Mikel Arteta addressed a massive 3-0 triumph for Arsenal against Fulham.
The Gunners have moved six points clear at the top of the Premier League table after back-to-back wins against Newcastle United (1-0) and the Cottagers in home fixtures at the Emirates Stadium.
‘We had some fresh legs from a few players’
The contest was finished before the break as Viktor Gyokeres grabbed a brace from close range, and Bukayo Saka got his name on the scoresheet to cap off a strong showing in the opening 45 minutes.
Myles Lewis-Skelly starred in the midfield, where he honed his craft in the Hale End academy setup, and Arteta got the best of both worlds with his rotation before the midweek visit of Atletico Madrid as the side seek to reach the second Champions League final in their history.
“I'm very happy with the team performance, and individual performances within that performance.
“We knew how difficult it was going to be, especially coming back from Madrid so late on Thursday afternoon and the energy that we spent in that game, and understanding that you don't want to talk about it if you have a huge game in a few days here. But we talked about hunger and about having the ability to focus and be so determined on what we had to do.
“We had some fresh legs from a few players. You could notice that big time because the individual performance increased and then the team flowed in a different way.
“The moment that we did that, I think we engaged the supporters and when that happens and you create the atmosphere that you saw at the Emirates, we make it very, very difficult for the opponent.
“It was a critical game because we know the importance of the win and the manner in which we've done it, the whole difference in the Premier League and because this game was going to carry a lot of energy towards the next game.
“This is certainly going to do that. Now we have one of the biggest games in the history of this stadium, for sure on Tuesday, in front of our people and we're going to try to make it happen.
“It certainly was one of the best [first half performances this season] and the words that you use, I certainly agree with them. There was a certain connection in the team that I had a feeling that it was going to provoke that. You have to be really neat.
“Those connections happened because we had freshness, which individually if you want to see those actions, you need it in your legs to deliver them constantly and to see the things that we saw today.
“Use that momentum, energy and belief towards Tuesday. We're certainly going to need that, so when I look at the atmosphere in the dressing room, I think it's tracking in the right direction.
"I appreciate the behaviour and the energy that [the fans] brought to the stadium because it makes such a difference. When you feel that connection with them, we are much, much better.
"I know that it has to come from us, it certainly came from us today but we need to do it somehow, even when the team is not giving them probably the right reasons, because with that, it's very, very difficult for the opponent.
“We keep the dream alive, that what these guys have done, not now but throughout the season to win that many amount of games, in the circumstances that we had to do it, without so many players not available at times is remarkable, so it's great because I think it's going to help for Tuesday.”