The Gunners’ boss expresses gratitude for his 300-game milestone and praises his squad’s depth after a hard-fought Champions League victory at the Emirates.
A relieved but proud Mikel Arteta praised his team’s resilience and the “phenomenal” influence of Martin Odegaard after Arsenal secured a 2-0 Champions League win over Olympiacos on Tuesday, a victory that was far more tense than the scoreline suggests.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Arteta admitted his team had to “dig in very, very deep” to see out the game, despite a dominant start that saw Gabriel Martinelli tap in an early opener.
“We predicted a really tough opponent, and they were,” Arteta said. “We started the game very, very good, scored the goal, had some big chances, but in the Champions League, you have to put them away.”
The manager highlighted a stunning first-half save from goalkeeper David Raya as the pivotal moment that preserved their lead. “The game became a little bit open and we needed a big save from David in one action to keep the clean sheet,” he acknowledged, crediting his players for their performance just three days after a physically demanding match at Newcastle.
When pressed on the need for a more clinical edge in front of goal, Arteta agreed, stating, “It’s all about the boxes. The team, they don’t need much… so when you have those big chances, you have to put them in the net.”
The Spanish coach reserved special praise for his captain, Martin Odegaard, who returned to the lineup with a commanding performance. “He was phenomenal,” Arteta enthused. “He influenced the game in a manner that is very important for us… he continued to play forward, carrying the ball, putting people through on goal.”
Arteta also emphasized the importance of his squad’s depth, with impactful substitutes like Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka helping to re-energize the team. “Anybody that comes in brings another dimension to the team,” he said, underscoring the collective effort.
The post-match briefing ended on a personal note, as Arteta was informed that the upcoming weekend match would be his 300th in charge of the club. Seemingly surprised, he reflected, “That’s a lot of games for this football club. I feel very honoured and a lot of gratitude for everybody that has allowed me to stay for that long.”
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