Mikel Arteta praised the successful mentality of his Arsenal facet after they opened their Premier League marketing campaign with a 1-0 win over Manchester United at Outdated Trafford.
Riccardo Calafiori scored the one objective within the thirteenth minute, pouncing from shut vary after goalkeeper Altay Bayindir didn’t cope with Declan Rice’s inswinging nook.
For Arsenal, the outcome strengthened their transformation away to fellow “Large Six” golf equipment. In September 2020, lower than a yr into Arteta’s tenure, the Gunners had gained solely two of their earlier 40 away matches in opposition to such opposition.
Now, they’re unbeaten in 21 consecutive league fixtures in opposition to Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester Metropolis and Tottenham over the previous two seasons.
Reflecting on the progress, Arteta stated: “Effectively I feel that was the case… It was 18 years or 22 years right here at Outdated Trafford with out successful earlier than I got here, and now I’m going within the dressing room, we gained right here the primary recreation, and we’re not nonetheless completely satisfied. Good signal.
“A giant, huge outcome coming into the primary recreation of the season at Outdated Trafford. If you really feel that they’re constructing one thing particular and momentum with the brand new signings and so they need to kick on the season in a great way and you’ll be able to come away with the win, I feel I’m very completely satisfied.”
Arteta was equally happy with the way in which his gamers responded to tough moments in the course of the contest.
“We confirmed it otherwise at this time. I feel we did two issues very properly. One, to take the set-piece after which react to particularly errors. A few of them are crucial, a few of them uncommon. However the way in which each single participant reacted to that provides us the chance to win the sport.
If not, it’s inconceivable. And that’s about how we compete and the way a lot we need to take it.”
Subsequent up, Arsenal return to the Emirates to host Leeds on August 23. Manchester United are again in motion the next day, travelling to Craven Cottage to face Fulham.
