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Here is every word from Mikel Arteta’s post-match press conference after Arsenal beat Bournemouth
Mikel Arteta faced the media following his Arsenal side’s battling win over Bournemouth. The Gunners found themselves both behind and then holding onto a late narrow lead during the game.
Gabriel Magalhaes and Declan Rice were heavily in focus for their contributions both maddening and dramatic. Rice scored his first Premier League brace in the game, and it proved vital in claiming all three points.
The win moves the Gunners seven points clear of title rivals Manchester City and gives them a great platform before they face Liverpool.
Here is every word from Arteta’s post-match press conference:
The added time towards the end seems to be a little bit contentious, with Bournemouth fans especially. They seemed upset that the referee blew his whistle quite soon, what was your view on that?
If not, I have to judge a lot of things, I prefer not to make a comment, I understand.
You scored 10 goals in the opening 10 minutes in the second half of the season, what's putting your half time team talks?
I'll try to learn from what happened in the first half, what are the things we have to tweak to improve, what are the opportunities, and then the players to recognise that and try to implement it, that's all we have to do.
Is that something you deliberately do whilst…
I think it's a really important moment. You gather a lot of information, you have a moment to breathe, to reflect and to make decisions and try to pass the messages that we believe are important and relevant to help us to win the game.
How pleased are you with Declan with those two goals? And he's scoring a few more, something you've spoken to him about, because he's obviously got the ability. He doesn't probably score enough, does he?
I really love today the next step of the team in terms of individual personality and presence. I think what Gabi Magalhaes has done after making a big mistake to concede the goal, the way he reacted to that, the way he played afterwards, the way he transmitted energy after that, it was remarkable. And Declan, another one.
Every hour for him was important to be able to be available today. We didn't know for how long, so in the manner that he competed, played and on top of that scored two goals, I think it was outstanding and a really big message for the team.
But have you spoken to him in the past about maybe chipping in with a few more goals?
Yes, not chipping in. To chip in you have to do a lot of things. First of all you have to get into those positions and he has the ability when he gets into those positions to put the ball in the back of the net.
He's done it in a very similar way in both actions and he's very consistent there.
Mikel, it's not just Gabi Magalhaes who's responded in the past, you've seen it happen with Saka who's made mistakes and scored in the same game, Gabi himself in the Fulham game with a Mitrovic mistake as well. What is it individually about the players that shows that resilience to turn around and turn those mistakes into big moments?
It's part of football and it's about how you react to the next action. You need to have a very short memory to be at the very top constantly. With a positive action it happens the same because there's another one that is the most important one.
But today, especially when you concede a goal after that, it's really tough to do it mentally, especially with what is at stake in every game. So I'm very, very impressed with what he's done.
Just days after having a swollen knee, Rice scores them two goals. Is he among the best midfielders in the world?
Yes, for me yes. The ones that we have are the best. Declan is constantly adding things to his game, he's constantly adding things to his role in the team.
I don't see where he can stop because he can still improve in a lot of areas and he wants to improve. He's such a pivotal player for us.
What do you think it shows apart from the fact that he was injured last week, had a swollen knee, and then just came back, started and then performed in that way?
Well, because he was so disappointed not to play against Villa. He really wanted it. He tried in the morning, he was nowhere near a possibility.
He wanted to train the next day, it wasn't a possibility. Until the last minute I asked him, how are you feeling? He said, I'm in. And he showed that he was big time in.
Declan spoke to us in pre-season in Singapore about how he needed to set himself new targets for goals and assists this season. Did that come from him or did that come from you?
I think we sit down together and set goals. Setting goals is not enough, you need a plan to implement and make it happen. He's extremely consistent in everything that you ask him to do and everything that he really wants to do.
That's what makes the difference. First of all, he has the ability and the qualities to achieve that for sure. Then you need the consistency to do it. He's doing it every single day and then you see that kind of performance.
You say yourself that how much is at stake in every match and how the players are responding. But it almost feels like every game is a cup final now. It's already New Year and we're moving towards that second half of the season. You must be very pleased how the players match after match are responding.
Yes, because as you said, that demands a lot of energy, a lot of desire, a lot of focus and we have to do it. At this moment I think we have nine games. With everything that we already played in the season, the last two months especially, that's a big ask.
But when I see the involvement and commitment of the players, we have to do it.
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