Every word Mikel Arteta said on Arsenal win over Newcastle, transfers and season emotions

Mikel Arteta faced the media following his side’s final home match of the season, in which Arsenal won 1-0 over Newcastle United to secure Champions League qualification for a third season running. He told fans on the field again that circumstances have gone against them.

There was edge and energy in his words post-match and he clarified on some of his comments made on television too. The summer remained a key focus, and it seems the Spaniard is very determined to highlight there will be work to do.

Here is every word from his post-match press conference.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

What do you make of the game? Is that a bit of a relief now, just to get that done, second place in the Champions League?

Yes, that's what we wanted to achieve today. We had a few objectives, finishing second, finishing in the Champions League spots, and as well finishing the season in front of our people in the right manner with the right results, and those two things have been achieved.

Obviously, for the players and you, you need a break this summer, but for the rest of the club, what needs to be done now?

Well, first of all we have one more game to play and to finish it in the right way, and winning in Southampton is going to be really important again. And then, yeah, go on holidays, time to reset first, bring the temperature down a little bit. It's been a long, long season, and start to think and reflect on everything that we have planned is the right one. Start to make some steps, some action, and come back here fresh on day one, ready to go again.

On the pitch, to the supporters after the game, it seemed very emotional, it was a very powerful message that you gave. Can you talk about your emotions and what you've gone through this season, and maybe a sense of disappointment but also optimism?

It was emotional because of the way I feel. And it's great, we had a dream, I said it out there, it was to deliver a big trophy this season for our people, and because I think that the team deserves it, as well as the journey that we've been together in the last three or four years. We haven't achieved that, and there are a lot of factors and a lot of situations that we've been through for the last nine and a half months, for that not happening. But make sure that we're still valid. A lot of incredible things this club is doing, the team is doing, the players are doing, the way we are competing, and the consistency that we are showing. Because if we are not able to see that, that's a really, really dangerous thing to do. Just expecting just something, and playing if we don't, that's a really dangerous thing. And I know they don't want us there, where we are now, knocking on the door every year, and make sure that we can see clarity, we stay very disciplined and very clear and ambitious with what we want to do in the summer.

What would be your overall thought and reflection upon the season, when you consider that? When you talk about, as you did out there, we mustn't be blurred in our vision?

I would leave that for the summer. I've done it in the dressing room, and for me it's very clear. But I'm there every day, I know what we've been through for nine and a half months, I know what we've done. I know very well the history of this Premier League, and the teams that they've been, not in 70% of the situations that we've been in, they have collapsed, completely collapsed. And we haven't. And I really value that, because that shows that we have built something that is very, very sustainable and consistent. Regardless, some people don't like to see it.

We heard from Josh Kroenke before the game, in the programme, talking about the plan to invest this summer and win those major trophies. Do you feel going into that window, you've got the backing from the owners that you need?

Yeah, but that's not something new. I think they always back the team, the club, in the best possible way. And it's not going to be different in the summer. We have to be very smart with the decisions that we take. Obviously, we need players because the squad is really short, and on top of that we are losing four or five players that are going to end contracts, and their loans are finished. So, we need to be sharp. Again, very disciplined in what we want to do, and make sure that we are strong in the next season.

Does the fact that you've now officially got that Champions League qualification mean you can literally tomorrow start executing that plan? Because financially, you don't know where you're going to be.

I mean, the plan is done, and the time will be dictated by many parties, many circumstances that unfortunately we don't control. But we have great people in charge of that, and they're going to be leading that with the board and ownership. And as well, make sure that the ones that we have, they feel valued, they feel loved, and we make sure that they want to continue with us in the right manner. And then the whole environment is excited. That is not just about if we make it, because we cannot start a season like that. And I want to feel that from day one, and I'm going to be very insistent on that.

Of course, injuries have been a massive part of your season this time around. You said on TV about injuries out of other teams, and there's teams that have finished 16th and 17th.

But not this season, and in previous seasons, in the history. And 8th and 5th, missing one or two players only.

So you said 16th and 17th, was that Spurs and United?

No, no, no. That was in the past. In the past. In the past, in five years ago, ten years ago, look in the memory and see what has happened in this league.

Do you think next season, without such injuries, obviously...

I don't know. I don't know. I will try. What I can promise, I will do my very best. I will give my life here. I will give everything. I will get every drop of everybody there, squeeze it to get the best. But promise? I cannot promise. I cannot. Any manager is going to promise tomorrow, next season, I'm going to win the Premier League or the Champions League. If I have to do that, I don't do it, because I cannot promise anybody that. My best and the best of these players are going to try and go mad chasing that. I guarantee you that's going to happen.

We highlighted there the difficulties that you’ve had this season. When you were at Union Chapel last night and you walked out on that stage with the fans that were there, I was lucky enough to be in that room and hear that noise. Do you get the sense that those fans that were there so close, do you get the sense and have that belief that you will go again, or they will go again next season and be able to do it?

Yeah, it was a very special evening. I was very lucky to be there as well. Yeah, I do feel it. We don't take it for granted. We want to sustain that and give them joy, and then they can feel proud about this football team, the individuals, the values that we have as a football club and how we represent it, and then win. If we can achieve all of that in once, then great.

You talked about feeling the love from day one. Have you felt the need to maybe stress a bit of patience, get that message about patience and not get frustrated by finishing second, but keeping everybody on board and look at how far you've come and look at now?

I don't know, but I think now we finish second for the third season. In the last three seasons there is one team that has been better than us in total points, which is Manchester City, which is the best team in the history of this league by a mile. And we are there. And Liverpool have a trophy, we don't have a trophy. We are in the Champions League semi-final for the last 16 years, and we are unsatisfied and upset, and it's not good enough. Let's go for the next team, but I think we are in the right trajectory, hopefully.

Do you feel that the fans are still 100% behind you and this group of players?

That's what I feel, but I don't know. The ones that I see every day in the street, the ones that they contact me, the ones that I see every day, I would say that they are 100%, but they want more because we have set expectations and they've seen the team that is capable against any opposition to compete against them. So, we need to believe that we're going to do it together.

On the topic of injuries, you've made three significant substitutions by Havertz coming on here in Tierney and Jorginho. Just a word on those players and your thoughts on them?

Well, the first one, because of an injury of Willi, I think he felt something in his hamstring in the first half, unfortunately, so we had to make the substitution. And with the other two, Kai, I mean, he's been incredibly fast in his recovery. I think the doctors were a bit too easy, too early, but he's been pushing it, and he thought he could help the team. And with Kieran as well, you know, he had a very special circumstance in the way he had to come back and settle in the team again after four months out. And he's been really good with the group and he has contributed in every possible way to help us. I'm very grateful for that.

And quite emotional for them as well, because it was possibly their last game here.

Yeah, we had a few in that dressing room, that probably is going to be the last time that they put that shirt on at the Emirates. So, I've been there and make sure that we are close to them and I'm very grateful to them as well.