WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.419 BOW! Hello and welcome to HYBR1D Powered by chinkseyMEDIA. 00:00:04.419 --> 00:00:09.019 Every word from Mikel Arteta's post -Fulham 00:00:09.019 --> 00:00:13.179 presser. Mikel Arteta had plenty to discuss after 00:00:13.179 --> 00:00:16.239 we made it five consecutive wins with a 1 -0 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:19.780 victory away to Fulham on Saturday. Leandro Trossard 00:00:19.780 --> 00:00:21.980 scored the only goal of the game in the first 00:00:21.980 --> 00:00:24.640 half and the defence stood firm once again to 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:27.739 close out the win. After the game, he conducted 00:00:27.739 --> 00:00:30.420 his post -match press conference where he was 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:32.659 asked about the win, the defensive performance, 00:00:33.219 --> 00:00:36.520 VAR decisions, our set -piece power and more. 00:00:36.619 --> 00:00:39.840 On yesterday's win, the recent history wasn't 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:42.140 in our favour and we wanted to change that like 00:00:42.140 --> 00:00:44.640 we did against Newcastle and West Ham at home 00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:47.600 and that's another step. Having that mindset 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:50.280 and that ability to win these kind of matches 00:00:50.280 --> 00:00:53.369 against a really good opposition. A really difficult 00:00:53.369 --> 00:00:56.770 place to come and especially the first 15 minutes. 00:00:57.090 --> 00:00:59.509 It took us a while to get into the game with 00:00:59.509 --> 00:01:02.590 some very unusual giveaways that has caused some 00:01:02.590 --> 00:01:05.250 transitions and after that we started to dominate 00:01:05.250 --> 00:01:07.310 the game throughout the rest of the game much 00:01:07.310 --> 00:01:09.489 better. We talked about knocking on the door 00:01:09.489 --> 00:01:11.950 against this team. They are really well organised, 00:01:12.090 --> 00:01:14.269 especially with the context of the result. The 00:01:14.269 --> 00:01:16.569 more it dragged on, I think we were better and 00:01:16.569 --> 00:01:19.170 better and managed to win the game and another 00:01:19.170 --> 00:01:21.599 clean sheet. Yes, good. I mean, a lot of people 00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:24.439 are throwing this term bogey side around. I won't 00:01:24.439 --> 00:01:26.900 go that far. What I will say is teams like Fulham 00:01:26.900 --> 00:01:29.680 have kind of, they've jabbed us over the years. 00:01:29.719 --> 00:01:31.680 You know, they've taken a few points here and 00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:35.620 there. I feel like a bogey side is a real, you 00:01:35.620 --> 00:01:39.560 know, three wins or draws in five games type 00:01:39.560 --> 00:01:43.530 of team. Like a Newcastle, that is... That is 00:01:43.530 --> 00:01:46.150 the epitome of Arsenal's bogey side. And I feel 00:01:46.150 --> 00:01:49.129 like if you get two or three consecutive results 00:01:49.129 --> 00:01:53.390 against them, you dispel that tag. So with regards 00:01:53.390 --> 00:01:56.489 to Fulham, yeah, we hadn't won in our previous 00:01:56.489 --> 00:01:58.769 two occasions. We put pay to that yesterday. 00:01:59.659 --> 00:02:01.540 But if you actually look before that, you have 00:02:01.540 --> 00:02:04.219 a phenomenal record against Fulham. So now that's 00:02:04.219 --> 00:02:06.599 two consecutive victories against Fulham following 00:02:06.599 --> 00:02:08.919 up our win against them last season. I think 00:02:08.919 --> 00:02:10.719 it was in March or April because I was there. 00:02:10.819 --> 00:02:15.080 It was a gritty performance. I do feel like Fulham... 