What did you make of the performance and the red card.
Really happy with the result, especially the performance. After playing 72 hours ago and with the last three games - how we played against Newcastle, against Sevilla and today. How dominant we were against a team that is very difficult to dominate. The amount of situations that we generated I think we fully deserved to win the game.
And with the red card… yes, VAR was right. The referee was right. Really good decision, really positive from Mikel to speak about that. Good decision.
How important was it to bounce back from Newcastle and keep the pressure at the top of the league?
This is what this team does. We play in the best possible way to keep the pressure at the top of the league. We give everything to win games and to earn it. When the opponent is better just congratulate him. I think we’ve been better in the last three. We’re in a really strong position for the international break. We need to get players back because at the moment we have eight players not available and that’s a lot. In December we have 11 games coming up so we’d better get everyone ready.
What was your view on Zinchenko’s display?
Very happy with him. Especially against these teams the fluidity, threat that he brings, the spaces that he occupies and opens for other players is critical. I really liked how defensively committed he was today. The goal is a really good example of how he’s living the game - when the ball is far from him, he’s the first on the ball, that’s why he scores the goal. That’s what we need from him.
It was a really brave finish from Trossard…
Put your body on the line if it’s necessary, and that was it. It’s the 1000th goal at the Emirates - a beautiful number. Very happy with him. I think every time you ask him to play whether it’s wide or as a nine, it flows and he has a real threat. So I’m really happy with him.
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Can you elaborate on what issues Ben White was suffering with and when he might be back?
Yesterday in training he wasn’t comfortable. He didn’t look right. But Ben won’t give you much. He always wants to be on the pitch and he wants to hide anything that is in there. But we highlighted something happening there that we noticed in the last two weeks as well. We wanted to protect him today. It was the right call from the physios and the medical department and tomorrow we will assess him and understand what’s happening.
What can you say about Trossard’s ability to bring the best out of those around him and the connections he forms with his teammates?
That’s the word - I think he connects everybody. He’s so intelligent. I think he moves in ways that attracts people that generates spaces and options for people. Today he did that really good because it was so difficult and the spaces were so small to attack. He gave us a lot of threat and possibilities to connect and find spaces for us.
How's Jorginho?
He had a few bad cuts I think so they could not sort it out on the pitch so they decided to take him out. Hopefully he is fine. I think he was really good again today, the way this guy is competing, coaching and supporting the team in every way, I am really happy with him.
Are you happy he's back with Italy?
I'm very happy for any player that can represent his country and I know what Italy means to him, he was desperate to be involved and he fully deserves it in my opinion.
Trossard – What does it show about him that he gets up and then keeps playing?
Go be consistent and go and go and try to force errors and mistakes and take courage to go again and the team in the last two or three games has been so much more courageous in that sense, today we go so many times into the final third, so many balls into the box, we sustained attacks and phases and then it becomes really diff for the opposition
The physicality of your team has historically been an area to be exploited - but you got goals from corners today?
We are big lads! Willy is a real presence but he hasn't shown that skill consistently and we are really working with him because he can be much more dominant and the goal today is a real example of that, credit to the coaches and to him as well for the work that they are doing. We are the team that generates the most set-pieces, teams are really low against us and preventing the spaces so it is a really good way for us to score goals as well.
How is Martin? Will he go away with Norway?
I don't know. I am going to have a meeting now with the medical department and Edu to understand everyone's situation but I think he is going to be back after the international break. I don't know exactly what is the decision and the communication at the moment.
Tomiyasu played 90 minutes, but is he okay?
Only his eye, his lens, he had a problem with his lens but the rest he was top, a very good performance.
Good to be in the position you are in going into international break?
I prefer to be at the top but this is what we have to do, we showed a lot of consistency both in the way we are playing and competing and in results so lets carry on, get some momentum now and get some players back and go again.
Will you take a break with some sunshine?
Sunshine I am not sure because probably I am going to stay in London so I doubt the sunshine! But I'm sure I will have some really beautiful family time and with friends and enjoy some days off for sure.
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