Arsenal edged closer to Champions League qualification with a 1-0 win over Chelsea at the Emirates, courtesy of Mikel Merino’s flicked header from a Martin Odegaard corner in the first half.
The Spaniard’s goal was one of the few moments of quality in a low-key contest, with both sides struggling to create clear-cut chances in the final third in the absence of key players. But who cares, f*ck Chelsea.
Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos made of the action…
Mikel Arteta on his team’s attitude..
I really loved the attitude of the team from the beginning. It was so aggressive, so dominant with and without the ball. We scored the goal, had a lot of chances that we didn’t put into the back of the net, unfortunately. Defensively we conceded almost nothing. It was very, very impressive. And attacking-wise, we could have generated much more because we had some open situations just to kill them. We didn’t finish the action.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Enzo Maresca on his side’s performance…
We struggled a little bit at the beginning, the first 20 minutes. After that we started to control the game and create some chances. The game was 50/50 in the second half. The big difference was set-piece strategy. We competed well, the game was there. They scored a set-piece, they are masters at that. It is a shame, but my feeling is that we are going in the right direction. What I can say about the first game against Arsenal and today’s game, I don’t see a big difference between us and them. Since I arrived, I have the feeling we are in the right path, and we are very close. Probably we just need that step forward to compete in these kind of games, but that step comes also with finishing in a Champions League spot.
Source: ChelseaFC.com
Enzo Fernandez on Chelsea’s performance…
We are in the right path. There was’t a big difference between them an us in terms of creating chances. We could create something more for sure. In the end we lost from set-pieces.”
Source: BBC Match of the Day
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Arteta on Merino’s header and scoring from a set-piece again…
We worked on something similar but with that finish, no. To be fair, it was a different kind of finish planned. But I’m very happy because that will generate belief in the team again, even in the stadium, the crowd, that we can score [from set pieces] because it’s something that we’re missing, obviously, when we’ve been so prolific on that and with the amount of injuries that we’ve had in the front line.
Source: Post-game press conference
Arteta on Merino doing well up front…
The way he’s approaching it is incredible, he wants to understand everything, he wants to learn from it, he’s very critical of himself all the time and at the end the reality is that he’s winning football matches for us, which is incredible. He’s never played in that position before in his life. Yeah, and the value of it, it’s a big match and at the end you win the game because of that goal. He had another big chance that almost put him back on the net, so very happy with his contribution.
Source: Post-game press conference
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Ian Wright on Merino’s goal…
The goal is a fantastic ball in, and the way Merino attacks it is fantastic. The way it’s gone in, and the distance Merino has had to go past the near post, he shouldn’t be scoring. The goalkeeper has had a nightmare, and Arsenal need to put him under more pressure, the shooting has been terrible.
Source: Premierleague.com
Izzy Christiansen on Arteta’s work at Arsenal…
I really, really like what Arteta’s done. He’s built a machine, I really do. He’s set the standards, they’ve now got an expectation as a group of a minimum requirement – hard work, excellent attitude and they’ve got a way of playing. In the summer, it’s just about adding layers to that. But I still think this season, there’s so much there for them. That Champions League tie against Real Madrid, I think they can win that wih the momentum and the blocks they’ve built over the last three.four seasons. I think they are indestructible at times, as a group, as a unit, it’s just can they find that magic as the final piece.
Source: Sky Sports
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Ian Wright on Arsenal getting the job done…
At this stage you just need to win and Arsenal did enough. Some of the finishing was pretty poor, against a goalkeeper who’s low on confidence and who they should have tested more, but in the end they got it done against a pretty toothless Chelsea side.
Source: premierleague.com
Arteta on the Interlull…
We have a few players [here] and I will have a few days off and then prepare for the last sprint of the season.
Source: BBC Match of the Day
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Myles Lewis-Skelly on his England selection…
It’s all I can ask for really. I’m just so grateful to the team for entrusting me and the boss entrusting me, and I can repay them and be the best version of myself. I’m buzzing, you know. Honesty I was elated, just shouting around my house! Obviously I’m excited for what’s coming up, but you’ve always got to stay locked in on the present and not get too attached to the feeling that’s coming later down the line.
Source: Arsenal.com
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