Mikel Arteta could not hide his joy as Arsenal dug deep to secure one of their best wins at Anfield for the first time in the Premier League since September 2012.
Kai Havertz’s 16th-minute strike was enough to settle a pulsating contest that required the Gunners to show their defensive resilience and resilience after surviving a first-half attack on Merseyside.
As the full transcript from Arteta’s post-match press conference below.
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Winning at Anfield as a better player or manager?
“I feel better as a manager now because it’s been a long time since we’ve felt here that we really needed it. We’re extremely proud of what the team, the players, everyone has done. And yes, especially in the circumstances we’ve come into this game, coming off the back of the Liverpool defeat, it seems like the end of the world. It’s like, what are we doing?’ And then you have to pick yourself up and realize that this is a beautiful part of this game. Then you believe that you have done everything and that you deserve to win the game. Obviously you are out of the cup. And for that, you have to come up to Anfield against this manager, this team, they are in a really good moment and you have to compete and perform the way we did and earn the right to win the game.”
You talk about these milestones, winning here for the first time in 14 years, what can it do for this group?
“Just loving the mission. And the mission was something we didn’t do for 14 years. There were reasons for that. Some of them were psychological issues. Some of them were related to the quality we showed on the field, certain moments or decisions. And we knew that they all had to be completely matched. And we’re going to have to work hard to see this period well. If you don’t create those vertical attacks, those moments of chaos for almost nothing, there will come a moment and they will punish you.
Were you so sure Arsenal would win?
“How can that be, how can you get out of the cup when you’ve had 27 shots, we had chances against a team that had one shot on target. Then you look so stupid. You’ve got to go to Anfield and say ‘how can I lift those players?’ I had a feeling that now was the moment. We will have to dig deep, sometimes an element of half chance and definitely a lot of quality in key moments. We did it.”
Tzolis, what made you believe he was ready to start?
“It’s his energy in training. When I asked him, how confident he was. We had a problem with Ebs as well, it was incredible to have him in the squad today.
“I want to give credit to the whole medical and performance team. It’s unbelievable what they’ve done with those guys. Every three days, keeping everyone at that level. Those are the differences sometimes when you win a football match, whether you have somebody on hand or not. They deserve that credit.
“Christosla was incredible. He didn’t want to come off the pitch, he wanted to finish the game. We took some risks, but at some point we decided enough was enough.”
Mikel, with four bases you didn’t win last season?
“We have to do exactly what we did in other areas last season and then we will know the results. But it is still too early. I want to praise Liverpool too, the way they play, what they have built and done with Andoni, because they are a top team. And it is very difficult. So to win here deserves more praise.”
Liverpool have not had a shot on target at Anfield for the first time in their PL history?
“Well, I didn’t know about that stuff, but it’s incredible. It honestly didn’t feel like that on the field because sometimes when they had a chance to shoot, it was very little difference. And it’s a big-hitting team. So you have to make sure you’re cutting shots and preventing those gaps for every player to get in there. To put up those kinds of stats consistently and do it against this team, I’d say, is remarkable.
Did Andoni say to Iraola that next time he’s going to tell Isak to come down after the Timber push?
“I don’t know, I haven’t seen it. Otherwise, I will have to comment on many actions that happened in the game.”