#PLStories- Mikel Arteta on Arsenal reset, Gabriel injury concern and ‘exceptional’ Odegaard #ARSENALFC
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Mikel Arteta Arsenal
Happy with the performance?
Really pleased with the first 60 minutes, I think the way we approached the game, how we started, determination, we showed energy. Everything was fluid, with a lot of movement, we played forward, we were really aggressive, scored some great goals and really connected with our supporters and created an atmosphere that we wanted.
That’s where I think we won the game. After 60 minutes I think we should have scored four or five, we didn’t do that and then obviously after conceding the goal we still had a long period to play that we should have managed the game a little bit better.
How much was the result needed?
I don’t have a number but personally a lot! Because if we want to have any chance to win this league we had to win today and we’ve done it. There was something there, we wanted to be back on top after tonight and we are and our job was done today and there’s still four more games.
Why did you start Kiwior?
He looked ready, he looked fresh. He looked really determined, he’s been getting better and better every single day. Not only training but his interaction, his language, he is more settled and is a player that I really like which is why we signed him. He’s got the potential at his age to be great and I think he had a big task against the players he had to face today and I think he did really well.
Update on Gabriel?
Yes, he wasn’t comfortable. He tried for 10-15 minutes, he could not carry on which is strange for Gabi so a big concern about that because normally he’s not one that wants to leave the pitch.
Odegaard criticism after Man City unfair?
I don’t know because I don’t read those comments but what I can say is he’s been exceptional for us when you look at his contributions. Every single day in the team and then what he does for us out there every single time is exceptional. The perfect player that plays perfect every game doesn’t exist but what Martin has done this season, I think deserves a lot of praise.
Did you always feel Odegaard had 22 goal contributions in him?
That’s what we had to get out of him, he’s got the talent but he needed to occupy different spaces and become a threat, and to have a mentality to win matches, not just to control games and I think that’s changed. When you have someone that is as humble as him and every single day is pushing to learn and improve and train good things happen and I think he gets rewarded for his work.
Is tonight proof your players still believe the title race is not over?
For sure, and we discussed that. There are four games to go and we are top right now and then we have to prepare for Newcastle and let’s see what happens. Now what we can control is that if we win our matches and to do that we must perform as well as possible and tonight we have done that.
Easy for players to drop their heads?
We cannot do that. To be in the position we are in after 10 months against the team we are fighting, being there and having the possibility tonight to be top. I’m not going to allow anybody to not talk about it and not to feel it, we have to enjoy it, we have to embrace it and we have to maximise the opportunity that we have because we don’t know what is going to happen.
Lessons learned?
How great it is to win football matches. Having the feeling I have right now is nothing like that, I go into that dressing room and feeling that energy, there’s nothing like that. Everything we go through, positive and negative is worth it when you have moments like that.
In the difficult moments being next to them, they deserve everything from us because of the way they try. Some days better than other times but they full deserve our full support.
Have you found it difficult to stay motivated?
No, it’s just not to be too much on them because I wake up in the morning and cannot wait to start working on what we are going to do and how we are going to maintain that. I know we are taking those players to the limit, to the very, very, very limit to be where we are but this is the only way to do it with these group of players.
Is it underestimated how difficult it is to bounce back from Man City loss?
I don’t know but this is our job, you are in an elite sport, you are going to have moments when you feel that you fail or have disappointed people which is the worst thing for me because that emotion is not nice, it takes a while to get it out of your system but then you have to bounce back and try to give joy and pride to people.
Renewed energy for Newcastle clash?
Yes we needed a reset. Playing the way we play, being the team that we are, and win the game. That obviously gives you confidence, comfort and better energy for tomorrow when we start preparing for Newcastle.
What did Jorginho bring to the team?
What he brings every single day in training: leadership, intelligence, capacity to control the game, the way he communicates with people, the quality that he brings, the level of attention, the experience because he’s been in many situations like these before. That’s just the way he plays.
Is it easier to focus for the task at hand following all the build-up to the Manchester City game?
Yes, that chapter is gone. The one for tonight, will be gone tomorrow morning. We have to focus on the next one that is Newcastle and how we’re going to prepare to win the game.
Did Odegaard set the tone for tonight?
Yes, but I think he’s done on that many occasions throughout the season. The energy that he has, when he hasn’t got the ball, the movement, the quality, the way he is in that dressing room is exceptional. We’re really pleased to have him as captain.
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