Every word Mikel Arteta said on Newcastle win, Gabriel handball, Arsenal winner and penalty call

Mikel Arteta faced the media following his side’s victory over Newcastle United. It required two late goals from Mikel Merino and Gabriel Magalhaes to claim the win, but it moves the side within two points of Liverpool.

After a frustrating penalty decision was overturned and a goal from Nick Woltemade was scored, the hope seemed to be waning as the clock ticked on. But the side dug deep and pulled an unlikely but massive victory out when it truly mattered.

Arteta was delighted in how his team responded to going a goal down, speaking of the pride he had for the team. Also on the importance to close the gap in a ground that has bad memories for him.

Here is every word Arteta said to the press during the conference:

I feel like we've spoken to you after several games where you've dominated and not got the result that you wanted. How does it feel getting the result?

Unbelievable feeling, that's what football is about. And a team, when you get what you deserve right at the end, it's not a better feeling than that.

Can I just ask as well, in the moments towards the end where the VAR check going on for Gabriel's moment in the box, how high was your heart rate in that moment?

Well, I see the action very clear and fast, so I thought he wasn't going to intervene but, not sure because obviously we had the example of what happened in the first half with a penalty. Regardless of that, I'm so proud of the team. The way we played, the way we competed, the way we understood the game, how we reacted to very difficult situations and decisions, and still find a way to win the game, with the players coming from the bench exceptional.

I know you said it's an unbelievable feeling, but when everything's like rollercoaster, like that game was, how do you actually judge what happens? Like, I said, really good start to the game, but when they have those challenges like that, how do you see what happens?

Well, understanding that that's the game that we have to play. There are a few things that might be unpredictable with the line-up or the formation or whatever. There are certain things that are so predictable, what you have to do here to win a football match. And we've certainly done that from the start to the end. And on top of that, we added so much quality from various ways to generate the amount of chances that we did. And at the end, find a way to win it when we fully deserve to win the game.

Mentally, what are the moments like that last week when you played?

Well, I think we discussed to go to the next level, first of all, you have to learn from the past. And certainly we take some lessons and very different moments in this ground. And today was an opportunity that the game brings you again in a really important week in the Premier League. And after all the tough places that we've already been very early in the season, to show who we are, who we want to be, our ambition and the way that we want to play. And I think the team has done that today in a remarkable way.

Mikel, what was your thoughts on the Gyokeres decision and also the way that your players reacted to it? Because it feels like in the past they might have rambled after that, but particularly for the second half of the game, they sort of were able to draw a line and get back on it.

Yeah, well, I watched it live and then I watched it on the screen and for me it was a penalty. We were instructed very clearly again this season that unless it's a clear and obvious error, the referee is not going to intervene. It’s not. So that's my opinion. We find a way to win the game. The team is still emotionally very, very, very calm and very composed. And that's a lesson that we took as well, probably from a few years ago.

It feels like you had a big weekend in the title race. The gap is down to two. What does a result like this do to your belief?

Yeah, the belief, the conviction of the team that we are and that we can play various types of games and the team still can deliver and win it in a convincing way. And for me today, it's one of the most difficult grounds. Again, praise Newcastle, the way they play, compete, how difficult it is to play in this place. But the team really took the game to a different level, and I'm very proud to see that.

I know it's a bit of a familiar story for you in recent games, but yet again, substitutes make big difference?

Yes, and we certainly knew that and we had to make a few adjustments and substitutions as well for different reasons. And the ones that are coming in, they really come in fully focused. My duty is to win the game for the team. And all of them did it in an incredible manner. Martin comes in and it shows from the beginning his threat. Saliba comes in 45 minutes and I think it was outstanding. Again, Martin comes in after a long period and delivers two passes that lead to goals. Mikel Merino comes in, which is a massive threat in the box, and delivers a winning moment. So, all of them.

There was a coming together between Gabriel and Woltemade after the goal, did you see that?

No, I haven't seen it, sorry.

In the context of Liverpool dropping points yesterday, you must have felt a bit more under pressure today to get that result. How important then is it to win following that moment yesterday?

Well, yes, there are moments in the season, and obviously, with the style that we had already and the difficult fixtures that we had, today we had the opportunity to close that gap. And do it in a stadium that has a very recent and difficult past for us. I think it shows how much the team wants it.

You got criticised a little bit last week, but you've come here today and really took the game to Newcastle, do you feel that you and your players silenced those critics this week and shown exactly what...

Well, I don't know, I think they were there against Manchester City and Newcastle, two of the toughest opponents to play, the team was outstanding, that's my view on it. Very clear.