There were plenty of talking points after our latest Champions League victory on Wednesday night.
We saw off Club Brugge 3-0 to extend our 100 per cent record in the competition, and after the game the manager was asked about the win, fantastic goals, Gabriel Jesus’ return, Marli Salmon’s debut and more.
Here’s a full transcript…
On another evening of positives in the Champions League…
It’s a really positive evening and I think it’s very difficult to win away from home in the Champions League. We’ve done it with a lot of absences, especially in the backline and even this morning we lost two players. I love the way the team reacted to that, collectively, individually, for example what Christian Norgaard has done just talks about how much better he makes all of us with his attitude, with his commitment in the manner that he prepares and is able to perform. So yeah, overall a really positive night.
On Gabriel Jesus’ return…
So happy for him, I think you can see how much we all love him. It’s been a very, very difficult and long journey. For 11 months he’s been fighting against another very difficult injury and to see him back with that smile, with that energy and with that quality in his first performance with us is something really impressive and we’re all delighted for him.
On if Gabby has a big part to play in our season…
Yes, and especially if he continues to perform in the manner that he’s doing and the energy that he’s putting in training. I think he brings something else, and I was really happy to see that and for him as well, for his confidence to grow, for his teammates to feel him as well because some of them haven’t played with him. So, Gabby has a really special quality where he suddenly connects everybody around him and that’s something that we as a team need and it will make us better.
On Noni Madueke…
Unbelievable goal. When you talk about individual quality, individual action, a magic moment, that’s it. A player that is able to pick the ball that far, dribble past people and finish with the quality and the power that he’s done. The same as Martinelli as well, I think at this level you want to win games, you need individual players to step up and to do something different. So, I’m very happy because now we have some players back in the front line and you can tell how much better we have done.
On having competition for places with Noni and Bukayo Saka…
Yes, maintaining the level. They both have different qualities as well and it’s great because we’re going to need them. We are playing every three days and players with that freshness and with that bite in the teeth as well, understanding that they have to perform at that level and this is the standard that we set, it’s something really good.
On bouncing back after Saturday’s result with Aston Villa…
Well, that’s what you want immediately after a defeat to win a game, and the way they presented it, you have these challenges, especially when we lost again another two players. But again, it shows how stable we are, the standards that we set ourselves and the capacity that the team has to win in different ways. Today I think was a good example of that.
On Madueke’s performance…
It’s about consistency, so any player that plays in the middle, we have the same example.
We need to have those standards and play consistently. It’s not a game, it’s two games, three games. Can you do it ten games in a row, every three days and that’s the level that we have to hit.
On Marli Salmon making his Arsenal debut…
Well, the thought was as well from yesterday, the fact that we had to play Christian [Norgaard] as well, we had to really consider it because we were playing a really good side that had some really good results in the Champions League at home as well, but we knew that at some point we had to use him. So, he was ready, he was prepared, he can play as a centre-back or as a full-back and I’m delighted. He’s so young, 16 still, and he’s playing in the Champions League. So yeah, what a great night for him as well.
On the pride he has giving the youngsters their chance…
Well, that’s great, that’s what we want. That’s why we put so much work and everybody in the academy puts so much enthusiasm and work. And for a long time, you have to prepare those talents. So, thanks to them, because when we need them, they are there, they are ready to perform. So that’s great.
On if he has spoken to Noni about being consistent…
Yeah, and in 10 consecutive actions. And that’s the level that they need the game in, every single action, after, after, after action. And that’s the challenge for them.
On if he expected the achievement of six wins in a row in Europe…
No, and probably as well, looking back as well, all the players that we missed. But it shows, and they were all very different games. It’s a completely different game to the Bayern Munich one, or the one we played in Bilbao, or the ones that we played at home, but it’s good, the team can adapt to any context. And that will give confidence as well, that we can come to this ground and win again, and that’s something great.
On if Gabby gives a new striker profile up top alongside Viktor Gyokeres…
Yeah, I think they’re kind of a bit more different, you know. Both of them with great qualities, but yeah, very specific in what they bring to the team and individually in their actions and relationships that they meet around them as well. So, it’s good to have two very different players.
Read more Jesus ‘I’m more than ready’
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