Here is every word Mikel Arteta just said after Arsenal recorded their first Premier League win at Anfield against Liverpool since way back in September 2012 following Kai Havertz's first-half strike
Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta revelled in the glory of his first Anfield win as Arsenal manager
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Mikel Arteta could not hide his delight as his Arsenal players dug deep to pull off one of the best victories of his tenure as they won at Anfield for the first time since September 2012 in the Premier League.
Kai Havertz's 16th-minute strike was enough to settle a pulsating contest which required the Gunners to showcase defensive solidity and resilience after they survived a first-half barrage on Merseyside.
Below as the full transcript from Arteta's post-match press conference.
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Winning at Anfield better as player or manager?
"Now it feels better as a manager because it's been such a long time without having this feeling here that we really needed it. We're extremely proud of what the team, the players, everybody's done. And yeah, especially in the conditions that we arrived to this game, where we were after the defeat against Liverpool, it looks like the end of the world. It looks like, 'yeah, what are we doing?' And then you have to pick yourself up and understand that this is a beautiful part of this game. That's when you believe that you have done everything and deserve to win the game. Clearly you are out of the cup. And then for this, you have to come to Anfield against this manager, against this team, that they are in a really good moment and compete, perform, and earn the right to win the game in the manner that we've done."
You talk about these landmark moments, you've won here for the first time in 14 years, what can it do for this group?
"Just loving the mission. And the mission was something that we didn't accomplish in 14 years. And there were reasons for that. Some of them were psychological problems. Some of them were related to the quality that we showed on the pitch, certain moments or decisions. And we knew that we need to nail absolutely all of them. And we're going to have to navigate through periods that we're going to have to suffer because they are extremely good at doing that and creating those vertical attacks, those chaos moments for almost nothing. And you really need to enjoy that. If you don't, there will be a moment they will switch up and they will punish you. And yeah, I think the way we competed and played and the chances that we generated as well, it was really impressive. So I'm really happy."
Kai Havertz
Kai Havertz bagged the all-important winner for Arsenal
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You were so convinced Arsenal would win?
"It was a feeling of ‘how the hell can that happen?'How you can go out of the cup when you shoot 27 times, we had the chances that we had against a team that put one shot on target. Then you look so silly. You have to go to Anfield and say, ‘how can I lift those players up?’ I had the feeling that now was the moment. We’re going to have to dig deep, half an element of luck at times, and for sure a lot of quality in key moments. We have done it.”
Tzolis, what convinced you he was ready to start?
“It’s the energy that he had in training. When I asked him the question, how convinced he was. We had an issue with Ebs as well, it was incredible that he was in the squad today.
"I want to give credit to all the medical and performance team. What they are doing with those boys is incredible. Every three days, to keep everybody at this level. These are the margins sometimes when you win a football match, whether you have somebody available or not. They deserve that credit.
"With Christos, incredible. He didn’t want to come off, he wanted to complete the game. We took some risks, but at a point we decided enough was enough.”
Christos Tzolis
Mikel Arteta praised Christos Tzolis for his energetic display for Arsenal
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Mikel four grounds you've won at that you didn't last season?
"That we have to do exactly what we did last season in the other grounds, and then we know the results. But it's super early. I want to give credit to Liverpool as well, the manner that they played, the way they set up to Andoni, and what they are doing, because they are a top side. And it's very difficult. That's why I think winning here, it deserves even more credit."
Liverpool had no shots on target at Anfield for first time in PL history?
"Well, I didn't know about that stuff, but that's incredible. It didn't feel like this, to be fair, on the pitch, because there were very little margins sometimes when they had the opportunity to shoot. And it's a team that shoots a lot. So you have to be sure about blocking shots and preventing those spaces for them to get into there. Again, it's a commitment of every single player, in every action, consistently to deliver those kind of stats. And to do it against this team, it's something remarkable, I would say."
Andoni Iraola said next time he will tell Isak to go down after Timber push?
"I don't know, I haven't seen it. I will have to comment on a lot of actions that happened in the game otherwise."