Every word Arteta said on Havertz criticism, Vieira display and Fulham draw

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has spoken to the press after the Gunners' 2-2 draw with Fulham at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League, including updates on Kai Havertz and Fabio Vieira

How frustrating was that result and, in the substitutions was there an acknowledgment the first half selection hadn’t worked?

Obviously when in the first minute you make the mistake we made and give a goal to the opponent, the game becomes much more difficult. The reaction straight after that, even in the first half, the situations and chances we generated, we didn’t give anything away. We controlled the game for full periods but we didn’t score the goal.

In the second half we made some changes, the dynamic changed, we had better relationships. The subs made a huge difference, great impact, I loved the determination and the confidence that they brought to the team. We made the most difficult thing, go 2-1 up. Then you have to defend the box with your life, you cannot concede a goal after everything we did. We should have scored five, six, seven, I don’t know.

Is the pattern of early goals systematic, a mental flaw, coincidence?

Errors are part of football, it’s where you make them and how the opponent takes them that makes the difference. We had a big one against Fulham last year where we just gave a goal to Mitrovic as well. It’s part of football.

Did those games play on the players’ minds?

I haven’t seen that. I don’t see that afterwards. The way the team played, the way the team generates, any other sport you win by 100 points difference. But this is football, we draw and we conceded two very, very poor goals today. That’s the difference. In the Premier League when you give something else you’re going to get punished. We were today.

Better relationships, will it take time to be as fluid as you were last season?

If I compare the game we played against Fulham this season and last season, we were 10 times better this season. At least 10.

You don’t think it’s a case of building relationships?

No, we were much better than last season. 10 times at least. Last season we won 2-1 in the last minute, today we draw 2-2.

Did it look better when Zinchenko came on?

It is different. Alex has been out for four and a half months

What did you make of Fabio Vieira’s display and with Jesus were you tempted to bring him on earlier?

The way we generated chance after chance I didn’t think it was necessary (to bring Jesus on). We decided in the last minute to bring him in. He’s only had a few days of training sessions after the surgery.

I’m really happy with the impact of the subs and the way they came in. With Fabio delighted for him because he hasn’t played any minutes this season. To see a player that comes with that determination and the positivity to impact the team that he had it’s difficult to see. I’m really happy for him.

You’ve made changes in the build up to make it a three and then a one in the build up. What’s the thinking behind that?

In what situations?

In the build up?

In relation to what the opponent does I’m going to change it to attack better.

Are you worried the crowd are turning on Havertz?

No, I saw an action when he played backwards and he could have turned. That’s more I think the demands of everybody to play forward and to impact the game in the final third because we had the urgency to win.

Are you confident he’ll win the fans over?

Yes I think so. I think he’s done already really good things. Today it was tough in certain moments. He got in great areas and the ball didn’t arrive. In a lot of situations he should have scored a lot of goals already this season. That’s the thing that is missing there.

What can you say about Nketiah's impact?

Great. He looks a real threat at the moment. He’s in a good moment, he’s full of confidence. I saw it straight away when I told him he was coming in the second half the fire in the eyes. He’s got an eye for goal and the way he finished the action was top.

Was it difficult to leave him out?

It’s difficult to leave all the players out. When I see on the bench there are a lot of players who still haven’t played. At the moment though we are once a week, when we are two a week it’s going to be a completely different scenario how we are prepared for that.

You’re still unbeaten against London sides this season. Thoughts on that?

I don’t see it today. I’m disappointed that we haven’t won the game with everything that we’ve done. With everything that we generated it’s incredible that we haven’t won the three points. But that’s a positive. Today we gave two very cheap goals away. In the boxes we should have done much better with what we generated.