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Mikel Arteta has confirmed Arsenal left-back Riccardo Calafiori may have picked up an injury in the closing stages of the 2-0 Premier League win over Everton.
The Italian ended up playing left-wing at the end of the match as Noni Madueke filled in at left-back in place of the robust full-back.
Here is every word Arteta said in his press conference after the Premier League champions swatted the Toffees aside, including his rant over his yellow card - which he seemingly wasn't aware he picked up.
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Premier League table must look good for you tonight?
“Yes we're very happy with the victory, with the performance and with the week, because we were given a terrible schedule. Sunday afternoon, then Wednesday night in Munich, coming here really late on Thursday and having to play again in the Premier League against a really tough opponent on Saturday at 3pm. We have overcome every hurdle, on top of some injuries, and I love the mentality of the team and the quality that we've shown today.”
Gabriel at one stage he seemed to hurt himself, what does it say about the player that he’s continued and then appeared at the other end to help seal the game?
“Well, he's a clear example, when I'm talking about the mentality of the team, obviously the mentality of the team is the mentality of the individuals in the team. Gabi is a great example of that because we were all scared. Not because of the way he went down, but the reaction of the players that were next to him. Immediately he says that he wants to continue and then he scores a goal to help us win the game. That's what we need from our players.”
Gabriel Magalhaes fought on through the pain barrier and then scored for Arsenal
Was there an issue with Calafiori, looked like Madueke finished the game at left-back?
“Yeah I wasn’t that mad to change those two from their positions. It was because he had a slight issue, we don't know what it is, it seems to be something very small, but he was cautious about it.”
We’ve spoken a lot about Noni being used on the left, how impressed were you with him on the right?
“Yeah, very impressed and to have that variability with him is really necessary, especially because we lost Bukayo and Christos and that’s the two players that give us so much threat in the final third. But I like him and if he continues to transform his mentality, his will, his capacity to be more consistent in actions, he's an unbelievable player.”
In that first half, it seemed like the midfielders were constantly rotating into each other's positions. When you drew up what you wanted your Arsenal to look like this season, how complex of an idea did that seem like for you?
“It depends on the opponent and it's a team that if you give them very, very clear references, it's extremely difficult to break them down. So that's why we had the profile that we had in midfield today to start with and they go along that and they started to become a bit more active, which we understood really well to occupy the spaces and hurt them in the right moments. But yeah, that's why we need the players to understand, to have this dynamic, this chemistry and understanding between them. And those relationships will get better and better throughout the season.”
We've asked you a few times about Ezri Konsa, but it is remarkable how quickly and easily he's just slotted in?
“Unbelievable. He's gone to a huge club like Arsenal with no pre- season when Saliba is here, with other players that are already here. And to position yourself in that manner, with that naturality I would say, and performing at the level that he's doing and building already a chemistry and a balance with Gabi that seems so solid, it's very, very difficult to do and we are really lucky to have him.”
Ezri scored with a set-piece?
"Our two centre-backs scored goals today. So we haven't scored from a set-piece, which we were disappointed with because we had generated so many chances as well. I think in midweek we should have scored at least two in Munich and we didn't and that would probably win us the game. So we know that in every phase of play we want to be the best and we're not going to stop until we do it."
Ezri Konsa was on target for Arsenal, his first goal for the club
Surprised it took so long to score from set-piece?
"I'm sure that's going to unlock something and that belief of the players. So they are really convinced. You have to see them when we train the level of attention and how much they believe in what we do and what Nico does as well. There's no question about that, but at the end he has to come through and he has to make the difference and we know that that is a massive welcome for us."
Second yellow card of season, what was it for?
"Me? Today? Oh okay."
Do you know what that was for? If you get three you miss a game?
"I do have to be careful. And we need to have good sensors there. There are managers that have the record in the league, 36 times in 10 minutes leave the touchline, no yellows. So I'm clipping all of that. I have a massive storage of images. So if somebody is going to say, 'I'm not in the record yet, somebody else has the record'.
"Then it's 36 yellow cards in 10 minutes for the manager. I don't know where we're going to be."
Strange to be going for league with City? Hard to keep momentum going?
"We have to just focus on what we can do and we are very pleased with 90% of the results and performances that we have apart from the Brighton game."
Gabriel Magalhaes powered home Arsenal's second goal
Less pressure on Saliba to get back quicker with Konsa and Gabriel?
"William is not fit and we are desperate to have him back because we know what he offers. We are really lucky to have that and I'm sure when Mosquera plays that he will be the same because they have something special those boys. The way we train them, the way they want to improve as well and how they look after each other. That's the beauty of our team."
Scoring early, ease the pressure?
"I think today my fear was the longer they win, win. Other times it wasn't because we have more people first but today I thought if they stay in the result, if they score first and it drags into 60-70 minutes, we have a problem. So we talked about being very, very aggressive from the beginning. Go for it and try to impose ourselves from the beginning of the match."
Five changes, intensity didn't drop? What does it say about group?
"That's great and that is going to for sure make me do it again. Because then it gives you no reason not to do it because we have unbelievable players with the right mentality. Because the preparation is right. So when you need them, they are ready, they are all waiting to play their part and then fight the game.That's what we've done today."