Every word Mikel Arteta said on David Raya heroics, Kai Havertz impact, Viktor Gyokeres gesture

Here is every word Mikel Arteta said during his post-match press conference after Arsenal’s clash with Sporting CP in Lisbon during the Champions League quarter-final first leg

Mikel Arteta spoke to the media following Arsenal’s win over Portuguese champions Sporting CP for the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg. It required a late goal from Kai Havertz to seal it and send the travelling fans into raptures.

The Spaniard made eight changes from the side that were eliminated from the FA Cup just four days earlier, highlighting the considerable changes that could be made to the team. This was only emphasised further, considering Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino all missed the match through injury.

One of those changes was the return of David Raya who earned a man of the match award for his diplay. It naturally raised questions about the role of such a key player after the last two games’ struggles.

Here is every word the Arsenal manager said during his post-match press conference:

What are your emotions after winning it like that?

Extremely happy it was a big night, a big moment in the season. Especially where we're coming from, I think we had a point to prove. Yesterday I talked about identity and the things that I wanted to see on that pitch. It certainly happened that it was a shift there, and then they were a big opponent. It's very tricky, very difficult to play. That's the reason why they won 17 times in a row here. They haven’t lost for a long, long time. We really had to earn it.

We had moments of real dominance with a lot of situations in and around the ball without creating enough threats. Sometimes liking to be a bit crispier the movement a bit sharper with the final ball. But we took the game where we wanted.

But as I said after saying that, they are a team that’s extremely dangerous when they have space to run, and they have two situations when David had to intervene in a brilliant way. And then, again, the story of the season. The finishers come in when the most important part of the game is about to happen and they made the difference for us to win it.

Your team's got 38 goal involvements from players that have come off the bench, which is the most of any team in Europe's top five leagues this season. You talk a lot about your finishers in games tonight. Kai, was that a player for you?

I think that's a reflection of the chemistry that’s there is in the team. And respecting your role within the day and my decision, that it's not easy a lot of times to leave certain players on the bench to start with. That’s organic, it’s a natural. They love each other so much that they do it for the team. And when you play with that attitude and that desire, these things can happen. And it's been, again, a beautiful thing to raise the position that we are in. One of the main things that I discussed as well. Because we're going to need them in the crucial moments to win it for us.

David produced some amazing saves in the game, obviously early on, and later on, a couple of double stops in another save. Do you think he is the best goalkeeper in the world at the moment?

He's extraordinary, magnificent, incredible. I don't know the adjective, the right one. And with that, it's enough. We are so happy to have him.

After what happened in the last two games, what did this result in this performance show about you and this Arsenal team? Like, despite the pressure all narratives going around now about Arsenal's season, you've been able to come into Lisbon and get the win. That's when you have a difficult period.

I think the best thing that you can do instead of talk a lot is observe. Look around you and see how people react. How they talk, how they look at you, how they judge you, what they do, do they look at themselves, do they start to criticise other people? Look around, and you're going to learn the environment and the people that you have around you.

And I cannot be prouder to work in a club with people that the only thing they could do is ask, what else can I do to help? And when you have people like this, I don't know if it's going to take another week or two, but something really will happen at the end because we deserve it.

Another one on David Raya. He has such an important role in this Arsenal team. He has to play in the build-up as well. So does it make it even more impressive that he's able to pull off those saves at crucial moments while he has to focus all throughout the game as well?

That's the evolution of the game, I think, in every role. The keeper, obviously, in the last few years has changed and evolved rapidly, and the amount of things that he has to do, it's a lot. But many positions have very similar situations and demands right now, and the players have to adapt to that. And when you have, apart from the qualities of David, the courage, the will to do certain things, that's when you can reach another level.

Kai's obviously got a history of stepping up when it matters most in this competition. How much is he someone you rely on in these big matches?

A lot, because he's done it, as you said. He's lived it, he's been part of something, and that's a really important thing to have in and around the team. And today he was ready. I could see from the disappointment the other day that he wanted to play immediately. And the action of the goal, from both Gabi and him is fabulous.

Was it part of the strategy today that in the first half it was really about sucking a bit of the life out of them and the atmosphere, and in the second half you used that platform and kick on.

Yes, and if we can do that and on top of that, score three goals is even better, you know. But we know especially how they start the first half here. The atmosphere that they create as a team, especially when they go ahead, is extremely dangerous because they are so good in transition. The moment they turn you, and they are running those second actions, they are a team that creates big problems. And when you are chasing the game, it's even harder.

Can I just ask about the mood in the dressing room? You're going after that kind of high of the late win. Considering what the team's been through, do you look at them and think they needed that moment to sort of make them believe, to change their belief system?

Yes, because the demands from August is win and win and win and win, and if you don't win, it's a disaster, and it's not enough, and if you don't win four trophies, what are we doing? So that's fine, but they need some perspective, especially from my side, a big reminder of what we are as a team and the things that have brought us where we are. And take it, live the present, do your best and let's see what happens.

Mikel, when you talk about the identity of the team, do you think what they've done tonight is sort of the template for the rest of the season now? The example that if they doubt themselves again, they can think about this and what they've done here?

In a lot of things, yes, and especially the things that depend on us and it's nothing to do with quality or execution. Those are the things that have brought us here. The rest, we have it, there will be moments where it's better or not that efficient, but those ones, if we maintain them, we have a great chance.

Viktor Gyokeres was alone on the pitch. He was applauded by Sporting fans. How important is it for him to make peace with Sporting fans and say goodbye in a proper way?

Well, I didn't know that, but I'm really happy to hear that because I know how he felt in the manner that he had to live as well. I know that when a big player leaves a big club, it's never easy, but it has been the case. It tells about the culture and the supporters here and what Viktor meant to them and what Viktor did to them, so I'm sure he's very happy with that.