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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on a 3-1 Victory and Ramsdale back at the Emirates

05/10/2024

Emirates Stadium, London, UK
Transcript
00:00More stressful than it needed to be?
00:03Probably, because the first half I thought it was exceptional, the amount of dominance
00:07that we had, the areas that we played, the amount of situations, chances that we created
00:13in open play, on set-pieces, our counter-press, we really were there. It's unbelievable that
00:17we didn't score a goal.
00:18Then we started the second half, we were a bit sloppy, especially in the first five or
00:22ten minutes with the ball, and then the game became a little bit more open and the chance
00:25that they had, they scored the goal. And then again, we thrown away everything that we did
00:29in the first half. We started a completely new brand game in a really difficult context
00:34and the team reacted incredibly well. A lot of composure, a big belief, very good clarity
00:41in what we had to do. The crowd was exceptional, the subs were exceptional and we managed to
00:46do it again.
00:47Have you seen the quality of Mikaela's leadership?
00:59For sure. That's the maturity and that's the steps that players have to do. He's been long
01:04enough in the team now, he has the right to have that role. He believes in that, he has
01:10the capacity to change games, to decide games like many other players and he wants to be
01:15at the top. Sometimes players have to create those moments and he's certainly done that
01:20today again.
01:21Did they do enough for you today?
01:28I was really happy. We made the changes and we had to make them and everybody deserves
01:34to play. In the first half it could have been very, very different to the result that it
01:39had after we decided to change because the energy as well had to be changed and we brought
01:43three players that have the ability to do that and they really helped us and we're very
01:47pleased with everybody.
01:48Is there a concern that for two weekends in a row now you've had to have a wake-up call
01:54to really get going?
01:58I don't think it's... The wake-up call was that we conceded a goal but the way we started
02:02the games and the way we dominated the opposition... I think at Leicester we beat every record
02:07that it was before and today it will be something similar but you need to score three, four
02:12or five. And if you don't, this is a Premier League game on. But if we have a wake-up call
02:18and it's a goal that they score, we have to react to that. True, we did it and we did
02:22it in a convincing way.
02:23I think that efficiency has always been there with this game. I was just wondering, does
02:24it feel any different to you this season or does it just feel like this is the normal
02:25Pacaya now?
02:26No, I think it's another step ahead in what he wants and especially when. And do it at
02:42home, do it away, do it in big games, do it I guess not some other big games when the
02:48team needs it, not when it's 3-0. That's what defines a top, top player.
02:52With Kai as well, I was just wondering, excellent performance aside from his goal. How did you
02:58feel about just seeing the way his confidence is blossoming?
03:02You can tell. He takes the ball and he runs with the ball. He's on high pressure, he goes
03:06full gas, the way he holds the ball, the position that he takes on the box. He's an attacking
03:10midfielder, he plays as a nine, you don't know where he is. That's his football brain
03:15and for sure. His focus now as well is, I'm going to win the game, I'm going to do it
03:20and that's a different thing.
03:22Just on Kai, seven goals in a row at home now. He must be absolutely brimming with confidence
03:29and do you see that within his demeanour every day?
03:32He is and he's practising and he wants more. He's not satisfied with what he's doing because
03:37there is still, I think, another level from him. Obviously he's surrounded by incredible
03:42players but something has changed on him and that confidence, you really sense it and I
03:50think now he's putting it in games and he's winning matches, which is great.
03:53Just on Saka, do we need to stop looking at him as a young player? I know he's only just
04:0023 but it feels like often we talk about Saka as being so young. Do we need to forget about
04:05the age now and just say, wow, he's a really, really good player?
04:08Well, I certainly don't do it. Obviously there are the stats and you cannot get away from
04:13that. What he's doing at his age is unbelievable. We have many examples of that as well.
04:19What did you say to Aaron?
04:25I wish him all the best. I congratulate him for the way that they played as well and I
04:30wish him the best and I hope they do, especially for the manager and Aaron as well because
04:36they are a very good side.
04:41Is there ever a temptation to give him a rest?
04:46Yes, there is and we have taken him off a few times this season and we have to manage
04:53the load of him. But at the moment he's in a good place.
04:59Last time we spoke, we spoke about how tough the schedule is. Every team could probably
05:04do with one extra player. If you had unlimited budget and you could sign one player, who
05:11would you sign and why?
05:12I have enough issues to resolve the reality, so that would be a different problem. It's
05:17been a very demanding period after the international break. We've had so many issues, a lot of
05:23injuries, very difficult fixtures, especially away from home and some of them playing with
05:3010 men. The team adapts, the team is so willing. I'm very pleased with the way we've come
05:34through this period and we're in a good place.
05:38Is there a player in your playing career that you would pay for your pay?
05:40One of my sons. I give the opportunity to one of my sons.

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