Following our penalty shootout win over Crystal Palace on Tuesday, Mikel Arteta faced the media to discuss the game’s talking points.
He was asked about the victory, our penalties, managing the squad, team morale, Gabriel Jesus, injuries and more.
Here’s a full transcript from his post-match press conference…
On reaching the Carabao Cup semi-finals:
I’m very happy. We’re in the semi-final, it’s where we wanted to be. I’m really happy considering the amount of changes that we’ve made – the cohesion and the energy and the quality that the team showed against a team that is very, very well organised and concedes very few chances. We generated a lot and the margin should have been much bigger after 94 minutes. It wasn’t, and when that happens the [other] teams have the quality to hurt you in any set-piece, and we conceded the goal. That was emotionally tough to accept after the way the game went. But I think we stayed calm, we showed great composure and quality in the penalty shootout and I’m very happy as well for Kepa, that at the end he made the last save and we are through.
On if he has concerns about the goals we conceded:
Yeah, well the way they concede is something that you have to give credit to the opposition and the way they’ve done it. But I think today the margin should have been much bigger – it should have been three or four and then you’re not worried about what happens in the last minutes.
On the fine margins in our recent matches:
That’s what we want. I think what we have to do is continue to generate the chances that we do and concede nothing. I think we conceded only one shot again. And do that and trust the players. They showed great composure and quality in the penalty shootout. We had some very big open chances today to score goals and we didn’t. So trust them, keep training and try to keep improving.
On managing the squad selection during the busy period:
I see it as a privilege. Because of the attitude of the players, they make your job a joy. We had situations where we didn’t have a choice and up front for many months we had a situation, and now we have a situation in the backline. But it doesn’t matter. We have situations like Cristhian [Mosquera], like Kepa, like any player who is there constantly. Whatever the role that they have on the day or in training, they fulfil it. And then when they play, that’s what they do. And every player has to be with that mindset because you’re going to have a big role to play. You want to achieve what you want to achieve and it’s going to be the only way. So I’m very happy that everybody who is now available is with that mindset, with that attitude. And then when they have to play, they perform like they did today.
On whether he felt more invested than usual tonight:
Yeah, obviously I wanted a bigger margin because I know there is a team that doesn’t need much. In one or two passes they can attack your box and hurt you. And we discussed that as well. And then because I wanted to keep everybody on their toes and alive and understand the importance of the game. And the margins are very small when you want to win trophies until we have to pay attention to every detail to achieve that.
On what narrow wins do for our team morale:
Yeah, you have to win in different situations and contexts. We had two very difficult games. We managed to beat them. Again, the margins should have been bigger. And that’s something that we have to improve and be better at. But as well, credit to the boys that every three days they are performing at the level that they are doing.
On Gabriel Jesus’ performance:
I’m so happy. And it was his 100th appearance today, I believe. That explains the journey that he has. A lot of bumps in the road. But a player with an incredible resilience, fight and the spirit that 11 months after he’s able to perform in the manner that he did. So, great to have him back.
On Christian Norgaard’s impact:
Very well. He did very, very well. But I’m not surprised that when we brought him and we had those discussions, he understood perfectly what his role was. He’s someone that, like Kepa, does everybody around the team much better. And when you need him to play and perform, he does it.
On Martinelli and Hincapie:
Martinelli is more of a knock and he wasn’t comfortable to carry on after the second half. With Piero, yeah, something different because he picked up an injury against Everton.
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