Mikel Arteta Arsenal
What was missing from that performance?
It was missing that when you create big chances you have to put them. We made it much more than the result we got. We did the most difficult thing to score the first goal and manage the game much better than we did. We failed to do that, we gave them an opportunity with the corner and they scored the goal which looking back on the match is not what we expected.
Did you expect more from the players tonight?
I think the players stepped in and gave absolutely everything. It’s a really difficult opponent to play with. The amount of duels and individual man to man situations they create, we managed that really well in certain moments. We were much more aggressive today and ambitious to play some big chances and we didn’t put them away.
Is there enough in the squad to still get through next week?
I just have the belief that we can go there and win the match. If not, I wouldn’t be sitting here. The mindset has to go there and score goals because we have to score if we’re going to go through.
How big a decision was it to leave the captain on the bench tonight?
It was some big decisions to leave some players out but we decided to play the team who had the best chance to start the game and have some key players there to change the game when we need it. Once they came on they had a real impact which is very necessary in this competition and they did what we expect them to do.
Should you have made the changes earlier?
We made them when we believed it was the right time to do it. When they changed their set up we believed we could hurt them and not earlier. Whether we should do it before or not, who knows.
Did they switch off at the end?
I don’t think they switched off. We made a bad decision playing the ball into an area where we got trapped. From there we conceded the corner but apart from that I don’t think it’s the case.
It’s clear that you have to go there and win now?
It’s a good point. I think psychologically to go there 1-0, it’s completely different to go there with 1-1. We know we have to go there and win the football game, we have to score goals and we cannot play any game. We have to go there with the determination to be an attacking team and hurt them.
At full time there was a little altercation with the players. Is that the kind of response you want to see happen?
I don’t know, I didn’t see that.
It almost shows the passion if your players are having it out with eachother on the pitch?
It’s good that they talk. If we can do it before everything’s happening, that’s even better.
Did Aubameyang understand why he didn’t start?
I cannot talk with everybody individually every week. We try to be transparent and communicate with the players as clear as possible. For them to understand the role in the game they have. When he came on he showed the right attitude and the right commitment.
Is there a concern Martin Odegaard might be missing long-term?
We don’t know. He wasn’t able to play today and I think he will be out for the next game or two. But we don’t know yet.
Have you worked out the cause of why your team fail to keep leads?
It’s very different what happened to Spurs compared to tonight. They went with four strikers in the last few minutes they were really direct, really incisive and they made it hard for us. I said we played one or two balls in areas we should not play in the last few minutes and that’s why we probably ended up conceded the goal. But after conceding the corner they have to score from that corner so something has to happen.
Do you have any concerns with the mentality of your team failing to keep a lead?
No, with the mentality of my team I don’t have any concerns.
