Here is every word Mikel Arteta said during his post-match press conference after Arsenal beat Newcastle United
20:37, 25 Apr 2026
Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, faced the press after win over Newcastle United in the Premier League
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Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, faced the press after win over Newcastle United in the Premier League(Image: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta faced the media after his Arsenal side narrowly beat Newcastle United to regain the lead at the top of the Premier League table. It was a nervy affair, as so many games have been this season, and it seems the manager’s warning that getting the wins would be tougher than those yearning for high-scoring wins.
Despite the win, there were some worrying signs. Kai Havertz had to leave the field in the first half, while Eberechi Eze, after scoring, was also replaced in the second half due to an ankle issue.
Mikel Arteta faced the media in his post-match press conference, where he answered questions from the press on the result, the injuries and where this leaves the side going into their next game.
Here is every word from the manager:
Injuries to Eze and Havertz?
I'm really happy for the win. We talked about game one and how important that was. We did the job. We should have finished with a bigger margin in certain moments of the game, but when it's 1-0 it's always tough because they have quality, because they brought so many good players on the bench as well. And when we don't finish the action, especially the open ones that we had, the margin is going to be smaller.
But in relation to the two players that you mentioned, they are muscular niggles. We don't think it's too much. We have to wait and see if they're going to be available for Wednesday.
Do you feel like you could take four games as emotionally draining as that?
Yeah. We're taking 50, how many are we playing now? And we are where we are. I don't expect, after 22 years of not winning it, that it's going to be a path of roses and beautiful music around it. It's going to be like this and we are ready for it.
There seems to be such a swell around the idea of having to score loads of goals, you have the table leads, but you said on Friday that every game in the Premier League is so hard. Was that the best example of it?
It is. It's so hard to win in this league. We know that. That's why the amount of points that the teams that we have now [in the league] compared to all the years is different. And the reason is because it's so competitive, so difficult to do it. And we know at half-time the message was clear, we need to go and score the second goal. We tried, but when you are not that efficient in certain areas, we certainly have to have other issues, other things to win the game.
How important was it to see Bukayo back on the pitch smiling?
Great. I think he has some very good impact as well in the minutes that he's played. He's back, I think he looks sharp, he looks good, he looks fresh. You certainly notice something different in the team, in the stadium as well, when he comes in, so we certainly need that.
Do you think he’s now fine as far as you're concerned going forward? Are you still having to take it easy match by match?
Let's see how he reacts tomorrow, how he absorbs the load, but he's so keen, he's so motivated, he's the most beautiful part of the season. And he's with us.
Is there a bigger meaning in this win as well, being able to put the pressure back on to Manchester City? Are you proud of how you managed to do that?
We had to do what was in our hands and we discussed that. Game one is in our hands, what we do and how we approach the game. Are we able to win it? We've done it, we wanted bigger margins, it's not been possible but we certainly have done the job.
What is it like when you're on the touchline watching every kick matters and every point obviously now matters?
Just try to play the game with the boys because I know the immense effort that they have put in it, I know how much they want it. Certain actions don't go your way and I see the way they react and they know it. They just track back and they are so willing just to be close to it and try to pass my energy on and help them.
When it's so tight at the end of the last couple of minutes, not tight but when there's nerves in it, it's just one fluky action that can lead to a goal. Is that kind of saying these next four games are, you need that extra goal just to dampen that a bit?
Yeah and you have two or three, much better especially we have some open situations to score them, the second half was very clear.
I have to say, as well, in my opinion, it's a clear red card [for Nick Pope]. I've watched it 10 times. If you have ever played football, it is a red card. It's the second time in two games because I guess Manchester City, when Kai Havertz goes through, Khusanov fouls him, 1-1, the title is there, it is a red card, guys. So these are the margins as well and hopefully that's going to change.
Why did he not give a red card?
I don't know, they will have their opinion, I'm here to give my opinion and somebody that has been in the game for a long time, and you talk to any of the players, because the trajectory where the ball is, there's no keeper there. If that were to happen the other way around, it's a red card.
I was going to ask something else but just on the possible red, do you feel that things are going more against you than for you in terms of those decisions?
I'm saying the reality of the last two games, in crucial moments when everything is at stake, we need everything to go our way, and it hasn't. I'm not putting any excuses, I'm the first one to understand, I didn't talk about it when we lost the game, I'm doing it when we won, it's a red card. Today, it's a red card in Manchester, and the world is different; that's it.
Can I just quickly ask you about the short corners? We've talked a lot about corners all season. Obviously, you've done a lot of damage with your corners, but you found a different way to make one count today.
I would have to add, in everything that we do in the game, when the teams adapt to certain things, when the teams are so physical that they can defend naturally, you have to find other ways. The thing that I like best is the courage of the players, because we play short, and you can see our reaction in the crowd. We did so well with the reaction. The second one, we did it again, and Ebs shoots with his left foot and puts it out.
And the third one, I was going to say another word, courage. Big courage. In this moment, when the pressure is on, when the reaction is like this to play, that's exactly what I want for the team, because the players have to make the decisions, and I believe it's the best.
You mentioned Ebere, how pleased are you that he scored another great goal in front of the England manager as well? He could have a really big summer, couldn’t he? You mentioned it earlier, hopefully it's not too serious. Was he a bit disappointed that he had to come off?
For sure. It was a big play for us and it was a really good moment. He produced an incredible moment to score the goal. As I said, hopefully he's fit and he can be with us on Wednesday.
I think Kai Havertz has played so well recently, and today again, until he came off. Can you just clarify what the issue is with him and have you spoken to him yet?
No, I haven't, but he had a little niggle, so I don't know how serious it is. It didn't look too big, because the action, the way he describes it, is not too sharp, but we'll have to wait and see.
Congrats on the win, and I just wanted to ask on Zubimendi, he’s looked tired throughout the season, and I just wanted to ask why Norgaard, hasn’t been used so much?
Yeah, last week he was sick, and at half time he wasn't feeling good, and he tried his very best. I think he played a really good game, but at the end we had to take him off.
I just wanted to ask about Norgaard has not played as much throughout the season.
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No, because these guys have been exceptional, I understand that, but they had to leave two players out of the squad at the end, Mikel is out, and they were Christian and Richy, so that's going to happen. As I said, if the Premier League allows us to have 22 players, we can have everybody involved, and hopefully next season that will be the case.