Arsenal manager Mikel Arterta says he is ‘ Proud ‘ after guiding his charges to a 1-0 win over Manchester City to end a 8-year winless streak vs the Citizens.
Brazilian forward, Gabriel Martinelli scored the winner after 86 minutes to hand the Gunners maximum points at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, October 8.
Mikel Arterta tutored Gunners ticked several positive boxes, one of them, a first clean sheet against Guardiola’s City in the Premier League.
After a goalless first half Martinelli, who came on in the 46th minute, opened the scoring as his strike took a deflection off defender, Nathan Ake to beat a left-diving Ederson.
The win took the Gunners to second position on 20 points, same points as leaders Tottenham with both London Clubs still unbeaten, ahead of the International break.
Arteta told Sky Sports after the game: “I am so proud. We discussed this. We had to make this happen and there were moments when we had to suffer but we were excellent. We also needed the crowd to turn up and they did. It feels like a big win.
“We started and conceded an early corner which led to a chance. But as the game went on we grabbed control and in the second half we looked very good. The changes really helped too, I think.”
Arteta was also asked about Arsenal’s slightly nervy start and the early mistakes made by Raya, which led to the home crowd growing restless. But he was quick to defend his goalkeeper and said the Arsenal crowd should “shout at me instead”.
He added: “(Manchester City) give you a lot of issues. And we gave them a lot of issues. You need the right timing, the right support and the right movement to beat the press. But what I like is the courage we have. And the crowd have to understand that, and if they want to shout, to shout at me because it is my fault! You will have moments like that against a team like this. You have to manage the emotions.
“I told (Raya) he was excellent. And he was right to stop the ball when he needs to. But he was excellent, he played so high. I love players with a lot of courage and he does, he has big ones.
“(Martinelli) is another one with big ones as well. He turned up yesterday and said he was ready to go. Leo (Trossard) got injured and I turned round and he was already dressed up and ready to go.
“This is just part of the journey. It is a joy to work with this team.” Mikel Arterta said.
