Arteta on ending 2025 with a 4-1 victory, update on Rice and Big Gabby's performance

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on ending 2025 with a 4-1 victory, update on Rice and Big Gabby's performance  30.12.2025  Emirates Stadium, London, UK

Transcript

00:00Riquel, congratulations on the win.

00:04I'm so happy.

00:06We're playing every three days.

00:08We played an opponent today that comes from 11 wins in a row.

00:12Superb team, very difficult to play against.

00:15And we knew that we were going to have periods throughout the game.

00:18And we talked about emotionally how demanding it was going to be.

00:21And we were struggling the first 10 minutes, arriving a bit late,

00:24playing through us and creating some open space situations

00:27that they are very dangerous at.

00:29And then we adjusted, get a bit more control.

00:32Two big chances by Victor and one scrappy situation inside the box.

00:36We didn't manage to score in the second half.

00:38We clicked everything when much better.

00:41Timings were better, individual rules fulfilled in an extraordinary way.

00:45So efficient in everything that we did.

00:47And unlike the last few games where we had so many big situations,

00:52today we were very prolific and accurate to make the difference there.

00:56I think the Villa have been a team that have really hurt you in previous seasons.

01:01Is there more of a swell of happiness when you manage to get one over a side that has damaged you so much?

01:06Well, especially when you play against a team that is in such a moment as well.

01:11And they are really good, they are extremely well coached, very clear what they want to do, how they want to help you.

01:18And they are very efficient at it, so they can drag you into a game that is constantly a very thin line.

01:24You know, and you have to navigate there and be comfortable navigating through that.

01:28And we did it in the difficult moments and then we took the opportunities in a great way.

01:33I think you mentioned in the last couple of games you wanted the margins to be bigger.

01:38And obviously they were tonight.

01:40I was just wondering, after that first goal went in, it seemed like the players were really snug below.

01:46And I was wondering, do you think that's a fair way to assess that kind of period in the game?

01:51And how you saw that situation?

01:54Yes, and we wanted to continue to go and we took the half time the things that we have to alter to be more efficient.

02:00But actually, after you have to then you get a small blow, but after you have to really grab it.

02:04And we did it.

02:05And I think individually we had some huge performances.

02:09We were very efficient in the final set attacking the box and that made a difference.

02:14Hi.

02:15How important was it tonight?

02:24Well, that he needed some consistency as well and some games.

02:28Obviously he had two times the shoulder injury.

02:31Then they had the knee injury, big knee injury.

02:35And that takes a little bit of time.

02:37And now you can see that it's flowing, that his energy level is back to where it is,

02:41that it's taking risks, that it's affecting the game in a great way.

02:45And I think he played really good today again.

02:47Alex Guzzi.

02:48Hi, Michael.

02:49Just looking back on this month, now that it's finished,

02:51you think you've played like potential champions, maybe not your best at times,

02:55difficult moments and producing a performance like that for the month?

02:59Well, I always say that to continue to win, you have to win in different contexts.

03:03And in some games we've been very good and the margin should have been much bigger.

03:08And we didn't manage to do that, so we went for smaller margins, you know?

03:12And today maybe the margin wasn't that big, but we made it because we were extremely efficient

03:17and ruthless in the opposition box.

03:19And that's the way.

03:21And we won with a lot of injuries.

03:23Today we lost Declan, Ricky.

03:25Some others come back.

03:26Gabby comes in after such a long time without scoring a goal.

03:30And he scores a wonderful goal.

03:32I mean, everybody's ready to contribute and that's right.

03:36Can I just ask about the two Gabriels?

03:39They've both come back.

03:40You must be so pleased for both of them.

03:42Very different stories, but they've come back at the same time.

03:46Yeah.

03:47About Gabby Jesus, I already spoke.

03:49Big Gabby, he comes from Angelos six weeks.

03:51That probably should have been a bit longer.

03:53He plays against probably the team that is the hardest to control,

03:57especially the front players and the striker that they have in terms of their movements.

04:02And he impacts the game in an incredible way,

04:04both defending and in the opposition box.

04:06Was there a handshake at the end?

04:08You couldn't see whether you shook hands with their manager?

04:11You saw it, but it's okay.

04:12It's all good.

04:13Was that unusual?

04:14Was it disappointing?

04:15No, that's okay.

04:16That's part of the game and there's no initiative at all.

04:18Can I just check on Declan, do you expect to have him back the weekend?

04:23Depends.

04:24Everything has to come right down for him to have the chance to function.

04:28He wasn't available to do that today yet.

04:31He's improving, but let's see what is in the next couple of days.

04:34You said the team clicked from the second half.

04:37Do you think that was a tactical thing?

04:39Was that a mental thing?

04:40And how do you surpass that?

04:42When it happens, normally there's a lot of factors.

04:45I think we were more aggressive.

04:47We were more determined.

04:49Timings were much better.

04:50And then it's about execution and just dealing,

04:52especially when you are man-oriented is winning that action,

04:55yes or no.

04:56That clicks everything and makes a difference.

04:58And we're very good in the second half doing that.

05:00James, you mentioned those early troubles and it seemed like

05:03they were getting a lot of joy breaking through your press early on.

05:06What changed?

05:08Well, certainly the behaviour has to change because the moment that you allow them to attack your back

05:14is a big problem because they have runners from inside.

05:17They have people that can pick up passes from deep positions.

05:20They have players in the last line that are excellent at making the runs,

05:24pulling shoulder and attacking your backs.

05:26And you have to control that because every time you give the wall away,

05:29they have the capacity to do that.

05:31And how well does it reflect on your team if they didn't drop back,

05:34they didn't be able to mitigate?

05:36I really like that because you're going to go through different patches

05:39in periods against top opposition like Villa,

05:42and then you still have the ability to come out in the game and deserve to win it.

05:48OK, last couple of fields for you.

05:50I know, obviously, when you talk about the junior dressing,

05:53what sort of belief does that give the players, you know,

05:56when you win a game like that against the team that's been on such a run

05:59that this season could be the year that you've won the Premier League?

06:02His belief is energy as well because they put in so much.

06:05We're playing every two and a half days.

06:07The schedule is very, very demanding.

06:09We have some very tough matches, injuries, but the players are so willing.

06:13So winning helps all that, you know, all the sacrifices,

06:16the commitment that you put in gets reflected in results and great performances.

06:21And that's so satisfying.

06:23But we know there's still so much to play for.

06:26It's a great way to end the year, that's for sure.

06:29And tomorrow have a good night with our families.

06:32But then the next day, we are in and we have to go to Bournemouth

06:35and we know what that means.

06:37OK, final one here.

06:38Hello, Michael.

06:39I'm here from Beacon. Congratulations. Such a big victory.

06:42Well, I think I mentioned it a lot of times that it's a position that is very, very difficult

06:55to get an impact in the manner that he's done it so early.

06:58But credit to him, credit to his teammates as well, how easy they make it for him.

07:03And today he's done something that, in my opinion, he's got the ability to do.

07:07It is to arrive in the right moment, attacking the box and finalizing actions.

07:11And he did it with such a composure.

07:13Thanks very much, Michael.

07:14Yeah.

07:15Happy New Year to you all.

07:16Yeah.

07:17All the best.

07:18Happy New Year.

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