Following our determined 3-2 victory at Bournemouth to move six points clear at the top of the Premier League table, Mikel Arteta addressed the media at the Vitality Stadium.
Declan Rice returned to the boss' starting XI on Saturday tonight and scored two crucial second-half goals, ensuring all three points come back to north London after Gabriel's first-half strike.
Here's everything Mikel had to say after the final whistle:
On the full-time whistle being blown during a Bournemouth attack...
I have to judge a lot of things.I prefer not to make a comment there but I understand.
On scoring straight after half-time often...
Try to learn from what happened in the first half and what are the things we have to tweak to improve and what are the opportunities and then the players to recognise that and try to implement it. That's all we have to do. I think it's a really important moment. You gather a lot of information, you have a moment to breathe, to reflect and to make decisions and try to pass the messages that we believe are important and relevant to help us to win the game.
On Declan Rice scoring two goals...
I really love today the next step of the team in terms of individual personality and presence. I think what Gabriel Magalhaes has done after making a big mistake to concede the goal, the way he reacted to that, the way he played afterward, the way he transmitted energy after that, it was remarkable. And Declan, another one. Every hour for him was important to be able to be available today. We didn't know for how long. So in the manner that he competed, played and on top of that scored two goals, I think it was outstanding. And a really big message for the team.
On talking to him about his goalscoring habits...
Yes. Not chipping in. To chip in you have to do a lot of things. First of all you have to get into those positions. He has the ability when he gets into those positions to put the ball in the back of the net. He's done it in a very similar way in both actions. And he's very consistent there.
On examples of our players responding well to setbacks in the past...
It’s not just Gabriel who's responded in the past. You've seen it happen with Saka who's made mistakes and then scored in the same game. Gabi himself in that full-up game with a Mitrovic mistake as well. What is it individually about the players that shows that resilience to turn around and turn those mistakes into big moments? Well, this is part of football and it's about how you react to the next action. And you need to have a very short memory to be at the very top constantly. With a positive action it happens the same because there's another one that is the most important one. But today, especially when you concede a goal after that, it's really tough to do it mentally, especially with what is at stake in every game. So I'm very, very impressed with what he's done.
On whether Declan is one of the best midfielders in the world...
Yes, for me yes. For me the ones that we have are the best. Declan is constantly adding things to his game. He's constantly adding things to his role in the team. I don't see where he can stop because he can still improve in a lot of areas and he wants to improve. He's such a pivotal player for us.
On performing in that way after missing the previous game...
Well, because he was so disappointed not to play against Villa. He really wanted it. He tried in the morning, it was nowhere near a possibility. He wanted to train the next day, it wasn't a possibility. Until the last minute I asked him, how are you feeling? He said, I'm in. And he showed that he was big time in.
On Declan Rice setting goals for the season...
I think we sit down together and set goals. Setting goals is not enough. You need a plan to implement and make it happen. He's extremely consistent in everything that you ask him to do and everything that he really wants to do. That's what makes the difference. First of all, he has the ability and the qualities to achieve that for sure. But then you need the consistency to do it. He's doing it every single day and then you see that kind of performance.
On the importance of every game...
Yes, because as you said, it demands a lot of energy, a lot of desire, a lot of focus and we have to do it. At this moment I think we have nine games. With everything that we already played in the season, the last two months especially, that's a big ask. But when I see the involvement and commitment of the players, we have to do it.
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