Mikel Arteta Arsenal
What are your emotions?
Super intense match. We started very well, dominated, took it where we wanted. Scored the first and took the game where we wanted and scored the second and that was the moment to kill the game. Just before half time we gave them hope. We conceded a goal and they generated belief in this special atmosphere and stadium.
The second half was a very different story. Not the way we started because I think we started well first few minutes. But then we didn’t continue to play. We gave every ball away, especially in dangerous areas and allowed dangerous results and big transition moments against the best team in the world in doing that. When that happens its chaos, it’s a lot of balls in your box, it’s difficult to get out of those situations and then you have to suffer. We relied on big defensive moments where Aaron took a big part of it and they missed the penalty.
Then we could have nicked the game, because we had three huge chances on the counter where they are overloaded or they are two against two but we missed that ruthlessness to take the game. Looking at the two halves it’s probably a fair result. You have to take it. The big lesson is probably to play the way we did in the first half.
Have you experienced many atmospheres like that second half one?
No. When you look back at what they’ve done to big teams, including this season, they’re an exceptional team. They’re very difficult to dominate for 90 minutes. They have moments where they shift the game and they create the momentum that they want. When they raise the level to that there are few teams that can keep up. You have some examples in the results this year again. Merit to them as well because they’re a really good team.
The mood in the stadium seemed to change after Xhaka’s clash with Trent. Did you see it that way?
I don’t know if that’s the case. We had a big chance after that. If we score 3-0 maybe the crowd doesn’t get too excited. After that, they scored the goal and that changed the momentum and the hope. Still though in the second half we have to play more. That’s the lesson, stick to what we’ve done in the first half, play with our personalities and that’s the way we have to continue to play.
Is the atmosphere in the dressing room more two points dropped or happy with the point?
When you concede at the end it’s always two points dropped because you have it and you’re suffering in certain moments. The feeling is ‘ah we should have done it’. But being fair to ourselves they had four big chances that they could score and the penalty. We have to look at ourselves in the mirror and we should have done better in the second half.
How important has Ramsdale been this season?
You need your goalkeeper if you want to win and be in a title race. Look at how many times Alisson has done for Liverpool what he has to do. Those magic moments from the keeper, we had some exceptional moments from our front players as well, and to win in grounds like that you need that.
Is it a test now to respond to losing a two-goal lead?
We’ve been responding for 31 games now. Every single day is a test. The test now is how good are we going to be on Monday, and how well will we prepare and play the way we want to play to beat West Ham.
