It means a lot to the people to be in the Premier League
Mikel Arteta, on his first visit to Turf Moor as a manager, was able to go away with a point from a 0-0 draw and he was pleased with the way his team started and ended the game.
“I think we started really, really well, we could have scored at least two,” he said. “We dominated the game like we wanted, we got out from their pressure pretty well, we played in the opponents’ half and we controlled the long balls and second balls.
“After 20 to 25 minutes, we started to concede a lot of unnecessary free-kicks, throw-ins, corner kicks and when that happens you can’t find any continuity in your play and that is not the game we want to play.
“The positive thing is the reaction in the last 20 minutes, when we started to play again, we had the courage to play and the courage to take the opportunity that they allowed. The space was there because they committed a lot of people forward but we couldn’t finish the actions well enough to score.”
He’s still looking for a full ninety minute performance from his side and he added: “There have been different circumstances. I wouldn’t compare what happened today with what happened in the last four games, because for two of them we played with 10 men, which is not easy as well.
“We need more consistency, with the ball as well. We were fantastic in some moments, but were so sloppy and put ourselves in big trouble with a lot of unnecessary situations that we have to improve, because that gives the opponent an opportunity where there is a real scenario for nothing to happen. We need to improve that a lot.
“The conditions were difficult, the grass was long. They didn’t put any water on it and obviously that’s not a very helpful thing to play football. I didn’t water the pitch yesterday in the training ground, so I expected it, but that doesn’t make it easier to play. It’s the game, you know, they do really well at what they do. It is a strength, they are allowed to do it, so we have to adapt.
“We adapted really well in some moments and in some others it wasn’t the grass, it was the quality and what they do, they do really well and we could not cope with that in the right way.”
Sean Dyche had seen his team beat Leicester and Manchester United in the last two league games and come so close to making it three out of three against Arsenal. He said: “It’s another point gained. I know Arsenal are still in transition, but they are still a very good side and we delivered a very good performance.
“It’s probably our best all-round performance of the season and if there’s a tiny niggle, I felt we deserved to win it with the chances we created. I thought the whole performance level was good, but you don’t want to get greedy. In this division it’s hard winning games and we’ve come out of a tough run, with three games on paper where people were wondering, and taken seven points.”
The closest we came to a goal was when Jay Rodriguez hit the bar and the manager added: “Jay has got in the right place and I’m certainly not going to be critical after what happened last week. I thought the front two were excellent. How one of them hasn’t got on the scoresheet is a surprise, and their partnership grows in the absence of Ashley Barnes.
“Behind that, the midfield does an excellent job with and without the ball, and the back four have been solid. Once you get all those connections right, you are heading the right way, and when you don’t you have a keeper behind them who is outstanding.
“When we are on those levels, we feel we can compete against anyone in this division. Sometimes you need these results to enhance your confidence. We’ve had two big performances in the past two games to get maximum points, then another good performance that nearly got us another three, but gained us one nevertheless.
“We go about our business in the right manner. All we can do is play hard, and fair and encourage players to enhance their performances to win games. In these parts it means a lot to the people of this area to be in the Premier League. It means a lot to the club financially and a lot of people here get jobs from it, but when you think of the spending we have in this division compared to other clubs, I couldn’t be more proud of the players for what they give to themselves, the team and the club.
“We stay focused on what we are and we have a decent points total, but we have to keep going and we’ll do that again after the players have had a little break.”
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