00:02:15.639 --> 00:02:17.740 They gave it to us in the first half an hour, 00:02:17.780 --> 00:02:19.500 but they're a good side. They did the same to 00:02:19.500 --> 00:02:21.259 Liverpool. In fact, they beat Liverpool there 00:02:21.259 --> 00:02:24.020 at Craven Cottage last season. So they are a 00:02:24.020 --> 00:02:26.240 very good side at home. We inflicted their first 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:28.699 home defeat of the season. So that shows that 00:02:28.699 --> 00:02:31.259 it was not an easy place to go. But it's good 00:02:31.259 --> 00:02:33.500 to get our first win in three occasions there. 00:02:33.539 --> 00:02:37.240 And we move on, woods and upwards, to face Atletico 00:02:37.240 --> 00:02:40.360 Madrid on Tuesday. On not conceding a shot on 00:02:40.360 --> 00:02:42.560 target in two consecutive games for the first 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:49.319 time since November 2003. Damn. No. Not comfortably 00:02:49.319 --> 00:02:52.419 because as well it feels in this pitch like it's 00:02:52.419 --> 00:02:54.860 smaller and they are straight away onto you in 00:02:54.860 --> 00:02:57.060 the box. They didn't generate any big chances. 00:02:57.159 --> 00:02:59.319 It was more the feeling sometimes, especially 00:02:59.319 --> 00:03:01.560 in the first half with the giveaways. And because 00:03:01.560 --> 00:03:03.400 there are a lot of players of a lot of quality 00:03:03.400 --> 00:03:05.759 in the final third and Jimenez in the box who 00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:08.340 is a real threat. And one goal is not enough. 00:03:08.599 --> 00:03:11.020 Yeah, I mean, we relatively kept him at arm's 00:03:11.020 --> 00:03:14.520 length. Our defence is really solid. Our shape 00:03:14.520 --> 00:03:17.479 is very good, rigid. regimented, structured. 00:03:17.919 --> 00:03:20.300 But we've also got players that are very good 00:03:20.300 --> 00:03:22.939 at winning the ball back. People like Timber. 00:03:23.419 --> 00:03:25.900 Calafiori has improved immensely defensively 00:03:25.900 --> 00:03:28.020 as I've been banging on all season about. He's 00:03:28.020 --> 00:03:30.840 been phenomenal, him and Timber. And if you had 00:03:30.840 --> 00:03:34.219 two form players in Calafiori and Timber, I don't 00:03:34.219 --> 00:03:37.159 need to mention how good William Saliba and Gabriel 00:03:37.159 --> 00:03:39.960 Magalhaes are already. So that is a phenomenal 00:03:39.960 --> 00:03:43.539 back four. Not to mention our immensely talented 00:03:43.539 --> 00:03:46.039 goalkeeper, David Raya, who's been a phenomenon 00:03:46.039 --> 00:03:49.360 again this season and is arguably, you could 00:03:49.360 --> 00:03:51.300 make a case for him being the best keeper in 00:03:51.300 --> 00:03:53.139 the league, but let's say he's amongst the top 00:03:53.139 --> 00:03:57.020 three with Donnarumma and Alisson. On the importance 00:03:57.020 --> 00:03:59.969 of grinding out wins like today. You have to 00:03:59.969 --> 00:04:02.669 play the best in relation to the opponent and 00:04:02.669 --> 00:04:04.750 the place that you have to play. That's what 00:04:04.750 --> 00:04:07.250 we have to play. The best against Atletico Madrid 00:04:07.250 --> 00:04:09.590 is going to be different to the best of today 00:04:09.590 --> 00:04:12.370 and make sure that we are able to take the game 00:04:12.370 --> 00:04:15.050 into those areas that is going to favour our 00:04:15.050 --> 00:04:18.050 possibility to win the game and continue to try 00:04:18.050 --> 00:04:20.629 and improve. So effectively he's saying we played 00:04:20.629 --> 00:04:23.529 as well as we needed to to win today and effectively 00:04:23.529 --> 00:04:25.470 on Tuesday we're going to have to go up a notch 00:04:25.470 --> 00:04:28.540 or two. against Atletico Madrid, who played yesterday 00:04:28.540 --> 00:04:30.819 evening, and I believe they won. But in a sense 00:04:30.819 --> 00:04:33.060 that I feel like we didn't play as bad