Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta reacts to 0 - 4 win over Ipswich and Saka foul
20/04/2025
Portman Road Stadium, Ipswich, UK
20/04/2025
Portman Road Stadium, Ipswich, UK
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Thank you. We are really happy, really happy with the performance.
00:06I think the first 35 minutes is one of the best 35 minutes we played this season
00:11at the back of the game in Madrid.
00:14We scored two goals, we could have scored three or four, to be fair.
00:17Really dominated the game, very high intensity and understanding
00:22what we had to do today to win here.
00:24And obviously, when they got the right card, the context of the game changed
00:28and we were much in control, scored another two goals,
00:31made certain rotations, so overall a very positive afternoon.
00:36You saw Leo coming back in, scoring two goals.
00:40Is that a sign that he's kind of ready for the PSG game?
00:43He's certainly ready to play in any position.
00:46We have to make certain adjustments, not because of PSG,
00:49but because of the situation we had with Thomas and a few other players,
00:53but that's good because the team shows adaptability, versatility,
00:57for certain players to play in different positions.
01:00And that's very much needed, especially when we have the numbers
01:03that we have at the moment.
01:05Yes, sir?
01:06How bad was that tackle on Bakayo in the first half?
01:08And you obviously glad that he was able to...?
01:10The referee has made a decision, that is clear.
01:14He was a bit sore, but it's nothing serious, so it's good.
01:18Overall, what were your thoughts on Saka and Odegaard's performance?
01:22They seem to have run the show straight up there.
01:26Yes, I think they were very good, both of them.
01:28Nabucati and Skolva contributed to a few goals.
01:32Same with Martin.
01:34Overall, I think collectively we were very strong today as well.
01:38You said Bakayo is OK. Initially, when one of your key players
01:42goes to the ground now, were you really worried at all
01:45that maybe it was a serious injury?
01:47I do, especially with the numbers that we have right now
01:49and especially when they are back to goal,
01:51because normally it's the moment when the food is planted,
01:55your weight is there and you cannot really react to it,
01:58but he's fine.
01:59This is a decision you've got to make for Wednesday now,
02:03in terms of juggling your team again,
02:06in terms of maybe keeping everyone fresh,
02:08but you obviously don't want players like Saka to suffer an injury again.
02:11Have you got to balance, juggle things a bit?
02:14Yes, but we have to play with 11.
02:15We have to somehow put 11 players out there
02:17and have four or five changes,
02:19so let's see how they recover in the next few days.
02:23The good thing is they are willing to play,
02:25because they like the rhythm as well.
02:26We are so used to that rhythm every three days
02:28that the boys are demanding
02:30and then we don't have a game on the weekend.
02:32So we have a gap there,
02:34so let's see how we get on Wednesday.
02:36Hi, Mikel.
02:37I think that's the first time Ben, Bakaio and Martin
02:40have started together since November.
02:42Unbelievable.
02:43So just on that,
02:45I mean obviously you've missed them as a trio a lot this year,
02:48but is that kind of, I guess,
02:50what you've wanted to see from the team,
02:52that fluidity that they showed today?
02:55Yeah, yeah, yeah.
02:56I'm very happy for Ben, especially because he's missed a lot of football.
02:59He's been so consistent and relevant the last few seasons with us
03:02and this season for different reasons.
03:05He hasn't been able to play that many minutes.
03:08Today I think he played a really good game,
03:10so I'm very happy because, I mean, he's got a lot of quality.
03:14He brings something else to that unit
03:16and it was good to finally see them.
03:18And just on Leandro, I think a few times during the game
03:22he pulled out to the right where Bakaio was
03:25and kind of allowed Mikel Moreno to push forward as he has been recently.
03:29So was that something different that you were kind of happy to see as well?
03:33Yeah, we have to adapt and put plays in positions
03:36and in situations that can be very difficult to control for the position
03:42and can create threat from our side.
03:45Alex, BBC.
03:46How pleased are you with the mentality your players showed,
03:49like you said, one of the best performances for the first 25 minutes of the season
03:53after the Madrid with the potential for maybe a lull
03:57with the two Premier League games before the PSG game?
04:00That's what we discussed before the match
04:02and that's the way they described it,
04:04and to be more intense than them.
04:06Actually, what does that mean?
04:08It's just to be very intense in terms of your focus,
04:11your level of attention to understand one, two, three seconds
04:14before what's going to happen and then act,
04:17and I think the team was very much at it from the beginning.
04:20You've been very exposed to seeing Mikel Moreno play centre-forward,
04:24I'll mention him in midfield today.
04:26You reminded us again that he can still play midfield exceptionally well.
04:29Yeah, that's why he's played his career,
04:31but obviously we have a very short memory sometimes
04:35and we see him as a nine,
04:37and it's almost strange to see him in midfield.
04:39I think he did well as well.
04:41OK, last couple.
04:42Do you think it was a bit of a lucky escape?
04:46Because when you see it in slow-mo,
04:47it looks like it could have been really nasty.
04:49I haven't seen the slow motion.
04:51I've just seen the normal pace image
04:54and he cuts him from the back.
04:56I don't think it's intentional at all,
04:58but at least it's dangerous
05:00because he cannot really react to anything
05:02because you cannot see him coming.
05:04That's 50 goals for Gabi from a wide position.
05:09That's no mean feat, is it?
05:11That's great.
05:12I think he's in very good form at the moment,
05:15full of confidence, looks really sharp as well,
05:18and he's arriving in very dangerous situations
05:22with very good timing, which is good to see.
05:25OK, guys, thanks very much.