Tag: Arteta

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta hailed his team’s gritty 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace as their most valuable of the season, praising his players’ resilience amid a relentless schedule and against a well-drilled opponent.

“Fully agree, I value more this victory than any other this season,” Arteta told reporters.

“Coming from playing every three days (they beat Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday and next play Brighton in the League Cup on Wednesday), you play against one of the teams I think is one of the best, when you lose that concentration they can punish you.

“A massive win. We knew the difficulty of it.”

The victory, sealed by a stunning set-piece goal from Eberechi Eze against his former club, widened Arsenal’s lead at the top of the league table to four points. But Arteta was quick to temper any title talk.

“It’s very early, we’re still in October,” he said. “The emotional state is really high but there are a lot of things to get better. Let’s try and recover for Wednesday.”

Rivals Manchester City and Liverpool both lost this weekend, which contributed to

Read Also: UCL:  Arteta wary of ‘incredible’ Simeone  as  Arsenal  host Atletico

“It shows you how hard this league is,” Arteta said. “The players aren’t allowed their phones so I hope (that they weren’t following other results).

“We are where we are,” he added. “It’s a credit to us because we have been very consistent. It doesn’t mean much other than we are doing a lot of things.”

The match-winner came from a set-piece, an area Arsenal have clearly refined. They have a league-high 11 goals from dead-ball situations.

“We have noticed a shift, methods that are implemented that are more efficient,” Arteta said. “You can contain the spaces, because you are better and we have to find a way to score in different ways.”

Eze’s brilliant finish that obviously held a lot of meaning coming against the team for which he played for five seasons drew praise from his manager.

“He was super relaxed before the game,” Arteta said. “Such a strong feeling and gratitude. The technique (on the goal) is unbelievable. We needed something (special) against a team so well organised.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he was pleased with his players’ commitment, but warned that they cannot get ahead of themselves as they fight for silverware on multiple fronts.

Arsenal, unbeaten since August, are three points clear at the top of the Premier League and have won both their Champions League matches so far, but Arteta was not keen to accept the “favourites” tag in the English top-flight.

“The only thing I embrace is when I see the team, the energy, the temperature, the commitment and quality that they can deliver. That gives me the conviction that we can go all the way,” Arteta told reporters a day before hosting Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

“But that’s just a feeling, then the next day you have to prove it and you can’t be busy thinking about those topics.

“Every game in (the Premier League) is must-win. We are very appreciative of that, so we don’t get carried away with anything.”

Asked about a video shared on social media that showed Arsenal defender William Saliba watching Atletico Madrid on the coach after Saturday’s 1-0 win at Fulham, Arteta praised the France international’s eagerness to prepare for future opponents.

“Very pleased because I didn’t encourage it, that came from them. We know this will be a tough one, so the earlier we think about it the better. I love that initiative from the players,” Arteta said.

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Arteta said he looked up to Atletico manager Diego Simeone, who has led the Spanish club to two Europa League and two LaLiga titles since taking charge in 2011.

“What he has done since he got to Atletico has been outstanding, not only what has achieved but the way he has done it. The identity he has created, they are simple and clear to identify because the manager is very much them,” Arteta said. “He is someone I look up to. His passion, how long he has been in the game, how he still has that capacity to transmit a willingness to win. To keep convincing players in this environment, you have to be extraordinarily good.”

Defender Piero Hincapie will be available for today’s clash after recovering from a groin injury, Arteta added.

TODAY’S  FIXTURES

Barcelona vs. Olympiakos

Kairat Almaty vs. Pafos

Arsenal vs. Atletico

 Leverkusen vs. PSG

Copenhagen vs. Dortmund

Newcastle vs. Benfica

PSV vs. Napoli

Saint-Gilloise vs. Inter

Villarreal vs. Man City

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta thanked Premier League rivals Manchester City’s manager Pep Guardiola after his side defeated holders Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League

The Spaniard hailed the victory as one of the best nights of his career and revealed he had a chat with his former mentor Guardiola on the morning of the second leg before Arsenal claimed a 5-1 aggregate win.

