Arteta praises Gunners' personality after rotten start against Molde

 

MikelArtetaMolde

Mikel Arteta praises his Arsenal side after 4-1 Europa League victory over Molde

By Adam Le Roux

Mikel Arteta was delighted with the reaction shown by his players to come from a goal behind to defeat Norwegian champions Molde 4-1 in the Europa League on Thursday. 

Arsenal fell behind for the second time in their three matches in Europe this season, when Martin Ellingsen’s long-range strike caught Bernd Leno off guard midway through the first half. 


But the youthful side Arteta put out reacted with gusto, as an onslaught on the visitors’ goal finally saw Kristoffer Haugen put into his own net just seconds before the half-time whistle. 


After going into the break all square, the hosts turned on the gas in the second half, with another own goal from Sheriff Sinyan giving them the lead, before Nicolas Pepe and the impressive Joe Willock rounded off the scoring. 


And Arteta was left impressed by the mentality of his side to fight back from the one-goal deficit, which leaves them top of Group B with three wins out of three. 


“It was really important for us to win and go top of the group,” the Gunners boss said. 


“We had a convincing victory and the boys tried to go for them from the first minute. We went a goal behind but it was about the reaction, we created lot of chances.


“If they did not score the own goals, we had players there for the tap in. We could sustain attacks and we did not want to let them run on the counter because they are a threat.


“I really like the approach that the younger players are having for each game, they want to make the difference, they are playing with a lot of personality.”


One man who really caught the eye at the Emirates was Willock, with the playmaker excelling throughout the game, before bagging himself a well-earned goal late on.


The 21-year-old was influential in both of the own goals scored by the visitors, with his pressure on Haugen forcing the first, before his tantalising cross was put in by Sinyan on the hour mark. 


JoeWillockMolde


The performance will have no doubt brought him into Arteta’s thinking ahead of Sunday’s clash with Aston Villa, as he looks to force his way onto the pitch in the Premier League for the first time this season.


We all know the gaffer has high standards though, and is always demanding more from his players, as fellow goalscorer Pepe is well aware.


The Ivorian has been in and out of the side this season, with his boss craving more consistency, and underlined that message after the convincing European victory.  


“The final product has to be better not just from him. We have to put higher demands at the moment. He scored a great goal and another assist and he can do more so he’s on the right path,” Arteta said.


“Nico (Pepe) scored three goals and he could score 10. Willy (Willock) the same, three assists he needs 10. If we don’t have that mindset we can’t become the team we want to be.


“Joe Willock could have scored more, he created a goal and a good performance. Keep doing what he is doing consistently and his chance will arrive (in the Premier League).


“In general consistency-wise in the final third we have to finish more things better and we can improve a lot. That goes for every single player."

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