We lost out in the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City and after the defeat, Mikel Arteta spoke to the press.
The boss gave his opinion on the performance, the rest of the season and more.
Read a full transcript below:
on the result:
Well, very sad, very hard one to take, especially for our players and our supporters because we know how much it means to them and how much we want it and the fact that we haven’t managed to deliver that obviously is disappointing and sad and it leaves you a really bad taste.
on his choice of goalkeeper for the game:
I understand that, but I have to do what I feel is right, which is honest and which is fair and I think we have an understanding goalkeeper in Kepa. He’s played all the (games in the) competition and I think it would have been very unfair for him and for the team to do something different.
on Manchester City’s use of width in the game:
There were different moments in the game. In the first half I think we had some really good moments and I think we’re the better team, we had the biggest chance of the game by far that we should have been 1-0 up and that would have changed the course of the game. In the second half we had, especially in the first 18-20 minutes, some issues to get out from that block, to press them better and especially to manage the ball when we regained it much better than when we did. Then we conceded the ball in a really unexpected manner obviously and three minutes later they scored another one in similar conditions to that. That’s something you have to give credit to the opposition as well when they are so good in these periods and they capitalise on that, we had our periods, we didn’t and then we have to accept that.
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Highlights: Arsenal 0-2 Manchester City
on if he had promised Kepa Arrizabalaga minutes in cup competitions when he signed:
No, I can never promise a player to play a certain competition because at the end they have to earn it and they have to do enough like any other position to do that. We are guided by what we’ve seen and what he’s always done in the competition and he helped us to go all the way through here. I believe it’s the right thing to do and that’s it. Errors are part of football and today it happened unfortunately in a crucial moment.
on how he helps the players to process results like this:
Well, especially to have some perspective on it and what this team has done in the last eight months has been incredible and we’re going to use this disappointment and this fire in the belly to have the most amazing two months that we have ever together and that’s on us and we’ll manage that energy in the right way. Now we have to go through that pain and disappointment and it’s normal and it’s part of football.
on if there are learnings to take from the game:
For sure and there will be a lot of aspects that we will discuss. There will be a lot of aspects that we need to discuss, I think we have to reflect on that, bring the temperature down a little bit and we will discuss that.
on if the defeat was because of the wider team performance:
Especially in the second half, those 20-25 minutes that we should have done better. But again, sometimes you have to create a position when they play at that level, they raise it and they capitalise on those moments. But for sure, there are things that we can improve and do better.
on if there’s danger that the result could have long-term effects:
We played 50 games today, so every time you have a defeat or a draw, if that’s the consequence, you’re not prepared to play 70 games because it’s something that will happen at some point. We haven’t allowed that to happen, we have to prove it, we have to do it again. The good thing is that we have a very recent history, how this team has reacted in those moments, and I’m sure we’re going to do it again.
on if Ebere Eze will travel for international duty with England:
No he’s out.
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Report: Arsenal 0-2 Manchester City
on the injury:
We have to do another scan in six or seven days and wait and see the results. Is it a leg injury. His calf.
on staying to watch Manchester City’s trophy lift:
No, I think it’s something to show respect and they won the cup and I think you have to wait for that moment when they lift it and once they’ve done that and they’re going to have their own celebration, I think we need to get out of the door and I think that’s what we did.on if watching that is motivation:I wouldn’t say so today to be fair, no.
on if the team didn’t ‘turn up’:
I don’t think that’s the case in the first half. In the first 20 minutes of the second half we were at our best and the standards that we won, that’s for sure.
on the mentality of the team in the second half:
I wouldn’t make it to the mentality part of that, especially when you lose or draw again to go through that. I think it’s too easy, that’s my opinion. As I said before in the first half, there were some very, very good moments and we didn’t capitalise on them in the second half. There were some moments that they had and we had as well because we hit the post, we had a big chance as well with Gabi, another big chance through Vickor and we didn’t. You have to be credit to the opposition because they played as well and it’s not a coincidence what they’ve done in that period.
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