Mikel Arteta Arsenal
What was your assessment of the game?
We competed really well in the first half – they had their moments, we had our moments. We were really compact and used the ball in the right way to create some situations. We had a goal disallowed and then we conceded a goal from a set-play. In the second half, when we had to build some momentum and start to grow [into] the match, we threw it away in the first 15 to 20 minutes. We gave every ball away in very dangerous areas. We had [them under] no pressure. They punished us, we lost control of the game and they had all the momentum.
Do you think the fact you have a young team had an impact after half-time?
I don’t know. I’ve seen some of the biggest teams in the world come here to this ground and collapse. It can be – in certain moments I think we were a bit [insistent] when things were not working or when we lost some balls, we had to mix our play much better. But we didn’t and that’s it. They were better than us for 90 minutes and that’s the level. They’ve been together for six years and today you could see the difference in the moment that we lost control of the game.
What happened with you and Klopp on the touchline?
He was trying to defend his side, I was trying to defend mine and that’s it. I think the atmosphere was incredible right from the beginning, so that’s it.
Did you see the limits of your side today?
I think we threw the game away in 15 minutes, doing exactly what we didn’t have to against the best team in the league. They were attacking us in short counters, where in two or three passes, they have their wingers going on the inside of your full-backs. It’s something we should have done better. We didn’t. But that’s the reason. At the moment, they are better than us and we lost the game.
Will you have to pick up your players after this defeat?
Here it doesn’t matter whether you play young or senior players – I’ve seen all types of players suffer in this ground. When you go 2-0 or 3-0 down, it’s very difficult and we suffered. It’s a learning process – today there are a lot of things that we should take but the most important one after a result like that is the next one, and to forget about this one.
Do you think Mane was too physical in his challenges?
I don’t know – it was just an action and that’s it. I tried to defend my players and that’s what I did.
How important is it to bounce back quickly?
That’s what big and good teams do, and that’s what we have to do. On Monday, we’ll start again, review the match, the things that we should have done better and understand the reason why we lost it. Then we’ll correct it and focus completely on Newcastle.
