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Here is every word Mikel Arteta said after his Arsenal side’s clash with Bayer Leverkusen in north London for the second leg of their last-16 clash in the Champions League
Mikel Arteta faced the media after his Arsenal side beat Bayer Leverkusen to set up a date in Lisbon for the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. Viktor Gyokeres will face his former club Sporting CP, and the Swede had a solid night up top for the Gunners.
That said, it was Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice who stole the show with two brilliant goals from outside the box. While all the talk had been about goals from set pieces, it was the Gunners’ quality that ultimately separated the two teams.
The game was played also in the foreground of a cup final against Manchester City. Arteta was made aware post-match that his weekend opponents had indeed been dumped out of the competition by Real Madrid.
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Here is every word from Arteta's post-match press conference:
For a while there in the first half, it looked like you couldn't find a way past that keeper and then you had two finishes probably fit to win any match.
Yes, I think it's true, I think we started the game so well. I think we were a threat from every angle. The keeper, as you said, maintained them in the game, I think.
And we needed a magical moment from Ebs who scored a wonderful goal, a wonderful strike to give us the lead. And in the second half we had periods of domination, periods where they dominate us all because they are a really good side and they are really good in what they do.
And again, Declan’s actions opened the opportunity to win the game and the tie. And unfortunately, as well, we had four/five situations where we should have probably scored the third one and put the game to bed. But overall, I think we fully deserved to be in the quarter-finals.
Was that goal from Eze a good example of the kind of goal you signed him to score? And also, do you feel like he's found his momentum now and rhythm?
Yeah, well, I think he's playing every three days now. He has the rhythm, he has the understanding with his teammates as well, what we want. And especially his level of activity.
With the ball, without the ball, in the spaces that he moves, the purpose that he's showing every time he's in and around the box as well. Which is the thing and the reason why he's here, to create those kind of moments.
Declan has spoken to TV about how difficult it is playing every three days and how relentless the schedule is. But did that performance from him today sum up the Arsenal team and sum up what he's about as well?
Yeah, it was immense. Him and the whole team. I just mentioned that the soul of the team, I think. The manner that they go for every ball, the passion that they show in every action is remarkable. And doing it every three days at that level is so difficult.
Did Saturday have any effect on the mood of the team or even the stadium? You might disagree, but did you feel a bit freer tonight?
Freer in terms of?
In terms of play, even less angst around the stadium.
I thought atmosphere was really good from the beginning. The moment that I went out, I could sense it. It was one of those nights, I think they were really, really positive with the team and their reaction. I think the team obviously gave them a lot of reasons to behave like this. So, yeah, that's exactly what we need. In the last two games, it's the standards that we need to help us to achieve what we want.
Are you aware that Eze tends to have this thing where he plays a lot better and is more decisive on spare time?
Yes. You know why I know? Because you guys told me. Because I didn't know that to be fair.
Do you feel that he seems a bit happier in himself now that he's really settled? He's getting used to playing every few days, finding the rhythm. Do you see a different happiness in him?
Yes. I think he's building a better chemistry, a better understanding with all of them. We start to understand him as well much better. When you start to make a good game, a good action, an action like that when you're in the game, that lifts your confidence as well. That's what every player needs.
David Raya getting towards the end of the game to put up another great save. Are you happy to see these saves? In some ways, do you wish that he wasn't required in some games?
Yes, but I don't know what they generated again. In two games, it was a set-piece last time, and a header before that, and today he has an action. He makes an incredible save. That's why he's here. We need to value the keeper that we have because he's absolutely amazing.
Just on Ebs again. It's his first season playing in the Champions League. Are you surprised at how easily he's settled into this level when he looks like he could thrive?
Yes. And comparing the minutes that he's ever played in his career. He's much higher right now than any other season. That tells you as well the consistency that he's showing. He's always fit. Today he had to come off because he's got a lot of minutes in him but he's handling the pressure, the situation and the expectations very well.
This game was obviously played in the forefront of the cup final on the weekend. I imagine there were some decisions around that cup final, but I want to know if some of the performances have maybe made you think a little bit harder about what you might have to choose on Sunday.
I'm not surprised about that, but, to be honest, every decision was focused on today's game. I think what it was at stake is huge. I don't know how many times in our history we've been three times in the qualifiers, but not that many, I think. So that tells you how difficult it is to achieve it, and now we can start to think about Sunday.
Another one on Ebs. Obviously, the goal is what will get the headline, but it seems like he's starting to fit into your pressing system a bit more, and there were some very important four recoveries high up the pitch. Was that something that he needed to improve to get to the next level at Arsenal?
Yeah, without that, you have no chance to play in this team. Because everybody does it, and that's the magic of it, and the reason why we are so consistent in winning matches and preventing the opponent to score. He can do it. If he could not do it, I would never demand it. He can do it, he's willing to do it, and he's doing it better and better every day.
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