Every word Mikel Arteta said on Fulham, winning ugly, Trossard, Eze and VAR delay explained

Mikel Arteta addressed the media following the Premier League victory at Craven Cottage. A single goal from Leandro Trossard was enough to get the result after Gabriel Magalhaes’ flicked header.

It was another defensive masterclass from the Gunners who for the second Premier League game in a row did not concede a shot on target. However, the end to the game was anything but comfortable nor was the match devoid of drama with multiple VAR checks.

Here is every word the Arsenal boss said from the press conference room:

• Arsenal player ratings vs Fulham - Trossard heroics, Saka stars and Gyokeres misses the mark
• Mikel Arteta press conference: Arsenal boss on Fulham win, Trossard, VAR and title race

On winning at a difficult ground with some poor previous results

The recent history wasn't in our favour and we wanted to change that, like we did against Newcastle and West Ham at home. And that's another step, you know, having that mindset and that ability to win these kind of matches against a really good opposition, a really difficult place to come. And especially the first 10-15 minutes, it took us a while to get into the game with some very unusual giveaways that has caused some transitions.

And after that, we started to dominate the game much better throughout the rest of the game much better. But it was, we thought it was about knocking them out against this team. They are really well organised, especially with the contest over, it's always a draw, even if they start winning, complicates the situation a lot.

And the more we dragged on, I think we were better and better and managed to win the game and another title shift.

That's the second consecutive Premier League game where you've not conceded a shot on target. It's the first time that's happened since November 2003 for Arsenal. When you're leading a game 1-0 right at the end at a place like this, I guess you sit there comfortably now then?

Not, comfortably, because well, this pitch feels like it's smaller and they are straight away on you in the box. But the big chances, they didn't generate any big chances. It was more the feelings on there, especially in the first half with the giveaways.

And because there are a lot of players with a lot of quality in the final third and Jimenez in the box with a real threat and thankfully it was enough.

How important is it for you to grind out these wins? Probably you could argue a third win away from home where you may have not played your best, but that must really please you, that you're just really grinding out.

Yes, you have to play the best in relation to the opponent and the play that you have to play. That's what we have to play. The best against Atletico Madrid is going to be different to the best of today and make sure that we are able to take the game into those areas that is going to further our possibility to win the game and we continue to try to improve.

Could you reflect on how difficult it is for Eze coming into this club to learn playing in those spaces as a number 10 against this sort of mid-block, which is something he's not really going to have run into a lot at Palace?

No, because he's more used to probably attacking open spaces and breaks and facing and carrying the ball with the space in front of him. He's so good and comfortable doing that. I think he had his moments today, I think he played Viktor through once or twice in really good spaces and maybe if that would have finished in a goal, it would have looked a little bit different. But I'm very happy with what he's doing, and we can use him in different positions and today we used him on that one and we carry on training him too.

Mikel, when you came here years ago, I think there was a perception about Arsenal that they could be soft at times. Do you think under you, they've now built this ability to win up a little bit?

I don't like looking back, but if you ask me how I would describe the team, the players, it's tough and very, very willing.

This is another set-piece goal, Mikel. How pleasing is that for you and how important is that weapon when it comes to winning ugly games where you're struggling to break the team down?

Great, because obviously we generate so many set-pieces, so you have to start from there. We generate so many, we have to understand them, and against these low blows when they don't really want to drop and commit that many players there, we'll have another opportunity to put the players that we want in the position that we want, with the role that we want, and we need to exploit that. We could have exploited it today in different ways. At the end it was a set-piece, so more than welcome.

Gabriel looked like he'd had a really long journey, maybe wasn’t quite sure where he was at. A couple of questions relating to that. What's the programme like for someone that's coming back and coming into a game so quickly? Also, how much does it impress you that a player who's maybe struggling to re-find that rhythm then has the character to come on?

That's exactly the part that I loved about it, because when everything goes well in the first few minutes for a player and he's confident, and things are flowing for you, it's easy to continue. Gabi had two difficult moments, but I know that's his standard. The way he reacted to that and the sense of security that he transmitted, that's maturity, and that's the mindset that we need in the team. So that's a really good example to use and that I will use for sure.

I just wanted to ask you about Atletico coming up quickly on Tuesday. Are you a little bit concerned about how much football everyone's had and it's another big game coming up, can you rest, can you rotate?

Yes, we know the situation. You will see some of the players, not only us, their players as well and maybe some injuries as well. Their load is what it is, that's why we need it. And the games now and the context they're managing with a bigger squad. I think all the top teams, we are in the same boat. We're going to have to manage that really well to look after them and especially to get the best out of them.

Mikel. I wanted to say you'd have another chance to score from the spot when it got overturned, the penalty going in. So just your view on that?

Yeah, regarding the penalty, I was getting a bit animated because obviously it's clear and obvious or not. That's why he has to intervene and it was taking so long.

And then Anthony, that's why I asked why it was taking so long. Then he explained the reason why it took so long on the screen. It was nothing to do with the process. It was the screen that wasn't working. So that's fine. I think what I have is that probably wasn't a penalty. So probably they made the right decision and I was just animated because of the process. That's it.

Just on the goal, Leandro Trostad, again, he has a habit of scoring goals in between. What have you got to say about him?

That he has this quality, that he plays these magic moments when the team needs him the most and that intuition and he's in the right place in the right moment.

And that's a huge quality for the team and a massive welcome for us. So really happy. I think he's been very, very good in recent weeks, and now we have a lot of players in a really high emotional state and performance level, which is really good to see.