Post-Shakhtar quotes round-up: Arteta, Pušić, Martinelli, Raya, Big Gabi, Dixon, Clichy & more
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Arsenal bounced back from Saturday’s defeat at Bournemouth with a 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk on matchday three of the Champions League. However, it was far from a convincing performance by Mikel Arteta’s players who lost Riccardo Calafiori to injury ahead of Sunday’s clash with Liverpool
Gabriel Martinelli proved to be the difference maker – the Brazilian forced a first half own goal with a shot that came off the post before rebounding into the net off the keeper – but he was a rare bright spark on a muted night at Emirates Stadium.
Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos made of the action…
Mikel Arteta on his side’s performance…
Two very different halves. We looked very sharp in the first, very dominant and created a number of big chances that we didn’t convert. The boxes are crucial in this competition. In the second half, I felt the team was tired, we didn’t have that fluidity or purpose with the ball. We were a bit sloppy at times.
Source:UEFA.com
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Marino Pušić on what he said to his players after the game…
I said to my players just now in the dressing room that I’m very, very proud of their performance today; how they showed up, how they worked to get better and – especially in the second half – on the ball, we were very good.
Source:Uefa.com
Arsenal (2.13) 1-0 (0.83) Shakhtar Donetsk
— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) October 22, 2024
UEFA’s Technical Observer Panel on making Martinelli man-of-the-match…
He played a key role in the decisive goal. He provided a constant attacking threat, excellent work rate and defensive covering.
Source:UEFA.com
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Gabriel Martinelli on getting the job done…
Most important thing is to win. We knew how tough they are and we came here to win the game and we did it. We wanted to score more but we won the game and that’s the most important thing.
Source: TNT Sports
𝐀𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝟏-𝟎 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐡𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐬𝐤: 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐒
Arsenal made it 3 clean sheets in a row in the Champions League for the first time since 2007.
However, they've missed 4 of their last 8 UCL penalties…
Get all the key stats below https://t.co/jcpRi5zBPvpic.twitter.com/kzdp2369Hc
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) October 22, 2024
David Raya on making a big save at the end…
In these type of games where we dominate the game and don’t give many chances away, the main factor is to keep concentrated and be there ready to help the team. It happened there at the end of the game, I made a save to keep the clean sheet, obviously that’s the most important thing, get the three points in a special moment like this at home. I saw he’s about to shoot and I think it takes a little deflection from one of the players and I’m able to move to get the ball, you see I save it with my wrist, but it takes a deflection or it moves, I don’t know but i’m happy with the save.
Source: Amazon Prime Video Sport
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Big Gabi on the win and another clean sheet…
It was a difficult game (but) we take the three points. We are happy to play at home in front of our fans. To be able to give this for them is good for us and the club. We worked very hard, but of course it's good to keep a clean sheet and take all three points. We are so happy.
Source:Arsenal.com
David Raya in the Champions League this season:
3 games played
5 saves made
1 penalty saved
0 goals conceded— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 22, 2024
Mikel Arteta on Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori going off…
Ben, it was my decision to take him out. He had a yellow card and we’ve played enough with 10 men in the recent period. They had a lot of density on that side, a lot of attacking players and I didn’t want to take any chances there. With Riccy, he had to come off because he felt something. I don’t know the extent of that but in that sense, it’s not great news.
Source:Post-game press conference
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Owen Hargreaves on the way Riccardo Calafiori went down…
He fell incredibly awkwardly. To be fair, it can happen, but I worry for him. He tried to play on which is a good sign and he walked off. He has huge quads, so hopefully they can protect the knee when you get in a spot like that but he fell incredibly awkwardly.
Source:TNT Sports
Leandro Trossard joins the likes of Arshavin, Alexis, Kanu, Ozil (2) and Thierry Henry (5) to miss a penalty for Arsenal in the Champions League.
— Orbinho (@Orbinho) October 22, 2024
Lee Dixon on the decision to award Arsenal a penalty…
I’m looking at it from a full-back’s or defender’s point of view. He’s put his leg up to try and clear the ball, his arm is behind his leg and then it misses his knee. When you look at it, is his arm in an unnatural position? As he jumps for the ball his arm goes up and then he brings it down because his action is to land. I don’t think it’s a penalty.
Source:Amazon Prime Video Sport
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On whether Kai Havertz wanted to take the penalty…
I don’t know, I don’t know the conversation because he’s one of the takers. Leo decided to take it, okay he missed it, that’s it unfortunately.
Source:Amazon Prime Video Sport
Kai Havertz couldn't make it 8 Emirates matches in a row with a goal
He still shares to the joint record with Robin van Persie pic.twitter.com/Xu1lUvFYPN
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) October 22, 2024
Gael Clichy on Arsenal’s Champions League chances…
I don’t know if they can win it, it’s a long way. We don’t talk about this a lot but you need to be lucky as well in this competition, you need your players to be fit in the right moment, you need to produce big games, big moments. Can Arsenal do it? When I look at the results from last year, Aston Villa at home, the 0-0 with City, 2-2 with City, the game with Bayern Munich, I still feel they are missing a little something, fearlessness, more adventurous character. I think they can go all the way, but so far, they need to prove they can do it.
Source:Amazon Prime Video Sport
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Marino Pušić on his side’s journey home…
Tomorrow we fly back to Poland, then we drive with the bus a couple of hours to the train station, then we take a night train. It will take approximately 20 hours. It’s a tough one, but it is like it is.
Source:Amazon Prime Video Sport
@FCShakhtar boss Marino Pusic reveals that Arsenal's Oleksandr Zinchenko visited their dressing room after the match to show his appreciation.#UCLonPrimepic.twitter.com/6QoX5Jytow
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) October 22, 2024
The post Post-Shakhtar quotes round-up: Arteta, Pušić, Martinelli, Raya, Big Gabi, Dixon, Clichy & more appeared first on Arseblog News - the Arsenal news site.