“I called him because if I am here, it is thanks to him to a great extent,” Arteta told reporters after Wednesday’s game.

He worked as Guardiola’s assistant at City from 2016-19.

“He has been a big inspiration to me. I lived four amazing years with him and I will always be grateful to him. Without him, I wouldn’t be here,” he added.

With a commanding 3-0 lead from the first leg at the Emirates, Arsenal exuded a confidence unmatched by the hosts. Bukayo Saka’s second-half strike was cancelled out by Vinicius Junior in the 67th minute before Gabriel Martinelli sealed the win with a stoppage-time goal.

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Arsenal are in the Champions League semi-finals for the third time.

“Our team is very hungry and we want to keep on doing great things … we want to keep playing at semi-finals. We will have to go through tough times if we want to continue playing at this stage but we also have to enjoy it,” Arteta added. “The first thing I thought when the game finished was of my wife and my children because they’ve heard all week about what can happen in this stadium. They were here with me and they were proud.”

Arsenal host Paris St Germain on April 29 in the first leg, aiming for a spot in the final in Munich, having defeated PSG 2-0 at home in the group stage in October.

Arsenal are high on energy following Champions League win over Real Madrid and manager Mikel Arteta has urged his side to carry forward the momentum to their Premier League home game against Brentford today.

Arsenal stunned Champions League holders Real Madrid with a 3-0 victory on Tuesday and Arteta is now keen for the team to turn their attention to the Premier League, where they currently trail league leaders Liverpool by 11 points.

“There’s been an unbelievable energy, a special night. That’s over. Now full focus on Brentford, it’s a game that is going to require the best of us,” Arteta told reporters. “It’s not about bringing them back to earth, it’s about maintaining the energy and putting it into Brentford. It’s a team that, when you look at what they’ve done, is an incredible story. A big credit to them.”

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With a demanding schedule ahead, including Saturday’s game against 12th-placed Brentford and the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Real Madrid on Wednesday, Arteta said he will rotate players according to the schedule rather than the opposition.

“We will look at how the players recovered, because it’s not just about the Real Madrid game, it’s about the schedule in the next few weeks as well,” Arteta said.

“This is our context – play every three days and play in different competitions on the biggest stages. Playing in Europe then coming back and facing a different challenge in the Premier League.

“If you want to become a team that has the capacity to win in any of those then you have to do it every three days, regardless of the scenario.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted he is “disappointed” by the club’s failure to sign a new striker before the transfer window closed on Monday.

Arsenal were unable to lure England forward Ollie Watkins away from Aston Villa after their £60 million ($75 million) bid was rejected last week.

Having failed to pivot to another deal after the Watkins snub, the Gunners ended the January window with questions about a forward line weakened by long-term injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka.

Ahead of today’s League Cup semi-final second leg at Newcastle, Arteta conceded the lack of transfer activity was frustrating.

“We talked very openly about the intention to improve the squad if we had the capacity. With players with injuries, we’ve been impacted and we haven’t achieved it,” Arteta told reporters. “We are disappointed in that sense but as well we are very aware that we only want to bring certain kinds of players.

“We couldn’t do it for certain reasons and we have to accept it. It was a combination of things. We have to be very disciplined with that as well.”

Arsenal operated in the window without their former sporting director Edu, who resigned in November after playing a key role in their transfer policy.

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Edu was a close ally of Arteta but the Spaniard insisted he had no complaints about Arsenal’s recruitment process despite their unsuccessful striker hunt.

“When you try your best and do things with the right process, and after you don’t achieve it, OK. For sure there are things to learn from it but now we have to move on,” he said.

While Arsenal have to cope with an under-strength attack for now, they showed no signs of being affected in Sunday’s 5-1 demolition of Manchester City.

German forward Kai Havertz and teenage attacking midfielder Ethan Nwaneri both netted against City and Arteta remains confident in the players at his disposal.

“From now there is no discussion on it and we focus on improving the group we have. It is remarkable what the team has done. I have full faith in them,” he said.

“We are going to have to be flexible in the front line. We have to make sure they stay fit, contributing, and can play that position. At some point we will have to try something different.”

