Post-Newcastle quotes round-up: Arteta, Howe, Gordon, Timber, Burn, Walcott
Yesterday at 06:50 PM
Arsenal’s 13-game unbeaten run came to an abrupt end as Newcastle United seized the advantage in the Carabao Cup semi-final, securing a 2-0 victory in the first leg at Emirates Stadium.
The outcome might have been very different for the Gunners had Gabriel Martinelli found the net instead of hitting the post when through on goal in the first half. They paid a heavy price as Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon demonstrated clinical finishing, showing the Brazilian (and his similarly goal-shy teammates) how it’s done.
Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos made of a deflating evening…
Mikel Arteta on the result and performance…
It's not a result that reflects the story of the game. But the reality is that they were super efficient with the chances that they had and we weren't, and at this level in these kind of scenarios, you need to impose yourself and win the game. It's just half time and when I see the team playing and how we dealt with a lot of situations and playing against a very good team, I must say, I have full belief that we can go up there and do it.
Source:Post-game press conference
__
Eddie Howe on how the game played out…
It was a really interesting game. We started off on the front foot – we tried to take the game to them. We then fatigued because the players have given so much, and then, it was about our mentality to defend, and we did that really well. I am really pleased because this is a tough ground, and we’ve suffered here, and today is another big step forward. But we played with real confidence and belief. We know the tie is still very much alive, and we’ve got a tough home leg to come.
Source: Sky Sports
Dan Burn on the importance of dealing with Arsenal’s set pieces…
To get a result here you’re going to have to defend set pieces well, they’re so good at them. I thought everyone was brilliant, they’ve had chances, I’m sure they probably deserved a goal but we’ve thrown bodies on the line and it’s managed to get us over. [Defending well] gives us a good platform to build on, we’ve had a sticky patch where we conceded quite a few goals but we’ve had a few clean sheets in a row now, that’s the whole team not just the back lads. You’ve seen the second half there, we were brilliant but it’s only really a job half done, they’ve got nothing to lose coming to St James’ so we’ll have to be ready for it.
Source:Sky Sports
__
Jurrien Timber on wanting to put things right…
It's all to play for in that game, it's still a semi-final, and it's still not done. But at the same time, we have a lot of games coming up, but we have to look back at this game and learn from it, definitely. I don't like losing the first match, but now that this is the case, I think it's a good thing that we have a second chance in the second leg.
Source:Arsenal.com
1 – Prior to this season, only once has a side in the semi-finals of the League Cup progressed to the final having lost the first leg by 2+ goals, with Aston Villa doing so against Tranmere Rovers in 1993-94. Dusted.
— OptaJoe (@optajoe.com) January 7, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Arteta on how the Carabao Cup ball compares to its Premier League equivalent…
It’s just different, very different to a Premier League ball and you have to adapt to that because it flies differently. When you touch it, the grip is very different as well, so you have to adapt to that.
Source:Post-game press conference
__
Anthony Gordon on Alexander Isak…
Very good. He is the best in Europe, probably right now, with the form he’s in. The best quality he’s got is that he’s so humble. He is not scared to pass the ball. He’s very unselfish, and his best ability is his raw ability on the ball.
Source:BBC Radio 5 Live
Theo Walcott on Arsenal’s struggle to play with freedom…
What worries me, from the outside looking in, is they’re getting excited by set pieces all the time instead of excited about free-flowing football – that’s what Arsenal is known for. They’re going away from it, shying away from it at this moment in time. you can see at times the players are running out of ideas, They can’t play off the cuff, they’re playing to a system at times which gives the opportunity to Newcastle, who defended incredibly well and enjoy defending, it gave them time to get back into shape when there was space to attack teams.
Source:Sky Sports
__
Troy Deeney on Arsenal lacking a Plan B…
It’s the same stuff, they are doing the same patterns of play, they’re going down one side, they’re trying to play inside, they’re trying to get a third man runner and all Newcastle did was go five and five [in two lines] and said ‘go on then, break us down’ and they couldn’t do it. Yes, they had a couple of chances but the one for Martinelli came from a turnover it wasn’t that they worked it and the rest were from second bits on corners. It’s not exactly like they are breaking teams down. The one problem we threw at Arsenal’s door for the last two years is they need a striker and every year Mikel chooses not to do that, goes with Gabi [Jesus] and [Kai] Havertz, they think they can do it but in the crunch time, those guys go missing and that’s what happened today.
Source:CBS Sports Golazo
Dion Dublin on Newcastle’s current run…
I am looking at Newcastle and they have their mojo back. They seem to have each others backs as players. There is a lot of togetherness. Newcastle are definitely back.
Source:BBC Radio 5 Live
__
Arteta on turning attention to Sunday’s FA Cup clash with Manchester United…
We need a lot of energy, we have a big game here against Man United in a different competition, so let's move on. You have to turn things around.
Source:Arsenal.com
The post Post-Newcastle quotes round-up: Arteta, Howe, Gordon, Timber, Burn, Walcott appeared first on Arseblog News - the Arsenal news site.
