After his team defeated Nottingham Forest 2-1, Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, downplayed the altercation between Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
After goals in the second half from Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka, the Gunners were coasting to an easy three points at the City Ground, but a nerve-wracking finish occurred when Taiwo Awoniyi took advantage of a defensive error to give Forest a lifeline.
They were successful in closing the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool, but an argument over the goal they conceded caused White and Zinchenko to part ways.
“I love it; they expect more from each other, and they’re not happy with how they’re apologising about it,” Arteta said.It became a little heated, but it only implies that our style of play is insufficient; we need to achieve more success.
“It’s pushing each other and not being happy giving in, and I have to support it and promote that in a kind and appropriate manner.
“After games, things can get heated and emotional at times, but I love how the players push each other and demand excellence.”
With the win, the Gunners were able to put the ghosts of their disappointing 1-0 loss at the City Ground in May behind them, ending their championship challenge.
And Arteta was happy to see that his side had corrected it.
“I sensed it; they were discussing it as it approached that changing area,” he said. It really serves as a reminder that our bodies and minds are quite sophisticated, and when faced with a similar circumstance, they recognise what occurred, are highly engaged and active, and converse with one another about the game.
“I thought it was excellent.
“I am quite pleased with both the performance and the outcome. We wanted to make amends after what occurred the previous year and create some excitement in the league, and I believe we succeeded in doing so.
“We controlled the whole game; it was a really fantastic effort. We had to exercise patience, but we made sure to keep an eye on the opposition and prevent them from fleeing.
With Nuno Espirito Santo’s practical approach, Awoniyi’s goal gave Forest a chance to grab a draw, which would have been a steal given they made no serious effort to win the game.
They are now perilously positioned above the relegation zone after their defeat, and they might lose points for violating Premier League financial regulations.
“We defended well in the first half,” said Coach Nuno. We avoided too many confrontations and were tidy and small.
When the ball is in their control, Arsenal is a very strong team. It required patience to cover the appropriate sections in the large expanses.
“We were turning over the ball more often than not. It was a drawback; we ought to have had more stuff. In that regard, we performed better in the second half.
“We had strong possession periods and a strong start to the second half. We gave up both goals in a frustrating manner.
“It could have been prevented. Those are circumstances that we can stay away from.
“There was a sense that we may have won something once we scored. We enjoyed a solid ten minutes together. In summary, however, we ought to have performed better.
