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Here is every word Mikel Arteta said in his post-match press conference after Arsenal’s FA Cup third round clash with Portsmouth.
Mikel Arteta spoke to the media following his side’s win over Portsmouth in the FA Cup third round. Despite the gap between the sides domestically, it was by no means a simple task.
The Gunners, who had seen as many as ten changes from the side that drew with Liverpool on Thursday, were not given a warm welcome and fell behind quickly. However, they were bailed out by three beautifully crafted set pieces.
Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz made their cases for the centre-forward positions as Viktor Gyokeres watched on. Gabriel Martinelli scored his first-ever senior hat-trick for the club too.
Here is every word Mikel Arteta said in his post-match press conference:
Ten changes, apart from that early hiccup, a dominant performance. Is that testament to your strength and depth in the squad now?
Yes, when we make that many changes, there is an element of cohesion that is not going to be as perfect as we want. We started the game exactly how we didn't want to, just giving them momentum and an early goal and hope. And then we had to fight back and credit to them because they make it difficult for us, especially in the early stages of the game.
And then the more we started to do the simple things right and be a little bit more dominant, the quality took over and the margins were bigger.
It's been a difficult week for Gabriel Martinelli. He got a hostile reception here too. How proud are you with how he responded?
It's part of football and then it's how you take it. But he knew inside the reason why he did what he did. I think Arne Slot spoke brilliantly after the game, speaking of your opponent in the manner that he explained the situation and the fact that Gabi had no intention whatsoever to damage any player.
And yeah, that's personality. Come in and talk on the pitch, which is the best part of it.
It must be sometimes difficult when you're in the centre of something, you're at the centre of a storm, to the next game.
That's why to play for a big club, you need a big personality because it can be bad, it can be an action that you miss, it can be something that costs you a game. And three days later, there is a game. So you need to lift yourself up and make it count.
And do you like that about his attitude?
I love it. Gabi, in every context that you throw him in, he plays, he doesn’t play. He performs well, not well. Today, he scored three goals.
Tomorrow, he's going to train 100 miles an hour, for sure. He's not going to change that. And that's Gabi.
And I mean, I couldn't believe it when you said he's not changed on that basis.
I do, because he is very good. His timing in the box is really good, especially when he’s in certain spaces. And yesterday, he was talking about it.
Was he?
Yeah.
Mikel, just on Kai, it's the first time you've had him back for about a year. He came on, made an impact straight away. Happy to see him.
Yeah, we had some great, positive things today. Obviously, winning the match and being in the next round. Kai, after so many months and all the effort that he's put in to be back fit and looking like he's done.
Marli as well, making his debut in the FA Cup. And a lot of players making minutes that they needed as well.
Is there any word on Piero? I think he had a scan after the game on Thursday. Do you know how long he's going to be out?
Probably tomorrow we'll know a little bit more. Where he's at, obviously, he has to come up. He's never had a good sign, but hopefully it's not too much.
There's been a lot of talk about Ethan when he'd get his chance. He obviously got it today. What did you make of it?
Well, that he deserves that, basically. Obviously, because of the strength of the squad and the players that are in the position, he hasn't been able to play and today he's done it. And I think he had some very good minutes.
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