as people 00:04:33.060 --> 00:04:35.540 are making out, but we didn't have to play too 00:04:35.540 --> 00:04:37.360 good. We didn't have to overexert ourselves, 00:04:37.459 --> 00:04:40.399 which is good going forward. Obviously, Atletico 00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:43.019 Madrid beat Osasuna 1 -0, so they're going to 00:04:43.019 --> 00:04:44.800 be a level above, and we're going to obviously 00:04:44.800 --> 00:04:46.500 have to raise our levels, and I'm sure we're 00:04:46.500 --> 00:04:48.839 going to do so accordingly. On Ebereche Eze's 00:04:48.839 --> 00:04:51.660 performance. He's more used to probably attacking 00:04:51.660 --> 00:04:54.279 open spaces and breaks and facing and carrying 00:04:54.279 --> 00:04:56.540 the ball with the space in front of him. But 00:04:56.540 --> 00:04:59.100 he's so good and comfortable doing that. I think 00:04:59.100 --> 00:05:01.379 he had his moments today. He put Victor once 00:05:01.379 --> 00:05:03.920 or twice through in really good spaces. And maybe 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:05.980 if that would have finished in a goal, it would 00:05:05.980 --> 00:05:08.639 have looked a bit different. But I'm very happy 00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:10.699 with what he's doing and we can use him in different 00:05:10.699 --> 00:05:13.259 positions. And today we used him in that one 00:05:13.259 --> 00:05:16.019 and we carry on trying to improve. So yeah, obviously 00:05:16.019 --> 00:05:18.060 Mikel is not going to criticise him. I want to 00:05:18.060 --> 00:05:19.800 give him some constructive criticism because 00:05:19.800 --> 00:05:21.779 I know what he's capable of. He didn't have his 00:05:21.779 --> 00:05:24.319 best game, especially in the first half. I felt 00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:26.180 like he was starting to get on the ball more 00:05:26.180 --> 00:05:28.379 in the second half. Obviously, I feel like the 00:05:28.379 --> 00:05:30.579 more he plays, the more he's going to get used 00:05:30.579 --> 00:05:33.319 to his teammates. And I think he's going to improve 00:05:33.319 --> 00:05:36.600 over time. I have no doubts in Eberich as his 00:05:36.600 --> 00:05:39.139 ability as a footballer. And I'm sure he's going 00:05:39.139 --> 00:05:41.980 to improve, hopefully, for Tuesday. And if we're 00:05:41.980 --> 00:05:45.420 now a team that wins ugly... I don't like looking 00:05:45.420 --> 00:05:48.079 back, but if you ask me how I would describe 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:50.339 the team, the players, they're tough and very, 00:05:50.439 --> 00:05:52.740 very willing. Well, I mean, would you want to 00:05:52.740 --> 00:05:55.779 win, in quotation marks, ugly? Or do you want 00:05:55.779 --> 00:05:59.180 to not win, playing beautifully? Because in 22, 00:05:59.379 --> 00:06:02.439 23, we were playing football out of this world 00:06:02.439 --> 00:06:06.279 and we came up short. In the following season, 00:06:06.680 --> 00:06:10.670 second half of that season, 23, 24... we were 00:06:10.670 --> 00:06:12.990 romping to victories and still came up short. 00:06:13.170 --> 00:06:16.310 Last season, okay, it was probably a step backwards, 00:06:16.410 --> 00:06:18.870 but we did get to the Champions League semifinals. 00:06:18.910 --> 00:06:22.269 We made a lot of improvements in different ways. 00:06:22.370 --> 00:06:25.649 We became more solid as a team, as a unit. But 00:06:25.649 --> 00:06:28.509 also we gained and garnered more experience in 00:06:28.509 --> 00:06:30.709 addition to the previous two years. So I feel 00:06:30.709 --> 00:06:32.930 like all encompassing, we're going to take all 00:06:32.930 --> 00:06:36.189 of those experiences and put it towards our surge 00:06:36.189 --> 00:06:38.910 this season to try and win not just one, not 00:06:38.910 --> 00:06:42.639 just two. But as many trophies