Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has spoken to the press after his side’s Champions League win against Paris Saint-Germain, including updates on Jurrien Timber’s fitness and Kai Havertz’s form
Was the only disappointment that you couldn’t kill the game sooner?
Yes. Especially the way we played in the first half. How determined and brave we were, the quality that we showed against this opponent to be so dominant and score the two goals.
We wanted a different second half probably. To continue being that dominant and be a bit more secure with the ball than we were. We had three chances to score the third goal and that probably would have killed the game. We didn’t. But credit to them. The changes that they made and the adaptations that they made forced us to play in a different area of the pitch where we had more problems to win territory and control the game the way we did in the first half.
How hard is it to stop Havertz in this form?
So powerful, but as well he’s so intelligent. The way he occupies the spaces, the way he glides everything together. Now when he’s around the box and you have the feeling he’s going to score a goal. The goal was superb and overall a really good performance. So really pleased with him.
How’s Timber?
He was unbelievable in the first half, but he felt something muscular and he wasn’t certain. So I didn’t want to take any risks. He’s been out for a year and he’s played a lot of minutes, probably more minutes than we would have wanted in the past few weeks and we have to manage him.
When do you start looking at the 36-team table?
It’s too early. Everybody has to play a lot of different and difficult games home and away. We have to adapt to that. We still don’t know how many points we’ll need. All we can focus on is trying to perform and winning our own games. That’s what we’ve done tonight. Now focus on the Premier League.
Do you feel there’s the same jeopardy in these early games that in the old format?
I don’t know. We want to be at the very top to play less games and have the capacity to have a better draw after that. It’s gonna be a long journey I think.
Saka has just said it’s Arsenal’s year. What do you think of that?
If the players feel that we’re in the right direction and they believe in what we do that’s a really good sign. It’s a night to be really happy because we played one of the best teams in the world for sure and we managed to perform and win the way that we did. It’s a really good sign for the team.
How good was it to give Merino his debut and how did he get on?
Really good because he joined us and in his first session he gets injured. He had just one session with us [before tonight] and he was ready. He was really willing to be part of things today. With the injuries and the changes that we had to make we believed that he was a player who could help us in that phase. I think he’s done really well.
Are your team more streetwise?
I think it raises the confidence and the belief that we can compete with any team at that level, in European competitions, in European games are very different to the PL. I think we showed a lot of maturity in the way we played and we put our stamp in the way we want to behave in Europe against top teams, and I really like that.
What do you make of Calafiori popping up all over the place?
He has the capacity to occupy different spaces really comfortably. He has already done that in Italy. That’s why we signed him. First of all he’s a great defender, he’s got his presence, his energy and his full commitment. And then he’s really brave. He doesn’t care, in any situation he wants the ball, he wants to make things happen with it and he’s happy to play in different roles.
Are you happy with Rice in the left eight?
I’m very happy obviously. We have to understand the context of games that we played. For example, last Saturday when we played here, he was very dominant with the ball, I think he produced one of the best stats in the PL. But obviously we played a different context and this player has the capacity to play different kinds of games and still be very important for the team. Today we used him as a six as well in the second half. It’s a great quality that he has, and he gave it so much.
Feel different about team in Europe this year?
I did. I sensed something different yesterday as well in the way we were preparing the game and how they wanted the level of focus. I think they wanted to prove a point tonight as well, against a top team at home we can be ourselves and we can be very dominant as well. We have to continue to do that.
Did the players need a big win to feel belief?
I think so and it creates a special night, the amazing European nights against big clubs. That belief is something that lifts the energy and spirit of everybody. First of of all it’s about believing you can face those incredible teams and you have a really good chance to beat them and are good enough to do that. It’s going to be really helpful.
Were you impressed with how calm and controlled the team were?
It did, especially because the result at half-time was similar to a few days ago and then what happened. So managing emotionally that and staying in the game in the way we had to do, I was really impressed and happy with that, even though in the second half there were things we must do much better.
