Every word Mikel Arteta said on Arsenal win at Tottenham, Eze, Gyokeres and fines for delays

Mikel Arteta faced the media following his Arsenal side’s massive 4-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby. The Spaniard was very performative after the full-time whistle in front of the travelling Gunners supporters.

There was, of course, a focus on the performances of Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres, who both bagged braces. This was by far the Swede’s best performance in an Arsenal shirt, and his manager was making it very clear how happy he was with him.

The title race naturally came into focus as well, with the five-point lead restored following Manchester City’s win over Newcastle United on Sunday. Chelsea is up next, but the Gunners have a rare week of rest and recovery before the game.

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Here is every word from the press conference:

Talk to me about that performance?

I think the whole team. I cannot be prouder and happier for what I've seen out there, but especially the way we lived the last 72 hours, because I think this game in particular needed some context, and after what happened against Wolves and the manner that we lost two points in the last kick of the game, it was tough. But that's the beauty of this game, I mean, there is no explanation watching the game back, how the hell you draw that game. From any angle, you watch it back and say it's impossible, and you have to watch it again and say it's not going to happen.

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But it happened, and then you have to lift yourself up because you're feeling angry, upset, [and] ashamed at some point. And we are all different nationalities, we all have different feelings, and then you have to bring everybody together. And it's been a joy to spend that time together with them, to align everybody and to say, ‘OK, what is going to be happening in the next chapter?’

This one is gone, how we use it to be a turning point and to make ourselves better. And that was the focus, that was the intention. But after you have to live on the pitch, and I think what we've done from the beginning to the end of the match, it was outstanding.

You talked on Friday about needing a reaction, and wanting a reaction, to get the season back and back on kind of confidence. Does that show how much the players want it and believe in your season ahead?

Yeah. The way I could feel them after the game, and the way I was feeling, is much bigger. This is not a job. When you are disappointed about what you've done in your job, you don't feel that way.

It's much bigger than that. That's our passion, it's the purpose that we have, the objective that we have, it's what we love doing, and then it's very painful. But as well it can be very rewarding.

And today, football shows you that, keep going, whatever you do, you win, keep going. If you lose, drop, keep going, because it is worth it, especially with the people that we have in this club.

Another big impact from Eberechi Eze today, he scored around half his Premier League goals towards the final bit of the season. Did you know that when you were signing him?

We looked at every stat, but that one, to be very honest, no. He scored five goals in the last few games against them, which is extremely difficult to do. But I could see that he wanted to prove something.

He was upset, even with me, because I didn't play him the other day from the beginning, and some of the decisions that I made. And I just have to understand how we're going to get the best out of him now.

Do you feel in a way that this is a sign of how your attackers as a whole can unlock themselves? There's a freedom, I think. Have you been waiting for that?

Yes, I think they have some very, very good moments. With the amount of goals and performances and wins that we have in every competition, they are showing that. But you have to show when it matters.

And when it's really on the edge and people are doubting, that's when you have to stand up. And it's very difficult to do it, but today I think individually they had some huge performances, and I'm very pleased to see that.

Can I also just ask quickly about Saka, who maybe didn't take the plaudits as much as the goalscorers, but that was him really, back to his best. Do you think that he gives people like Eze and Gyokeres something extra when he's on the pitch helping them?

I loved his attitude, his presence, how dominant he was in the game. From the beginning, the first reaction immediately is like, [bang] he wants to grab the game and he really wants to say I'm here. And that's what I love.

He didn't score, but he was in every action. And as you said, I think he was really, really good.

You mentioned the doubts and seemed that Spurs wanted to weaponise that, but the PA announced before the game said ‘they're worried, they're nervous as hell’. It was quite an emotional moment for you at the end with the fans as well, so tell me about how you're feeling about all of that?

I am very, very proud and very happy. Not for today, but what happened in the last three days because we said, ‘OK, let's love the players when they need it the most.’ But as well, sometimes the coaches and the staff, we need some love as well.

We need some people around them with positivity, drive and that they stand up next to you when we need them. And it's been really, really good to work with them in the last few days.

I don't know if you've had an experience in your playing career like Eberechi has had over the last few months in these games against Spurs. Have you spoken to him about what these moments have meant for him, just as a boyhood Arsenal fan, that he can be better than scoring home match against Spurs?

You just have to look at his face, and the way he was in the dressing room with a big smile, and his eyes are just expressing everything that you need to. He came here for a reason, and we need those moments from these players, and I think he and the front players today, I think they've done what we expect from them.

You've got a clear week now. Pep says he's letting the City players drink cocktails in the break. Are you going to do the same?

Cocktails? I don't drink cocktails. So, no, we will do our own thing.

Just on that, because it's the first break for two months. What's the effect of that being just constant football and how important was it to get that win before a break like that?

Well, really, really important because obviously the amount of games that we are playing in every competition is just incredible, and today gives you a chance to actually take a little breath, analyse what we're doing and go again until the international break. We're going to have a lot of games again.

You mentioned the phrase turning point there just a couple of minutes ago. Does it feel like that today after everything you've been through, you've talked about the last few days?

There's a huge result today, a lot of pressure on you and the players. Does it feel like a turning point?

Well, it feels like we show what we are made of but then you have to show it again and again and again because if you have to just analyse how you feel after every game, I mean it's a massive rollercoaster and it's not sustainable. So, we've done great today. I think we are very proud of the manner that we won the game, not only the way that we performed and we know what it means to us.

[Gary Cotterill prepares to ask question]

Arteta: Hi Gary! Surprise me.

The communications issues with the officials. What did you make of it?

Yeah, I mean, every time we are out of the dressing room, we get huge fines. So, I said to them who's going to get this fine because that's six, seven, eight, nine minutes. So, someone is going to get a big fine, and I'm sure that everyone is going to look at Sky, probably to the Premier League, the Premier League to Sky. So, yeah, we've got one in the bag now.

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