as we can. On 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:45.839 our winner coming from a set piece. Great. Because 00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:49.339 obviously we generate so many set pieces. So 00:06:49.339 --> 00:06:51.759 you have to start from there. And we generate 00:06:51.759 --> 00:06:55.139 so many. We have to understand. And against these 00:06:55.139 --> 00:06:57.459 low blocks. When they don't really want to drop 00:06:57.459 --> 00:06:59.800 and commit that many players there. We have another 00:06:59.800 --> 00:07:02.100 opportunity to put players that we want in the 00:07:02.100 --> 00:07:04.480 position. That we want with the role that we 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:07.709 want. And we need to exploit that. We could have 00:07:07.709 --> 00:07:10.370 exploited it today in different ways. At the 00:07:10.370 --> 00:07:12.589 end, it was a set piece, so more than welcome. 00:07:12.970 --> 00:07:15.230 Yeah, I mean, Victor Xhoka has had about two 00:07:15.230 --> 00:07:17.410 or three chances, and I feel he could have done 00:07:17.410 --> 00:07:19.889 better with it. He's snatching out a few chances, 00:07:20.089 --> 00:07:23.009 but hopefully it will come. I'm starting to get 00:07:23.009 --> 00:07:24.870 worried about him, though, but I feel he just 00:07:24.870 --> 00:07:28.069 needs to continue to put himself in the position 00:07:28.069 --> 00:07:31.730 to miss those chances. With Ebreche Eze, he's 00:07:31.730 --> 00:07:34.310 getting used to the team. He didn't get on the 00:07:34.310 --> 00:07:37.370 ball much, obviously. As Arteta already said, 00:07:37.550 --> 00:07:40.769 he's not used to coming up against low blocks. 00:07:40.930 --> 00:07:45.389 Well, he's going to become very used to it as 00:07:45.389 --> 00:07:49.149 the season goes on because probably 80 % to 90 00:07:49.149 --> 00:07:51.990 % of teams we come up against will have all their 00:07:51.990 --> 00:07:55.689 players behind the ball looking to be disciplined, 00:07:57.930 --> 00:08:00.889 regimented, structured, hard to beat, hard to 00:08:00.889 --> 00:08:03.470 break down because no one wants to be on the 00:08:03.470 --> 00:08:06.120 end of a hiding. So it's going to be difficult. 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:08.160 It's not going to be easy. But nothing good comes 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:13.060 easy. And Gabriel having to acclimatise after 00:08:13.060 --> 00:08:16.899 an international break full of long travel. That's 00:08:16.899 --> 00:08:19.019 exactly the part that I loved about it because 00:08:19.019 --> 00:08:21.399 when everything goes well in the first few minutes 00:08:21.399 --> 00:08:23.899 for a player and he's confident and things are 00:08:23.899 --> 00:08:27.079 flowing for you, it's easy to continue. But Gabi 00:08:27.079 --> 00:08:29.680 had two difficult moments, probably not at his 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:32.379 standards, but the way he reacted to that and 00:08:32.379 --> 00:08:35.559 the sense of security that he transmitted, that's 00:08:35.559 --> 00:08:38.240 maturity and that's the mindset that we need 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:40.700 in a team. So that's a really good example to 00:08:40.700 --> 00:08:44.059 use and that I would use for sure. Yeah, I mean, 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:47.720 Gabriel Magales didn't, start off the game well, 00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:50.419 but any small mistakes he made, he rectified 00:08:50.419 --> 00:08:52.840 it. We weren't punished for it. That's the main 00:08:52.840 --> 00:08:56.659 thing. Yeah, I think the whole team looked a 00:08:56.659 --> 00:09:01.360 bit leggy. They looked a bit, you know, jet -lagged. 