Arteta was proud of his team after the draw against Manchester City at the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta was proud of his players’ performance against Manchester City, despite the 1-1 draw. “At the very least, we deserved a point,” he said, acknowledging that Arsenal dominated almost every aspect of the game.
Arteta praised his team’s defensive performance, saying that they limited City’s chances to just a few opportunities. “One is a corner, another is a counter-attack, and the other is a giveaway. That’s it,” he said. “To keep City to just that, chapeau to the boys.”
The Arsenal manager also compared the team’s performance to last year’s win against City, saying that they played better this time around. “I think we played better than last year when we beat them,” he said. “Much better.”
Gabriel Martinelli scored the equalizing goal for Arsenal, and he was delighted with his strike. “I saw Ebs(Eze) getting the ball and I tried to make eye contact with him,” he said. “Once the ball was open, I made the movement, and it was a great ball from him. I just tried to put it in the back of the net.”
Martinelli also spoke about his role as a substitute and the impact he can make off the bench. “I work for those moments,” he said. “I leave selection for the gaffer, he knows what he does. I just do my best to help this football club.” Martinelli’s attitude and work ethic are qualities that Arteta values, and it’s no surprise that he’s become a key player for Arsenal.
Arteta echoed Martinelli’s sentiments, saying that all his players will get opportunities to play and make an impact. “They are all going to play,” he said. “They will all have an opportunity. We’re going to need them at that level. There is no question that that’s something very necessary.” With a busy schedule ahead, Arteta knows that he’ll need all his players to be fit and performing well.
The draw means Arsenal are now five points behind leaders Liverpool, but Arteta is unfazed by the deficit. “We cannot control that,” he said. “They win every match. It’s going to be very difficult, but if we play at this level, like we did against Manchester City, we will be fine.” Arteta’s confidence in his team is inspiring, and it will be interesting to see how they respond to the challenge ahead.
As for Martinelli, he’s already looking forward to the next game and the opportunity to make an impact. “We play for Arsenal, we know how big this club is, and we try our best in the games to win football matches,” he said. “We didn’t want to draw, but in the end, we did.” Martinelli’s commitment to the team and his desire to win are qualities that will serve Arsenal well in the long run.
