After going three games without a win, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side returned to winning ways with a dominant 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
It was extra special for the Spanish manager, who celebrated his 250th win in style after the international break.
Arteta took to discuss Ethan Nwaneri’s outstanding performance, Martin Odegaard’s influence, and the decision to rejuvenate his starting line-up by making five changes.
Arteta praises mentality of Arsenal players
Regarding his thoughts on the game, he said: “Really happy, I sensed great energy the last 48 hours, the way everybody came back. I sensed a great togetherness and decided to change the situation and go through what has been a different period for us with all the situations that we have come across and the team. Straight away, from the beginning it was dominant, there was an enthusiasm about it. This is what I demand when we score a goal, it should have been another two or three in the first half”.
“Then the fact it was a total effort of the team because other players have to come in. I had to take Jorgi out because of the yellow card, {statorium_player pid=1124 sid=343 text=”Thomas [Partey]”} comes in, impacts the team, scores a goal. Raheem comes in, he makes an assist, Ethan comes in, he scores a goal. That gives us a different kind of dominance, Jakub comes in to get some minutes in the legs. You don’t play Thomas, you don’t play Declan, you don’t play Martinelli, you don’t play Kai Havertz, and there’s always that question mark, is it right or wrong? I felt it because I think the team needed it, that they all feel important and all have a real chance. Some of the players, the way they trained while we were here, was unbelievable and I have to praise that”.
On feeling at ease during the final 10 minutes, he added: “Yes, it does, but obviously with the 1-0 something else can happen and we missed some big, big opportunities. Unfortunately we weren’t in that position earlier but credit to Forest, they are a really good side, they’re a constant threat every time they have the ball, even when you have the ball, they are running. That’s why they’ve done what they’ve done, they’d not lost a game away from home this season and we are the first team to beat them, and that’s for a reason because we were really good”.
Arsenal will now be looking to continue their winning run and it would be a difficult one when they take on high-flying Sporting CP in the Champions League on Tuesday.
