Mikel Arteta is close to a welcome injury boost.Mikel Arteta is close to a welcome injury boost.
Mikel Arteta is close to a welcome injury boost. | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been speaking ahead of Sunday’s clash with Manchester United
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says the Gunners’ hugely-convincing win over PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League has given everybody a lift. Ahead of the game, Arsenal had saw their Premier League title hopes suffer a major blow as they dropped five points in two games to allow Liverpool to open up a 13-point gap at the top of the Premier League.
The Gunners do have a game in hand over their rivals, which will be played next weekend at home to Chelsea, as Liverpool prepare for the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United. Arsenal had lost 1-0 to West Ham United and drew 0-0 at Nottingham Forest in their last two league games but decimated PSV with a 7-1 thrashing in the first leg of their round of 16 clash in the Champions League.
The Spaniard said on Friday: “It was a great night for us in an important competition we have a lot of hope in. The manner of the way we did it lifted everybody, but that is in the past unfortunately. It is about what we do today, the preparation for tomorrow and trying to replicate a great performance.”
Arteta on ‘very unusual’ Calafiori trait
Riccardo Calafiori came off the bench against PSV in the first half as Arteta looked to avoid Myles Lewis-Skelly picking up a second yellow card. The Italian responded with an assist in the 48th minute for Leandro Trossard and then netted the seventh and final goal in the 85th minute.
Asked in his pre-match press conference about the player’s attacking qualities Arteta said: “He certainly has that capacity to flow in areas that, for a defender, is very unusual, that was something that really caught my eye. The other one is that he is very unpredictable, sometimes chaotic, and that can be very difficult as well from the position. That eye for goal, especially from open play, I didn’t have that understanding of the things he could do, but you see it day-to-day in training that he is capable of creating things.”
On Lewis-Skelly reacted to his substitution, Arteta said: “Straight away his reaction was good, he is a perfectionist and has a great environment around him as well, and he is here to learn as well.”
Calafiori’s goal threat
The goal against PSV was only the player’s third of the season for Arsenal. However, the other two goals have proved to be decisive ones - it must also be noted that Calafiori has only appeared in 24 games after struggling with injury in earlier parts of the season. He also has two assists this season.
His first goal of the season was a stunning strike in the dramatic 2-2 draw with Manchester City back in September while he also netted the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Wolves at the end of January.
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