Mikel Arteta was a frustrated man after we dropped two points at home to Everton.
We failed to break down a resolute Toffees side and afterwards the manager faced the media to discuss the game. He was asked about our performance, his substitutions, looking for creativity and more.
Here’s a complete transcript…
**On the penalty claim...**
I haven’t seen it. So I cannot comment on that.
**On the performance...**
I feel very disappointed not to win the game, because, obviously, if there’s a team that deserved to win, there’s only one, which is Arsenal. We gave nothing away, no shots conceded, dominated our play, not allowed them to run, no set pieces. High-press, excellent. We got them there. We generated the chances, but the last 20 metres was missing to score goals, which is what you have to do with all the dominance because we have never been able to dominate it that way.But at the end you have to try to generate the highest winning probability. Now that you draw the game, you want more. Even if we win it, we always want more. But I cannot ask much more to the boys apart from putting the ball in the net.
**On the substitutions...**
Well, with Declan, I had to take him out because he was feeling something. And with Martin it was a tactical decision to try to change their rhythm, especially on that side.
**On whether the players were aware of the Liverpool score...**
Well, I don't know. I wasn't. So I don't know.
**On disappointment at the draw...**
I'm very disappointed because when you do what we've done today against them, you have to win the game, you know. But at the end, this is football, it’s the hardest thing. Those last 20- 25 meters to do what we have to do. Credit to them as well, how they block shots, Jordan Pickford for the saves that he's made, the way they defend, the desire that they defend with. But honestly, it's difficult to ask something else to the team. Individually, can we do things a little bit better and deliver more quality and deliver the magic moment? In that case that is necessary, yes, but that's something that is not easy.
**On whether ‘magic moments’ can be coached...**
That’s difficult. At the end you need the spark and you need to be precise. I mean, we had the chances, this could have been two or three nil, and nobody's talking about it. The reality is 0-0, and they're not going to talk about all the incredible things that the team did in the game. I mean, certainly, it's not energy. When I see my team track-back, it's unbelievable. Every three days, 70 metres, all the team is going there. So very difficult to ask them something else because they want it.
**On managing frustration...**
We have to manage the frustration. If nobody start to speed up the game, or there is no room to speed it up and we start to watch the game, we need to understand that nobody starts to force \[the opponent\] to make mistakes and to lose a grab of the game. We have to say very far away from that.
**On subbing Odegaard...**
If Ethan comes in and scores a goal, is he a great sub? If he doesn’t, you have taken your captain out. That‘s football.
**On Odegaard’s reaction to being subbed...**
It was the same reaction as Martinelli, anybody. I’m sure that they want to continue to play the 90 minutes. But that’s why we have the subs. To try to help the team.
**On Declan Rice...**
He has been with a little niggle for the last week or so. He has to be subbed in that moment. We have to do it.
**On three Premier League games without an open-play goal...**
In the Premier League, yeah. But we scored three from open play three days ago. It won’t continue. We will score goals. If we have the chances like we have done today, I am sure we will score.
**On developing Myles Lewis-Skelly...**
Give him chances. If he keeps grabbing them like the way he has done today again, because I think he was really good, he will continue to have chances because he deserves them.
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