Arsenal FC manager Mikel Arteta has expressed his overwhelming feelings following his team’s dramatic 3-2 victory against Bournemouth in the FA Cup. Arteta’s post-match interview revealed the highs and lows of the game, as well as the emotions that come with a dramatic victory. Arteta impressed how his team responded to the challenge despite the early setback, displaying discipline and determination to turn the game around.
Arsenal FC Manager Mikel Arteta
The manager also singled out Reiss Nelson for praise, highlighting the young winger’s perseverance and dedication in the face of adversity. In an interview with talkSPORT, Mikel Arteta struggled to find the right words to describe his emotions after the game.
“Overwhelmed I would say. It was madness from the first second in the game. We knew what they could do, they did it, executed really well, I think we defended really poorly and then you have a mountain to climb, so we started, we tried and tried and tried, generated chances, set pieces, corners and crosses, but we didn’t manage to score a goal.”
Mikel Arteta
Arsenal fc found themselves trailing by two goals after Philip Billing’s early opener and a Marcos Senesi header from a corner. However, the Premier League leaders managed to rally and show their mettle in the face of adversity.
“Suddenly we are 2-0 down after a set play and then you look at yourselves and say ‘What do we do as a team? What do we do with our supporters?’ What we did is take the initiative, have a lot of discipline in what we have to do, and then we scored the first goal. When we did that, the atmosphere changed, the energy changed, and then it was down to moments that you have to produce in a game where there’s 10 players behind the ball, and the subs were incredibly good today to help us do that.”
Mikel Arteta
Arsenal’s winner came in the dying seconds of the game, and Arteta was delighted to see young winger Reiss Nelson score the decisive goal.
“I’m delighted for him, he really deserved it,” the Spaniard said. “He had a tough few months with really bad injuries and then with my decision to leave him out of the squad twice. But he trains really well, the boys love him, and today he shows that he really wants it and he’s at the level to deliver something special when we need it.”
Mikel Arteta
Arteta was also struck by the emotion of the moment, as he described the scenes following Nelson’s winner.
“It was incredible, in the last second of the game, just the emotion, hugging people, looking at the joy in the eyes of every one of our supporters, it was phenomenal.”
Mikel Arteta
Conclusion
In conclusion, Arteta’s post-match interview showcased the emotional rollercoaster of Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Bournemouth in the Premier League. The manager’s words captured the frustration of falling behind early, the excitement of the comeback, and the sheer joy of scoring the winner in the final seconds of the game. It was a testament to the fighting spirit and resilience of the Arsenal team, who refused to give up and dug deep to secure the victory. The win will undoubtedly boost the team’s confidence and serve as a reminder of what they can achieve this season.