Arteta liked what he saw from one playerplaceholder image
Arteta liked what he saw from one player | Getty Images
Mikel Arteta had special praise for one of his players after Arsenal’s win over Atletico Madrid.
It was another seasoned-looking performance from Arsenal, who look more adept this season, with the quality in depth required to stay consistent across a number of competitions.
Much of the conversation surrounded Gyokeres after the game, with the striker netting twice after a tough time in front of goal early in the season. But Arsenal boss Arteta had special praise for another player after the game, with Myles Lewis-Skelly attracting plaudits.
“If you look at it from what he's done from December last year to now, at his age, at this level, it’s incredible,” he said in his post-match press conference. “But I said it before, he's been really focused, really humble, and really good. When that happens and you have to play after, you are ready, and I thought he was really good today.”
He added when asked about the team’s depth: “Very good. I think Myles and Gabby (Martinelli) were superb. The impact, the team, the results, they were ready from the beginning, and the boys that come in again, and we use them in different ways again.
“I think we need to try to keep them all involved, and even if they have a chance to play, and if they play at that level, it's a joy, because it's going to elevate our daily training sessions. That will mean the standard will be higher and we will compete better.”
The added depth makes things difficult for Arteta when it comes to team selection, but it has certainly made Arsenal more competitive up to this point.
“This is what we need, and when you look at the top teams in Europe, that's what they have” Arteta continued. “We have to manage that in a really cohesive system, when everybody understands that they're going to have different roles throughout the game, or in different games. But at the end, the outcome is to earn the right to win games, and to win games. That's the ultimate goal, and we are seeking the same thing.”
Arsenal are back in action this weekend when they face Crystal Palace in the Premier League, with their relentless schedule now ramping up. The Gunners will be in mid-week and weekend action until the next international window, in November.
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