ARSENAL manager Mikel Arteta believes his side could have done even better last night after a 4-0 win over PSV Eindhoven in their UEFA Champions League group phase opener.
The Gunners had not played Champions League football for six years but they were ruthless against the Dutch side, with Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Ordegaard netting to light up the Emirates Stadium.
When asked in his post-match press conference if his side could have shown even more after the four-goal win, Arteta answered in the affirmative.
“I agree, especially box-to-box there are things we should have done much, much better and that’s every single day you have to be at it,” the Spaniard said.
“You have to be really analytical to try to improve, but at the same time credit to the boys to play the way they played in certain moments. To score four goals in the Champions League against a team that hasn’t lost a single game, credit to them as well.”
Arteta however conceded that it was a great performance and result, which placed Arsenal at the top of Group B ahead of Europa League holders Sevilla, Lens and PSV.
“It was a beautiful night. Obviously after such a long time, we wanted to produce the right performance to try to win the game, and it was great to see the atmosphere, the Champions League music, everyone was getting a bit emotional before it,” he said.
“We showed especially in both boxes today we were exceptional and that was the difference in the game I think.”
The win continued Arsenal’s impressive start to the Premier League campaign, in which they have won four of their opening five fixtures.
The Gunners are up against North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday in a battle of in-form sides, and Arteta expects another kind of ‘challenge’.
“Every opponent brings different challenges and when you score early in a game probably that helps,” he noted.
“That hasn’t been the case too much this season, and that’s what we have to face opponents on other things as well. Certainly, when you see this team running, full of pace, being vertical, it’s a joy to watch.”
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