Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's head coach, spoke out after leading his team to an away win against Inter Milan in the latest UEFA Champions League match.
Mikel Arteta, manager of the "Gunners" Arsenal, expressed immense pride in his squad after their 3-1 away victory over Inter Milan, known as the "Nerazzurri," securing their seventh straight win in the UEFA Champions League group stage. Arsenal now has a perfect 21 points, guaranteeing advancement to the round of 16. He gave special praise to Gabriel Jesus and Victor Jørgensen.
Arteta said, "I am very proud, not just of tonight's game but of what we've done over the past seven matches. Being in the position we want to be in is a great reward for the team because we know how difficult it is (leading the group and securing round of 16 qualification)."
"We had the hunger and determination to come here to face a top-level team and prove who we are and what we can do. I am very pleased with what I saw today and very happy with the individual performances of most of the players. I think we played incredibly well."
"Gabriel Jesus was outstanding. We've missed him a lot, and I think his presence boosts confidence for both him and the team. Now we have a variety of styles in the striker position, just as we do on the wings. Victor Jørgensen also came on and made a huge impact. That improved us, and that's exactly what we needed."
Discussing the factors behind their 100 percent winning record in the group stage, he said, "First is the ambition and belief that we can compete with any team. Then you have to make it happen. Many things have to go the right way, and you have to dedicate a lot to make it happen."
"I appreciate the team’s mentality. Playing here, in this atmosphere, against such a strong opponent was very challenging because they disrupted our rhythm a lot. But we played smartly and controlled the game. We achieved that. In the Champions League, that’s very important. The starters performed well, and so did the substitutes. Those are all the components you ultimately need if you want a chance to win here."
This victory also made Arsenal the first team in history to win seven consecutive matches in European cup competitions across all tournaments.