Arteta proud of his team but admits there are ‘learnings’ to take from performance

I’m very proud of the team for different reasons. The first one because the courage, the quality, the domination, the absolute game that we wanted to play, especially in the first half and the score should have been even bigger in my opinion, some big chances. Then it’s true that we had to make changes. They came out a little bit, we didn’t have enough courage to play in the first phase more than we should have done. And there are certain very particular moments as well that I think dictated the result.

Are you more proud because of the injuries?

They deserved to win the game. I think we were the better team. And we didn’t, so obviously there are learnings to take from that. Especially when we conceded both goals. The second one is the transition moment. We have to end up in the final third with a chance to take, and ten seconds later, we are 2 v 1 inside our own box at this level against this team. Obviously, you cannot give that away.

What was key to first half control?

Well, because we were very clear what we have to do with the execution, the quality that we showed, the determination, the aggression as well without the ball to go and attack them and regain the ball straight up. So it was really good but probably we just lacked a few moments where we should have put the ball in the net.

Do you agree with Saka’s assertion Arsenal didn’t play for 90 minutes?

Yes, especially in that first phase as I said that we needed more courage to play like we had done in certain moments and that’s where we created big opportunities.

Did losing Gabriel make the team more determined to hold what you’ve got?

I don’t know, and we won’t know but that’s the reality that we have at the moment and we have to face it, that’s it.

On Timber …

Well, I don’t know exactly what happened, but he said he cannot carry on and Big Gabi as well. So I don’t know.

Martin Odegaard?

As well, I think he’s still a bit far.

Are Arsenal staying in the fight for the tile?

Well we’re going to try our best and again, I think the context in which we have played those nine games probably nobody could ever imagine that it was going to be the case. But I think the character, the personality, the way we played today against the top team at the moment in the Premier League, it was unbelievable, understanding where we are at the moment.