00:09:01.419 --> 00:09:03.980 They weren't at it at the first, let's say, 20 00:09:03.980 --> 00:09:06.779 to 30 minutes. However, after that, we got a 00:09:06.779 --> 00:09:09.000 foothold in the game. We started the second half 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:11.299 really well and you could smell the goal coming 00:09:11.299 --> 00:09:14.559 and we got the goal and we kind of... did what 00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:16.440 we needed to do to see out the game. I feel like 00:09:16.440 --> 00:09:18.879 we could have went up a few gears if necessary, 00:09:19.080 --> 00:09:21.620 but I feel like it's a case of win the game, 00:09:21.659 --> 00:09:24.039 get out of there, focus on Tuesday, then Sunday, 00:09:24.200 --> 00:09:26.879 then the following Wednesday and so on and so 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:31.059 forth. On if he's worried about the upcoming 00:09:31.059 --> 00:09:35.200 schedule with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. Yes, 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:37.480 we know the schedule. You could see some of the 00:09:37.480 --> 00:09:39.799 players, not only ours, their players as well. 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:42.820 And there have been a lot of injuries as well. 00:09:43.200 --> 00:09:46.120 The load is where it is. That's why we need it. 00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:48.460 And the game's now and the context demands you 00:09:48.460 --> 00:09:51.200 a bigger squad. I think all the top teams, we 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:53.299 are in the same boat. We're going to have to 00:09:53.299 --> 00:09:55.539 manage that really well to look after them and 00:09:55.539 --> 00:09:58.440 especially to get the best out of them. Yeah, 00:09:58.500 --> 00:10:02.919 I mean, Atletico Madrid obviously played later 00:10:02.919 --> 00:10:04.639 than us. They played in the evening yesterday. 00:10:04.679 --> 00:10:07.799 They won, like I mentioned already. And they 00:10:07.799 --> 00:10:09.960 also got the Spanish Cup and things like that 00:10:09.960 --> 00:10:13.909 coming up. Our rivals, Liverpool. They play later 00:10:13.909 --> 00:10:16.750 on today and they're going to play next week 00:10:16.750 --> 00:10:20.090 and then on the weekend and then on midweek again 00:10:20.090 --> 00:10:23.289 against Crystal Palace. So like Arteta said, 00:10:23.350 --> 00:10:25.350 it's not just us. But what we've got to do is 00:10:25.350 --> 00:10:28.049 use the squad really well. So I think I was actually 00:10:28.049 --> 00:10:31.919 surprised, pleasantly surprised that... Martin 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:33.860 Zubamendi started that game yesterday because 00:10:33.860 --> 00:10:35.360 I thought he'll probably give him a rest, bring 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:39.399 him in on Tuesday. Also, Calafiori as well started. 00:10:39.820 --> 00:10:41.399 Myles Lewis -Skelly didn't get on the pitch, 00:10:41.460 --> 00:10:44.799 so it'll be interesting to see if he starts on 00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:46.360 Tuesday. I wouldn't be surprised if he does. 00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:49.240 I think he'll bring in, if you're going to ask 00:10:49.240 --> 00:10:51.279 me to predict, I think Myles Lewis -Skelly probably 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:54.899 comes in, gives Calafiori a little rest, a breather, 00:10:54.980 --> 00:11:00.340 and then Mourinho could potentially start a midfield. 