Arteta praises Arsenal players for pushing each other after White-Zinchenko clash

Mikel Arteta shared his perspective following a heated exchange between Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ben White after Arsenal conceded a late goal in their victory against Nottingham Forest. Arteta expressed his appreciation, stating that he “loved” seeing his players pushing each other and emphasized the need to encourage such interactions. Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka scored for Arsenal, with Taiwo Awoniyi pulling a goal back for the hosts.

At the conclusion of Arsenal’s triumph over Nottingham Forest, Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko engaged in a heated discussion, a situation that Mikel Arteta states he has a responsibility to “encourage.” The traveling Gunners secured a crucial 2-1 victory in their pursuit of the Premier League title, with goals from Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka. Despite leading 2-0 until the 89th minute, Taiwo Awoniyi scored a goal for the hosts, triggering a post-match debate between the opposing full-backs White and Zinchenko.

Arteta had a private conversation with the Ukrainian player to defuse the situation, expressing his admiration for the fact that his players were challenging each other to achieve perfection.

Speaking to TNT Sports’ Laura Woods at the City Ground, Arteta stated, “That’s about pushing each other and expressing dissatisfaction with conceding. I have to foster and endorse that in the right and respectful manner. Sometimes, post-match emotions can run high, but I appreciate the players striving for excellence.”

While acknowledging that the conceded goal wasn’t up to their desired standard, Arteta praised the performance of his center forward, Gabriel Jesus, who played a key role in both goals. Additionally, Arteta revealed that the Brazilian was dealing with a knee issue before the game.

Despite having his right knee strapped, Jesus was resolute about playing, and the Arsenal manager emphasized the importance of having him perform at his best.

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Expressing his confidence, the Spaniard stated, “We really rely on him delivering his best. I had a positive feeling before the game. I informed him about his knee with some fluid and the challenges he faced. Just two days ago, he was urging every physio to leave him alone. He insisted on being on the pitch, and when someone displays that level of attitude and determination at this moment, something positive is bound to happen due to his ability and quality.”

The outcome propelled Arsenal into the second spot in the Premier League standings, surpassing Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s team is scheduled to play against Burnley on Wednesday, broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+. Although the Gunners are now two points behind the league leaders Liverpool, who will face them in a crucial match at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday in the title race.

Arteta emphasized the significance of gaining momentum ahead of the upcoming high-stakes clash against Liverpool, stating, “It’s crucial to build some momentum.” Reflecting on their recent performances, he remarked, “We were excellent against Palace, securing a victory after the break. Today, our aim was to maintain that momentum, and we’ve achieved it.”

Arteta further described the team’s strong performance and dominance, highlighting the need for patience. He expressed satisfaction with their intention to continuously pose a threat, despite encountering challenges. Towards the end, Arteta acknowledged the team faced more difficulties than deserved, attributing it to the competitive nature of the Premier League.

In the first half, Arsenal dominated possession but faced difficulty penetrating the resilient Forest defense. The breakthrough came after an hour when Jesus managed to slip a shot through Matt Turner’s legs from a narrow angle, followed by Saka doubling their lead through a well-executed counter-attacking move.

Arteta expressed satisfaction with the team’s ability to score diverse types of goals, emphasizing the importance of having different tools and using them at the right moments. He acknowledged the effectiveness of their scoring methods, noting that despite creating numerous chances, they couldn’t convert all of them. Arteta was particularly pleased with the defensive performance, as Arsenal kept a clean sheet against a challenging opponent at their home ground. Overall, he was delighted with the team’s performance and the victory.