Mikel Areteta reacts to having been schooled by Eddie Howe for third time this season

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Mikel Arteta watched on as his Arsenal team lost yet again to Newcastle United.

Eddie Howe schooling the Gunners boss for a third time (so far…) this season.

It reads 1-0, 2-0, 2-0 in Newcastle United’s favour, Arsenal all three games against NUFC, not scoring a single goal.

It is also three defeats in a row for Mikel Arteta at St James’ Park, four defeats out of five at SJP in total for the Spaniard.

Interesting to hear what Mikel Arteta had to say after this latest schooling from Eddie Howe.

The Mikel Arteta post-match press conference as reported by official Arsenal media:

Mikel Arteta asked about Alexander Isak’s performance:

“I’m not here to evaluate opposition players but it’s clear that he had two actions to finish and you know what happened.”

Mikel Arteta asked if he was surprised that Newcastle United played with a back five:

“No.”

Mikel Arteta on the match result:

“We had so many expectations to believe that we could turn it around.

“We didn’t generate momentum, especially in the first half, the game started in the first action almost with them scoring and then the goal being denied.

“Then we had the moment, two big moments, with Martin.

“We didn’t capitalise and in the next action, they scored the goal and obviously the game shifted and then you need to stay cool to score a goal as early as possible.

“We didn’t manage to do that in the first half, had another big chance, and then in the second half, we started to struggle as the game went by.

“We didn’t generate enough situations in the final third and the game started to get away from us.”

Mikel Arteta asked if Newcastle United are one of Arsenal’s toughest opponents:

“Yeah, they’re a tough opponent.”

Mikel Arteta claims ‘fine margins’ could have changed the game:

“When you want to be in cup finals and win trophies, in the end, those are fine margins.

“They’ve been really effective in the box in the last two games against them and we haven’t.

“Overall, that was the main difference.

“It’s true that today we were a bit more unsettled, especially when the game became more chaotic or when they were very direct with their play.

“Normally we are much more composed and today we lacked a bit of that, and the game went away from us.”

Mikel Arteta asked if the Arsenal performance and defeat was down to his team having to play too many matches:

“I wouldn’t like [to say that].

“Especially when we lose a game.

“Physically we were tired and you know we played so many games, we played so many games every three days, and we knew that this was going to be a really high-intensity one.

“I think emotionally as well, it was a very different game that we needed to get there to believe right until the end that we could do it, and before that the game got away from us.”

Mikel Arteta asked if it’s an opportunity missed, not getting to the final:

“If you are in a semi-final and you don’t get to a final, very much [so].”

Mikel Ateteta asked about redoubling the efforts in the two remaining competitions:

“We need to swallow this one, it’s a tough one and we had a lot of expectations.

“We knew the difficulty of the task because of the result that we brought from London, but there’s nothing we can do right now. What we could do was on the pitch a few minutes ago.

“Now we have to look forward, first of all I think this is going to be a painful one, and when we’re in Dubai, recharge and go again because we still have a lot to play for.”

Mikel Areteta asked if Arsenal lost this tie in the first leg:

“Well, we certainly made it really difficult for ourselves.”

Mikel Arteta on Arsenal’s defensive display:

“The errors are part of football.

“We’ve been super consistent, we’ve been really composed and today we gave them hope just by putting the ball to the last line.

“When we did that, we always looked vulnerable because we allowed them to run from the situation and they are a really dangerous team when they are able to do that, but certainly they don’t want to do that, so what can I say?”

Mikel Arteta when speaking to Sky Sports after Arsenal’s 4-0 aggregate defeat to Newcastle United:

“Today is painful and tomorrow is a different day.

“We had momentum in the first half and didn’t capitalise.

“They scored immediately after and the momentum shifts.

“We needed a goal early in the second half and we didn’t get that and the opportunity passes.

“They have been more efficient than us in the boxes and that is the difference in the tie.

“You need to be on the day very efficient, that is what takes you close to winning trophies and today we weren’t.”

Newcastle 2 Arsenal 0 (4-0 on aggregate) – Wednesday 5 February 8pm

(Stats via BBC Sport)

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Murphy 19, Gordon 52