drop points. I’m delighted with how the boys tried and how much they wanted. With the players that we have we will try to maximise our resources, which we’ve done really well.
Newcastle, Everton and Brentford have all frustrated you with a similar approach now. Is that something you have to get used to?
Yeah, but it was the same with Brentford away and with Fulham and Southampton and with a lot of teams we’ve beaten here, so it’s nothing new for us. We know every team has their way of playing.
Are you concerned that Arsenal have conceded from three set pieces in a row in the league?
Of course. You want to improve in every area. We are the third best team in terms of defensive set pieces. We want to be the best. We discussed that today about giving nothing because from the start of play to set pieces this is their biggest strength. I thought we controlled them quite well. I think in that situation we had controlled them, but we hadn’t because they were offside and it’s always unfortunate when that happens because it costs you points, so set pieces are huge in this league, that’s for sure.
This is the first time you’ve failed to win two in a row. Is that a concern with the title race?
Yeah, you want to win as quick as possible. We tried to win today but you see how difficult it is for every team to win consecutive matches. That’s why when you look at the table the amount points they have is for a reason. You need to be excellent in everything you do in the matches and you need certain decisions to go in your favour as well. It’s a lot of things.
What’s your and the team’s schedule between now and City?
First of all, tomorrow train, recover, review the match and look at what we can do better. Then review Man City and we will start to prepare on Monday the game.
Will part of that be mental training?
You have to be at your best. But against Brentford exactly the same. The mindset is not an issue. I look at the way the boys tried and the way they react when they drop two points, the way they dropped them. They are in a great place.
It’s a massive match now isn’t it?
Every match is. We’ve been saying that for two months guys. Today was a massive game for us and we’re disappointed because we dropped two points.
There seemed to be more tension in the stands today. How do you get the stadium bouncing again?
I thought the stadium was bouncing to be fair because they are so much for the team that they want the best for them. I thought they were again really, really supportive with the team and the way the crowd reacts we cannot demand any more from them I think.
Do you think Martinelli’s drop in form has anything to do with Jesus’ injury?
I think every players has his moment. We have moved today Gabi for Leo because Leo in those spaces is so good and so composed. He’s constantly faking movements and playing forward. He’s got a great smell for where the ball is going to land and we believe it was the right choice to bring him on.
