Every word from Arteta’s post-Chelsea presser

Mikel Arteta was delighted with several aspects of the team’s performance against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.

The manager faced the media after the game, and was asked about the match, our record against the ‘Big Six’, Mikel Merino’s performance up front and Chelsea’s attacking threat.

Here’s a full transcript from his post-match press conference.

On the game overall:

Yes, very happy obviously with the result, with big parts of that performance. I love the attitude of the team from the beginning, the way we approached it, how aggressive we were with our goal, score a goal. A lot of chances that we didn't put away and then we continue to do a lot of the things defensively so well and the right to attack open spaces and so many situations of huge advantages that we just gave away. Then we have to drive back 70 metres and on that face probably we've been one of the best teams in the world today because we were unbelievable the way we've done it. We haven't conceded almost anything apart from that strange save from David I would say, and that's a big credit to the team because in my opinion they are the best attacking team in the league.

On our record against the ‘Big Six’:

Yes, we are capable of competing consistently with really high standards against any kind of opposition and if we continue to do those things we will get rewarded.

On scoring from a set-piece:

We worked on something similar with that finish, to be fair it was a different kind of finish planned, but we’re very happy because that would generate the lift in the team again. Even in the stadium the crowd, that we can score because it's something that we're missing. When we've been so prolific on that and with the amount of injuries that we had to deal with in the front line, so very happy with that.

On Mikel Merino’s performances as a striker:

And we know that, that was the emergency situation that we are in at the moment but the way he's approaching it is incredible, he wants to understand everything, he wants to learn from it, he's very critical of himself all the time and at the end the reality is that he's winning football matches for us, which is incredible. He's never played in that position before in his life.

On Merino’s quality of goals:

Yeah and the value of it, it's a big match and at the end you win the game because of that goal. He had another big chance that almost put him back on the net, so very happy with his contribution.

On calling Chelsea the best attacking team in the league:

By a mile, I mean the stats say it and everything that I've seen, say it. They can open you up, they can run in transition, they have individual quality, any player in the defensive line can throw you in behind, they can combine on both sides, on weak sides and they are missing some big players as well at the moment.

On whether Chelsea can be strong contenders next season:

Yeah and I think they wouldn't have to play Thursday, Saturday and the amount of injuries that they had as well, they were on the edge because of the manager that they have that is really good and the players and the squad, obviously the quality that they have.

On his thoughts on Chelsea:

I don't know, it's my opinion. I have a lot of data, the objective one, what it says and as well as what I see in the games that they play but I might be wrong, I don't know.

On the way the side was set-up today:

Yeah, but today I would like to see a different scoreline, to be fair, with the amount of things that we do so well, the end product there has to improve because the moment I do that, you are very far away from the position.

On taking every game as they come:

We have to win our football matches, that's what we have to do, win against Fulham and we'll be closer.

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