Arteta pointed out an unsung hero from Tuesday nightplaceholder image
Arteta pointed out an unsung hero from Tuesday night | AFP via Getty Images
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta loved one player’s performance against Athletic Club.
The Gunners were not at their most dangerous, but they were very resolute, and it was an impressive result given how they had to grind down a well organised Athletic Club side.
After the game, much of the plaudits went to Martinelli and Trossard for coming on and winning the game, but Arteta was keen to point out another player who had a sizable impact on the game - Martin Zubimendi. “Zubi, as always, was super steady,” he said. “I think he controlled the tempo of game. As the game progressed, it was much better because he understood the spaces that there were, where we could weaken the opponent, so that they didn't run at us, especially, as we had to turn them around, and in general, very well. Not only him, the whole midfield, we've found ourselves with a little more space, but the team has grown.”
Asked about the challenge that Athletic Club provided, Arteta added: “That they are very hard-working, very tough, very clear about what they have to do. They have a coach who gives them an identity and solutions that are very difficult to solve, and that's why it took it out of us so much in the first half. In the second half, I think they physically dropped a little, but we have also been a little more stable with the ball, and we have travelled more together, and it has been harder for them to run. I think they have had more difficulties, but in general, I repeat, a spectacular atmosphere, and a team that can compete with anyone.”
Arteta also spoke about how deliberate he was in his messaging to the players, with substtutes being told they needed to come into the game with the right attitude, which clearly paid off.
“I was very clear, they know how I feel about them, so they know that when I have to leave a player on the bench, or out of the squad, it hurts me,” he continued. “Starting from there, it's the only thing I can do, it's my job, I have to make decisions, and I have to make decisions based on increasing the probability of winning football matches, and they know that that's the only reason why I'm going to make certain decisions, sometimes right, sometimes wrong, and they have to stay with that.
“And they know that if we want to maintain a certain standard, they are very responsible, not only during matches, but in training sessions, the atmosphere they create, how much they care for each other, so all those things are going to be very critical, and all of them are going to play.”
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