After seeing us beat Burnley and enjoy the adulation of the Emirates Stadium crowd, Mikel Arteta entered the media conference room to reflect on an evening that took us a step closer to the Premier League title.
Kai Havertz’s goal saw us beat the Clarets and means we’re one win, or a Bournemouth result against Manchester City tomorrow, away from being league champions for the first time since 2004.
Here is everything he had to say:
on tonight’s game:
I knew it was going to be tough. I think in the first half we played some of the best football we’ve played this season. We were very unfortunate not to score two or three goals, and then there was the story of the season as well, that we cannot do that. We have to make sure we are extremely efficient at defending certain moments, not giving anything away to the opponent and winning the three points.
on our current run of not conceding from open play:
I think the desire that every single player shows in their defensive duties, their behaviours, the way they work for each other is phenomenal. It’s a lot of work, put in by all the coaches as well, and we all know the importance of that and how many results and wins we have because of that.
on Kai Havertz:
I think we forget the amount of players that we have missed for a long, long period of the season that are exceptional, but that’s the merit of this team. Regardless of that, we are one game away from winning the Premier League with everything that we’ve been through, and that shows how strong the mindset, and the team, is.
on why he started Havertz:
I had a feeling that he had to start. The way that they set up, I think he could be really difficult to handle, and he’s shown that.
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on if he’s expecting a similar test on Sunday:
I don’t know. I thought the amount of hair I have would never go away, and this job is going to test it to the limit!
on keeping the group calm:
We’ve done what is in our hands. Since the Man City away game, we said it is five games. We’ve done four, there is one to go, or something beautiful that happens tomorrow night.
on whether he will be watching Man City tomorrow:
I don’t know how long I’m going to watch it. I will be there in front of the TV, but I don’t know how much I’ll be able to watch, I think. That’s the reality.
on the VAR decision for Havertz:
I certainly got worried when they were checking it. When I looked at the bench, they said that it wasn’t, but I haven’t had a look at the action.
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on if he will watch tomorrow night with the players:
No, I haven’t planned to do that. I’m planning to watch it with my family, and again, I don’t know for how long.
on his post-match speech on the pitch:
It’s incredible to witness what we have created in this stadium. Obviously I have memories from the past, and the comparison is unbelievable to watch. I’m so proud of that. Today they have created something so special outside the stadium, in the stadium. Now we have set the standards that we are responsible for maintaining because we can provide that, and we know the outcome.
on the difference in his speech from last year:
At that point, we knew that we were going to finish second and we didn’t have another final to play. So, what I said to them – see you at Selhurst Park and then see you in Budapest, another two to play.
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Talking points from our big win against Burnley
on if he’s a Bournemouth fan tomorrow night:
The biggest ever. For Andoni [Iraola] and all the players, and all the people who are supporters of Bournemouth, I think we all are. We know that means tomorrow they get our support.
on if he’ll talk to Iraola ahead of tomorrow:
I don’t think he needs it. What he’s done in that football club, the transformation, and what they are playing for, I don’t think they need anything else. When you look at how Burnley played today, the spirit that they showed, how difficult they made it, so imagine tomorrow.
on reports that Pep Guardiola will be leaving Manchester City:
I cannot comment on that. I think the day that he makes the decision to stay or leave, then we can comment.
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