Hello and welcome to HYBR1D Powered by chinkseyMEDIA.,
Back again for every word from Mikel Arteta's
post -Sunderland presser. Our 10 -match winning
run came to an end with a 2 -2 draw against Sunderland
at the Stadium of Light, courtesy of a late Brian
Brobbey equaliser. After Dan Ballard had put
the hosts in front... Bukayo Saka and Leandro
Trossard's strikes put us ahead, only for Brobbey
to net in stoppage time to ensure the points
were shared. In his press conference after the
game, Mikel Arteta was asked about our performance,
the threat our opponents posed and our record
-equalling run of eight consecutive clean sheets.
On the 2 -2 draw of Sunderland, the last feeling
is disappointment and frustration because we
wanted all three points. We had to navigate through
a really tough game. We knew that. It was very
disruptive. We have to deal with situations that
are difficult to deal with. They did really well
and we conceded a goal that is not to our standards.
But after that, I think the team reacted really
well, showed a lot of personality and courage.
They scored the first goal. They scored the second
goal. We had totally dominated the game and then
you have to rely on defending the box when they
start to commit six or seven players there. It
can be from direct play, it can be from a throw
-in, it can be from any situation. We can defend
the action better and today we haven't done it.
We conceded the goal in the last... minutes.
We had another massive chance with Ricky and
Mikel to win it, which I think we deserve to
do, but it didn't happen. I think it shows what
we've done in the last 10 games, winning them
in a manner that we've done it, with clean sheets,
missing seven players in the front line. So it
shows you how difficult it is. Very lengthy,
very wordy two paragraphs from Mikel Titeda.
Sunderland obviously proved a lot of fans' predictions
right that it was going to be a tough game. I
personally felt we was going to win the game
but in hindsight we've had a lot of fixtures
in a short space of time and as the manager said
we've got seven players out. all in the front
line. So it was just a case, could we kind of
get this one over the line and then worry about
everything else after the international break?
It proved a little bit too much. Obviously, Sunderland
gave us a really good game, a tough opponent.
They're unbeaten at home for a reason, but I
did expect us to win it. It's unfortunate how
we succumbed to a late equaliser, but that's
football. Everyone concedes last -minute goals.
Everyone scores last -minute goals. It's just
a shame that we was on the end of one on that
occasion. On if he was annoyed with the players
at half -time. It's not about that, no. We have
to adjust certain things, and at the end, you
have to create against the opposition as well.
They are here unbeaten for a reason, and they
do what they do really, really well. And they
make it really difficult for you. You have to
be very patient. You have to dominate certain
things in order to earn the right to dominate
the game in the manner that you want. We did
much better in the second half. So basically,
Arteta doesn't want to tell you that he probably
threw a couple of teacups, smashed a few things.
Well, probably not smashed because you don't
want to get a fine or anything. But obviously,
no. He wasn't happy with that first half performance.
It wasn't the best performance. of our season,
clearly. But we came out in the second half with
a different mindset, mentality, and we looked
like we did enough to win the game when Trussard
scored. However, Sunderland threw caution to
the wind and got themselves a draw, which some
people may say they deserved. And some people
will say that we should have saw it out. Depends
if you see the glass half full or half empty.
On his emotions after the equaliser, again, unsatisfied
because I wanted to win and the game was almost
there. But you know this is the Premier League
and the manner that they play, they're going
to harm you in their way. It's just one goal
difference there. I'm frustrated because it's
an action that we can defend better, but as well
you have to give credit to the opposition to
do what they've done. To put the ball there,
to head the ball the way they've done it, and
then the striker to do it, to do the action and
to put the ball in the net. Sometimes you have
to do that and recognize that as well. Okay.
So a little bit like when he referred to Slavia
Prague style of play, I've noticed he clearly
is inferring that they're, you know, direct.
The ball is in the air. Again, you know, they
spend a lot of time with the ball in the air.
Air. But you can't really say that, Mikel, because
obviously you... incorporate those sort of characteristics
in our play. Obviously, our primary type of play
is a passing style. We want to be able to prize
people open with tick -a -tack -a passing football.
However, you've incorporated those elements of
long throws, of corners, of set pieces, of a
bit of physicality, dark arts in our play. So
I don't think you have a leg to stand on to kind
of... you know, not criticise, but send subtle
shots or subtle digs at teams like Sunderland
and Slavia Prague if we're incorporating that
type of play in our game as well. On the threat
Sunderland posed, we knew that from the beginning,
but that's the Premier League. You don't get
to any place in the Premier League where you
think you're going to have a comfortable afternoon.
However you want to call it. And again, it's
not a coincidence what they are doing. They deserve
to be where they are, and we do as well. It'll
be interesting to see, though, if obviously we
win the league and Sunderland finish high up
in the league, whether it be second, third, fourth,
fifth, or where they are now in fourth. who win
manager of the season. I want to stick my neck
on the line and say if Sunderland finish in the
top 10, then the manager of the season should
go to the Sunderland manager because I really
couldn't see them finishing anything other than
20th or 19th or at the very best 17th or 18th.
So for them to be, you know, parring with some
of the top clubs in the league in the top four
is fantastic. However, though, I will say this,
because the league is so condensed right now,
they're fourth on 19th. They are only nine points
clear of West Ham in 18th. So a bad month, a
bad few weeks could see them fall. towards the
bottom. And obviously, teams like Nottingham
Forest and West Ham are capable of beating all
these sides in the league, well, also rounds
in the league. So there's points up for grabs.
I wouldn't say they're quite home and dry yet,
but they've set themselves a fantastic foundation.
They've probably got half the amount of points
that they need to stay in the division. So it
should really be in their hands to do so. on
if the result will hurt the players. Yeah, of
course it hurts, especially when it costs you
points. We know that we have to do better and
even though we're conceding goals, there are
things that we have to improve on the ball. I
always mention that and that's it. Learn from
the past and get back. Yeah, I think obviously...
It was probably a game too much. And I think
a law of averages will determine that you don't
win every single game. No team in Premier League
history has won every single game. Also, there's
a reason why Chelsea's 15 goals conceded in a
single season is unlikely to ever be beaten.
And that's because it's almost impossible to
beat that. That's essentially keeping a clean
sheet in one third of your fixtures throughout
the season, which is very hard to do. Obviously,
we conceded two goals. against Sunderland. So
we're on five now. So essentially he's saying
we can only afford to concede nine or ten goals
throughout the rest of the season. And I think
we've got enough pressure on ourselves to make
sure we end this 22 -year or 21 going on 22 -year
Premier League trophy drought. So I think we
just need to focus on that first. foremost, before
we worry about clean sheet records, quadruples,
Champions League titles, because I think the
minimum requirement now is definitely to get
over this line in the Premier League, in which
we now have our lead stand at four points. On
how he felt when the clean sheet record went,
a pain in my tummy because I don't want to concede
any goals. And it was a goal, obviously, that
was putting the game in a difficult position.
I don't think you're the only person associated
with Arsenal to be disappointed that we conceded.
But I mean, I felt like once we did concede,
it was almost like, OK, the pressure's off our
backs now. That eight -game winning run consecutive
with clean sheets. is off our backs now so we
can just focus on kind of playing our own game
whereas you know especially on Tuesday when Slavia
Prague looked like they got the penalty you could
see how disappointed some of the boys was especially
Gabriel but now obviously we've conceded we could
just now focus on winning games whether or not
we keep a clean sheets in addition to the win