Every word Mikel Arteta has just said on Liverpool win, closing the gap, youngsters and finances
The Arsenal head coach spoke to the media after watching his side come from behind to beat Premier League champions Liverpool 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium
Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Art De Roche
What does Liverpool's defensive mistakes tell you?
"That it's part of football. It's a team and collective sport, but there are a lot of individual moments and battles that have to be played.
"Today we forced them, they made them [mistakes] and that obviously makes a difference."
What did you make of your defenders?
"Unfortunately with the level of quality that they have, the way they controlled every aspect of the game, they were going to be little moments or big moments where you are going to have to defend very close to your area and we knew that.
"We were prepared for that and the boys were terrific. Sometimes we did it really well and sometimes we had moments of luck.
Was it a surprise to you at how well you held out?
"No I am really pleased. We talked a lot about the defence of the two teams and we need to grow in line with them to get the points.
"I am really pleased because they can do it. Sometimes your focus is that, keeping the right spirit and attention against this level of opposition and I am delighted."
What did you make of Alexander-Arnold's challenge on Saka?
"Obviously it was in front of me, it's part of the game, they both went for the ball."
Trent Alexander-Arnold fouls Bukayo Saka (Image: Sky Sports)
Was that the blueprint for City?
"It wasn't part of the gameplan but at the moment you can see in many areas the gap between the two teams and what we have to achieve and the areas we need to improve.
"With the belief, accountability, desire and passion for every single ball we can build a lot of things.
"Against Spurs it was a completely different game, we had total dominance for many periods and we lost the game.
"We will find the right balance."
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Thoughts on performance and faith in younger players?
"The first was with the selection. I cannot tell them I believe and then never play them so we try to make sure everyone feels part of the team. That's how you keep the spirit and you have to put them in league games as well.
"They showed today that everyone is ready, the way they train every day is the way they have been behaving everyday and everybody deserves a chance.
"Today they showed that they can do it."
How long it will take to close the gap?
"Well I have seen it and I have experienced it. To do it in one year, and I have seen other clubs never do it. Or some clubs do it in foru or five years.
"Depends on the context, depends on the resources, depends on how much you have to change.
"We are in a process, we don't know at the moment. There is a lot of uncertainty in many areas, what we can control now is who we want to be as a team, the culture we are building in order to do that, the spirit to be successful and then improve our players.
Mikel Arteta during Arsenal's Premier League clash with Liverpool. (Image: Photo by Paul Childs/Pool via Getty Images)
"My main focus is to make our players better, make them feel more comfortable and create an identity for the club because it will be easier to say we need this, this and this.
Do you need substantial finances for a rebuild?
"I think it's pretty clear that we need to strengthen the squad."
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