Arsenal have a mountain to climb at St James’ Park on Wednesday after losing the first leg 2-0 at home in January.

Newcastle also beat the Gunners 1-0 in the Premier League in November.

“They are a very difficult team to play against. Obviously this season two very different games,” Arteta said.

He hopes the rout of City will be a confidence boost for his team as they chase a first League Cup final appearance since 2018.

 “When you compare the emotional state of the team after the first leg and now after Man City it is very different. Next stop is the final. We know how big that is,” said Arteta, whose club have not won the League Cup since 1993.

“The buzz the City game gave us and the manner we did it. It is momentum. It is time for full gas and go for it.”

Mikel Arteta said Friday he is consulting his Arsenal players over new signings as the club scramble to bring in a striker before the January transfer window closes.

Serious injuries to forwards Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka have added to concerns over the Gunners’ lack of goal scoring threat as they try to catch Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Arsenal are the only club in the Premier League’s top six without a scorer in double figures – Kai Havertz has eight in the top flight this season.

Gunners boss Arteta was asked about the need for reinforcements ahead of his side’s trip to struggling Wolves today.

Read Also: Arteta wants Arsenal to hammer away in title race

 “We lost two very, very important players, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus so we lack goals, we lack people, we lack options in the front line. It’s clear,” he said. “If we can get the right player, that’s what we are actively looking at. Any player? No – someone that makes us better and has an impact in the team.”

With the transfer window shutting at 23:00 GMT on February 3, Arteta added: “Ideally we need some help because we were very short already and we’re even shorter.

 “But the team still copes with that. We have to do what is right for the club.”

The Spaniard said he consults his players on potential signings as they are often able to give him valuable information that builds on computer data.

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal will need to be almost perfect if they are to catch runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool but feels momentum is building again after a poor run.

Arsenal, runners-up to Manchester City over the past two seasons, were expected to challenge again this year but instead Liverpool have raced eight points clear of second-placed City.

The Gunners go into today’s match against West Ham on a high after hammering Sporting Lisbon 5-1 in the Champions League in midweek.

Read Also: Arteta vows to rejig Arsenal after troubled spell

Last weekend they beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 at home to end a four-match winless run in the league that cost them vital ground.

Victory at the London Stadium today would likely lift Arsenal to second in the table ahead of tomorrow’s matches, which includes a pivotal clash between Liverpool and City.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was disheartened with how his team performed in a 1-0 loss to Newcastle on Saturday in a potential blow to their Premier League title chase.

The gaffer decried the fact that they were  sucked into playing Newcastle’s style of game.

Alexander Isak headed home in the 12th minute in Newcastle’s first win in six league games, leaving Arsenal provisionally third in the Premier League table behind Manchester City and Liverpool, who were both playing later on Saturday.

Arteta’s side generated few chances on an afternoon that marked the first time since May 2022 that they had lost two consecutive away league matches. They were shocked 2-0 by Bournemouth on Oct. 19.

“We deserved to lose today,” Arteta told Premier League Productions. “I thought we started really well and were really dominant. We didn’t defend the box well enough. Credit to them. They scored a great goal with a good ball.

“Then the game changes and you start to play a different game. You have to adapt and we didn’t do that well enough. I am very frustrated.

“We got dragged into a game they are looking for constantly and we couldn’t play the game that we wanted.”

Newcastle defender Lewis Hall threw his body in front of Arsenal’s lone shot on target, blocking Mikel Merino’s volley from close range in the first half.

Read Also: Arsenal’s Arteta wary of intense battle with Newcastle

Declan Rice squandered a terrific chance in injury time, latching on to a cross but firing it wide of the net.

“We had two big chances — Mikel had a big one, Declan had a big one. We lacked answers,” Arteta said.

His squad are winless in their last three Premier League matches.

“We can say whatever we want. We will struggle to find the words today. We have to show it on the pitch on Wednesday night (against Inter Milan in a Champions League match).

“You have to be at your best every time to give yourself a chance to win.”

(Reuters/NAN)