Arsenal defeated Nottingham Forest 1-0 away in the seventh round of the Premier League. After the match, Arsenal manager Arteta gave a media interview, discussing the team's performance, the reason for bringing on Madueke at halftime, and Eze's form, among other topics.
Reporter: Mikel, when we interviewed Noni Madueke on the pitch, he said that in the end, this was a performance that showed championship quality. Do you agree with his assessment?
Arteta: We did something we haven't been able to do in the last two seasons, which is win the game. We knew very well that unless we broke the deadlock early – we actually had two excellent chances to do so – the margin of victory would be incredibly slim.
Because the opponent is well-drilled and tactically very organized, as the game goes on, their confidence grows, and you have to take greater risks, making your defense more susceptible to counter-attacks.
But we emphasized this before the match: we must be very patient, while also maintaining our threat in the final third. We must not be impatient, because it's difficult to get open attacking opportunities against them. Once an opportunity arises, we must be extremely efficient in finishing.
Reporter: You made the decision at halftime to bring on Noni (Madueke) and take off Eze. What was your thinking behind making that substitution after only 45 minutes?
Arteta: It depended on their defensive setup on the flanks and the two-on-two situations they were creating. At that time, we lacked substantial deep penetration behind their defense and failed to force Muñoz to contend with a different style of play, making it relatively easy for their defense. That's why we have players with different technical attributes, precisely to be flexible and adapt to how the game unfolds.
Reporter: Eze's talent is unquestionable, but when we saw him on the bench, the young man looked very frustrated, and I'm sure you understand his feelings. Is he currently struggling to find his best form?
Arteta: Just three days ago, he scored a goal, and in that game, he should have scored a hat-trick with three goals, and everyone was happy for him then. This is football; you can shine one day and face difficulties the next.
Especially as an attacking player, facing a team that has ten players defending inside and outside the box, with even the number nine dropping back to the edge of the box, forming an airtight defensive shape. It's extremely difficult to penetrate, that's just the reality. But that's precisely why you need to inject plenty of energy and deploy different types of players to try different attacking methods.
Reporter: Your only shot on target in the entire match was converted into a goal. Does this prove to you how brutal the level of competition is, even against opponents currently struggling, and what kind of top-level performance you must maintain?
Arteta: Yes, but we actually had three other excellent chances that not only should have been on target but should have gone directly into the net. (Laughs) That's the difference-maker in top-level competitions; you have to be clinical. But in that goal-scoring sequence, we won three or four second balls consecutively, their defense was a little loose, and Noni had time to adjust when he received the ball, and he has the ability to finish games in such crucial moments.
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