Arteta praises 'mature' Arsenal after win over 'talented' PSV and provides promising Saka update
Mikel Arteta believes his Arsenal players put in a 'really mature' performance as they beat PSV to progress to the Europa League knockout stages.
The Gunners have been nothing short of sensational at the start of this campaign and their win over PSV on Thursday night was their eighth in a row in all competitions.
Prior to this clash, Arsenal had won their first three Europa League group games, but PSV are comfortably their toughest opponent.
The Dutch team have been scoring goals for fun this season, but Arsenal have defended well keeping a clean sheet.
Granit Xhaka scored the winner with around 20 minutes to go as he brought the ball home after being played by Takehiro Tomiyasu.
The central midfielder is playing a more advanced role this campaign and that has led to him being involved in more goals. So far this season, he has registered three goals and three assists in 14 outings.
Bukayo Saka suffered a knock late and he was replaced by Arteta with around five minutes left.
The Gunners boss thinks the Englishman 'will be fine' and he also praised Xhaka.
"We had some very good moments where we dominated against a very good team," Arteta told BT Sport.
"We were missing that final pass or shot, but we are happy to win the match and we qualified, which is the first step.
"The difference between finishing first and second is big and we want to get the job done [next week].
"In Europe you have to control the opponent. They are very talented, used to winning and the number of goals they scored is incredible - we were really mature."
On Xhaka's goal: "It was a great goal with the right foot, half-volley, he finds himself in these positions every game, that's why he scores the goals."
On Saka: "Yeah, he got kicked, he was limping a bit, but hopefully he'll be fine."
Xhaka insisted after Arsenal's victory that their recent success was 'no surprise'.
"We had chance after chance and we didn't have a chance to score earlier, but we had the passion to keep the ball, to keep creating chances and I think we deserved the win", Xhaka continued.
"In the first half we put a lot of pressure on. Everyone who comes here plays like PSV, we knew they had the quality to kill us on the counterattack, but we were amazing.< /p>
"I'm so happy to score. I don't know when I last scored with the right foot but so happy. It doesn't matter which foot or who scores.
"It gives us confidence and moves on. When you win games, you have to be happy. Everything is going well at the moment but for us it's no surprise, we are doing a lot of work.< /p>
“We win and lose as a team and at the moment we are very dangerous. We wanted to pass and we are very happy.”
If Arsenal avoid defeat against PSV next week, the English side will secure top spot in Group A and then earn a bye to the Round of 16.
READ MORE: Liverpool bias clear as England continue to ignore defender Arsenal wouldn't trade for anyone
Mikel Arteta believes his Arsenal players put in a 'really mature' performance as they beat PSV to progress to the Europa League knockout stages.
The Gunners have been nothing short of sensational at the start of this campaign and their win over PSV on Thursday night was their eighth in a row in all competitions.
Prior to this clash, Arsenal had won their first three Europa League group games, but PSV are comfortably their toughest opponent.
The Dutch team have been scoring goals for fun this season, but Arsenal have defended well keeping a clean sheet.
Granit Xhaka scored the winner with around 20 minutes to go as he brought the ball home after being played by Takehiro Tomiyasu.
The central midfielder is playing a more advanced role this campaign and that has led to him being involved in more goals. So far this season, he has registered three goals and three assists in 14 outings.
Bukayo Saka suffered a knock late and he was replaced by Arteta with around five minutes left.
The Gunners boss thinks the Englishman 'will be fine' and he also praised Xhaka.
"We had some very good moments where we dominated against a very good team," Arteta told BT Sport.
"We were missing that final pass or shot, but we are happy to win the match and we qualified, which is the first step.
"The difference between finishing first and second is big and we want to get the job done [next week].
"In Europe you have to control the opponent. They are very talented, used to winning and the number of goals they scored is incredible - we were really mature."
On Xhaka's goal: "It was a great goal with the right foot, half-volley, he finds himself in these positions every game, that's why he scores the goals."
On Saka: "Yeah, he got kicked, he was limping a bit, but hopefully he'll be fine."
Xhaka insisted after Arsenal's victory that their recent success was 'no surprise'.
"We had chance after chance and we didn't have a chance to score earlier, but we had the passion to keep the ball, to keep creating chances and I think we deserved the win", Xhaka continued.
"In the first half we put a lot of pressure on. Everyone who comes here plays like PSV, we knew they had the quality to kill us on the counterattack, but we were amazing.< /p>
"I'm so happy to score. I don't know when I last scored with the right foot but so happy. It doesn't matter which foot or who scores.
"It gives us confidence and moves on. When you win games, you have to be happy. Everything is going well at the moment but for us it's no surprise, we are doing a lot of work.< /p>
“We win and lose as a team and at the moment we are very dangerous. We wanted to pass and we are very happy.”
If Arsenal avoid defeat against PSV next week, the English side will secure top spot in Group A and then earn a bye to the Round of 16.
READ MORE: Liverpool bias clear as England continue to ignore defender Arsenal wouldn't trade for anyone
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