00:11:01.019 --> 00:11:04.259 So I think it will tweak it a little bit. I think 00:11:04.259 --> 00:11:07.600 also Trossard might be given a rest and someone 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:11.240 like Eze will go on the wing with Mourinho coming 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:13.860 into midfield. That's my prediction for the Tuesday 00:11:13.860 --> 00:11:17.159 game. On our penalty being overturned by VAR, 00:11:17.340 --> 00:11:20.679 regarding the penalty, I was getting a bit animated 00:11:20.679 --> 00:11:23.559 because obviously if it's clear and obvious or 00:11:23.559 --> 00:11:28.419 not, that's where VAR has to intervene. It was 00:11:28.419 --> 00:11:31.100 taking so long and then Anthony as well was taking 00:11:31.100 --> 00:11:33.419 so long. Then he explained the reason why it 00:11:33.419 --> 00:11:35.879 took so long on the screen. It was nothing to 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:38.480 do with the process. It was the screen that wasn't 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:41.100 working. So that's fine. I think what I heard 00:11:41.100 --> 00:11:44.220 is that probably it wasn't a penalty. So probably 00:11:44.220 --> 00:11:46.779 they made the right decision and I was just animated 00:11:46.779 --> 00:11:49.320 because of the process. That's it. Well, OK, 00:11:49.419 --> 00:11:52.519 two things. One, I think Arteta doesn't want 00:11:52.519 --> 00:11:54.799 to die on this hill. He probably wants to use 00:11:54.799 --> 00:11:57.970 his complaint about a non -giving penalty. later 00:11:57.970 --> 00:12:00.750 on down the line. However, on the subject of 00:12:00.750 --> 00:12:02.789 the penalty, I could see why it wasn't given. 00:12:02.889 --> 00:12:05.549 However, I think the crucial element of this 00:12:05.549 --> 00:12:09.250 was the fact that Kevin's knee made contact with 00:12:09.250 --> 00:12:12.190 Bukayo Saka's knee, which is a foul because it 00:12:12.190 --> 00:12:15.230 was in the box. Then after Kevin's knee makes 00:12:15.230 --> 00:12:18.029 contact with Bukayo's knee, he then wins the 00:12:18.029 --> 00:12:21.750 ball. However, the key point is Kevin fouled 00:12:21.750 --> 00:12:24.149 Bukayo because his knee made contact with his 00:12:24.149 --> 00:12:28.120 knee inside the box before he won the ball. But 00:12:28.120 --> 00:12:30.259 I'm not really mad about it not being given. 00:12:30.340 --> 00:12:32.860 But I do think, yeah, like Arteta said, if it 00:12:32.860 --> 00:12:35.360 was a clear and obvious decision, why does it 00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:38.340 take so long? Leandro Trossard popping up with 00:12:38.340 --> 00:12:41.679 an important goal again. He has the quality to 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:44.120 create these magic moments when the team needs 00:12:44.120 --> 00:12:47.169 it the most. and that intuition, and he's in 00:12:47.169 --> 00:12:49.669 the right place in the right moment, and that's 00:12:49.669 --> 00:12:52.490 a huge quality for the team and a massive weapon 00:12:52.490 --> 00:12:55.370 for us. So I'm really happy. I think he's been 00:12:55.370 --> 00:12:58.450 very, very good in recent weeks, and now we have 00:12:58.450 --> 00:13:01.309 a lot of players in a really high emotional state 00:13:01.309 --> 00:13:04.250 and performance level, which is really good to 00:13:04.250 --> 00:13:06.909 see. I'll be real. Trossard had a stinker yesterday, 00:13:07.149 --> 00:13:10.409 but he scored the winner, so his performance 00:13:10.409 --> 00:13:16.179 was not a stinker. The aroma was... Magnificento. 00:13:16.259 --> 00:13:18.759 And so was the result. But no, all jokes aside, 00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:21.419 I think we played within ourselves. We played 00:13:21.419 --> 00:13:23.840 how we needed to to make sure we won the game 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:26.299 without really exerting ourselves. But the main 00:13:26.299 --> 00:13:28.960 thing is another three points on the board. Top 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:32.080 of the league. Roll on Tuesday against Atletico 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:33.600 Madrid in the Champions League.