Mikel Arteta spoke to the media following our away victory over Liverpool and answered the following questions:
— on whether it feels better to win here as a player or as a manager…
“Right now, probably as a manager, because it has been so long since we experienced this feeling here, and we really needed this victory. We are incredibly proud of what the team, the players and everyone involved have achieved. Especially given the circumstances in which we approached this game. After the defeat to Fleetwood, it felt like the end of the world. It seemed that everything we were doing was pointless. But then you have to pick yourself up and realise that this is the beautiful side of football. When you believe you have done everything necessary and deserved to win, deserved it without question, but then you get knocked out of a cup competition and just four days later have to travel to Anfield to face this manager and this team, who are in excellent form, you have to compete, play your football and earn the right to win in the way we did.”
— on what this landmark victory means to the players…
“We simply love our mission. And this was a mission we had been unable to accomplish for 14 years, for various reasons. Some of them were probably psychological, while others were related to the quality of our performances on the pitch, certain moments or decisions. We knew we had to get absolutely everything right. We were going to have to go through periods when we would suffer, because they are incredibly good at that. They know how to launch vertical attacks and create chaos out of practically nothing. You really have to enjoy that challenge. If you don’t, there will come a moment when you lose concentration, and they will punish you. I think the way we fought, played and created chances was truly impressive. I’m very pleased.”
— on why he felt today was the day to beat Liverpool at Anfield…
“It was that feeling of: how could this possibly have happened? How can you get knocked out of a cup after having 27 shots? We had the chances we had against a team that managed just one shot on target, yet somehow you end up looking ridiculous. Then you have to travel to Anfield and think: how am I going to pick the players up? I had that feeling, and I said that now was the moment. We would have to dig deeper, sometimes we would need a little bit of luck and, of course, a lot of quality in the key moments. And that’s exactly what we did.”
— on Christos Tzolis’ performance…
“Once again, it all comes down to the energy he has shown in training. When I asked him how confident he felt, we also had a problem with Ebs, and it was incredible that he even made the squad today. I want to give credit to the entire medical staff and the fitness coaches, because what they are doing with these players is simply incredible. Every three days, they keep everyone performing at such a high level. Sometimes these little details are what determine whether you win a football match or not. It isn’t about whether you have someone available or not. They deserve that recognition. And with Christos, it’s incredible. He didn’t want to come off; he wanted to play the whole match. We took a certain risk, but at that moment we decided that was enough.”
— on winning at four stadiums where we failed to win last season…
“We need to keep doing at these stadiums exactly what we did at the others last season, and then we know what the results will be. But it is still very early. I also want to give Liverpool credit for the way they played and organised themselves, as well as Andoni and the work they are doing. This is a top-level team, and playing against them is extremely difficult. That is why I think this victory deserves even greater credit.”
— on preventing Liverpool from registering a single shot on target at Anfield…
“I wasn’t aware of that statistic, but it’s incredible. To be honest, it didn’t feel that way on the pitch, because sometimes it came down to literally millimetres when they had an opportunity to shoot. This is a team that takes a lot of shots. You have to be incredibly good at blocking them and preventing them from getting into those areas. And once again, it’s down to every player, their commitment in every single situation and their constant willingness to do their job to achieve those numbers. To do that against a team like this is, I would say, something outstanding.”
— on whether Liverpool deserved a penalty…
“I don’t know, I didn’t see it. Otherwise, I would have to comment on a lot of other incidents that happened in this game.”
— on his emotions…
“I’m happy, incredibly proud and full of energy. What more can I say? This is a moment of pride for everyone associated with our football club. We had waited 14 years for this moment, and we achieved it in truly special circumstances — after the defeat to Fleetwood, which we suffered four days ago and did not deserve. Now we had to travel to Anfield, make sure every player believed in themselves, was ready and had the right mindset to get through a football match that would have some very difficult moments and a few excellent opportunities. And when those opportunities came, we had to be ready to take them. What the lads did was simply outstanding.”
— on the match…
“First and foremost, it was the quality we showed in the key moments, when we needed to score goals and create six or seven excellent chances, as we did. Then there was the resilience to keep going forward time and again against a team capable of turning a game into complete chaos, with plenty of space, runs and physical battles. They are incredibly good at competing for second balls and are extremely strong in that department. Maintaining concentration and consistently doing your job well throughout the entire match is not easy at all.”
— on bouncing back from the defeat to Fleetwood…
“First of all, I had to recover from the defeat to Fleetwood myself, because it was incredibly painful. I know the club we represent, and when you get knocked out of a cup competition in that manner, it hurts a lot. But for me, it was also a lesson. There is no time to feel sorry for yourself or dwell on it — this is football. We did not deserve to be knocked out, but we were. Fine, let’s think about why it happened, and then focus on how I am going to look the lads in the eye the next day, the following morning, and convince them that in four days’ time we will be travelling to Anfield. From Friday onwards, we were all feeling that.”
— on Tzolis constantly posing a threat down the left flank despite not having played for the past month due to a hamstring injury…
“Incredible. The medical department, sports science department and physiotherapists deserve enormous credit for what they have done for him. And, of course, his mentality, his approach to every day, his attention to detail and his preparation day after day — all of it has been incredible.”
Source: www.arsenal.com
Author: MissingHenry
