Every word Mikel Arteta said on Arsenal win over Chelsea, Gyokeres, Zubimendi and Ben White

Here is every word from Mikel Arteta’s post-match press conference after Arsenal won against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Mikel Arteta faced the media after his Arsenal side came away from Stamford Bridge with a victory in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final. The Gunners will take a one-goal lead back to the Emirates Stadium at the start of February.

Viktor Gyokeres likely had his best game in an Arsenal shirt, adding an eighth goal to his tally for the season and helped out with an assist too. While Martin Zubimendi enjoyed another starring role in a big win.

The job is not yet done and Arteta was keen to highlight that this was just half-time in the tie. However, there is no doubt this will bring great confidence for the team in a busy month of action and a second win in a run of four successive away games.

Here is every word the Spaniard said in this evening’s press conference:

Do you feel as if the margin could be bigger and how do you assess your team's performance?

First of all, I have to praise the players for the performance, for the game that we just played against a really good opponent. With so much quality on that pitch, we had the feeling at the end after the 1-3 and the very dominant period that we had in that time, that we had two massive chances to score the fourth one and the result would have been very different.

But in that moment, they had an action, they created a corner, they scored a goal, and's it’s game on. So that feeling is not perfect but as well we have to value what the team has done again.

You said recently that Viktor Gyokeres has to keep insisting. Do you feel like tonight we saw the result of that insistence from him?

Yes, for a lot of the things that he's done, it's exactly the same. I think he had a really good performance. Overall, I think what he brings to the team. It's a lot, sometimes I understand that people cannot appreciate it, we certainly do that and on top of that he got rewarded with a goal.

I know it's only halfway but does it feel like a big step, the first win in nine semi-final matches?

Well, it's another step, and it's just half-time, and we know the big fight that we're going to have back at the Emirates in a few weeks' time because they are a top side.

Just a quick word about Ben White, he's had a hard time coming back from injury and having that fitness to get back in the team and play a lot. Do you see that kind of character that you need, not just the football player but also the character, to be able to come in and impose himself in these games? How much do you value what Ben brings?

I think I've said it many times about how I feel about Ben and not what he's done in the last few weeks but what he's done for us in the last few years. He's shown that in various contexts that he's a player that's going to give absolutely everything for the team, that he's always there. He's someone you can count on in any circumstances, and I think tonight he's done what he has to do.

A lot's been made this week about the new throw-in coach and a goal from a throw-in tonight…

I don't know anything about that.

What do you think of Zubimendi’s goal? Secondly, how important has he become already? He plays every game, every minute.

Well, I think when we talk about Zubi, what else can he do? He can do whatever he wants. It's a bit similar to Declan's qualities.

We just have to keep unlocking that in his system, in his brain, because he's so good at occupying different spaces, he's carrying the ball, dribbling, winning duels, and he has a talent when he gets into the final third and into the box. He's so composed. He sees the picture very clear.

The picture actually is clear sometimes that I know the parts of the pitch and what he's done today. I think it's phenomenal, not only the ball but the performance as well.

You've got three weeks now to return games. It's quite a long time. You've played Premier League, Europe, all of that. How does that affect the dynamic at the time that you've got such a long gap?

I don't know. In 20 minutes, I'm going to start thinking about [Nottingham] Forest and start to prepare there and make sure everybody recovers from that. That's the routine that we have. I'm very happy with what we've done tonight. Put it to bed and now focus on the next one.

What does winning here then do…

Really good because it's a really tough place to come. They are top side and when you watch in life as well the quality that they have, how they open you up in a second with the quality that they have, it's impressive. That's why I really value what the team has done.