Mikel Arteta makes 'struggling' joke as Arsenal's Champions League status not yet confirmed
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Declan Rice set Arsenal on course for the last 16 by scoring their fastest Champions League goal since 2014. Only an improbable run of results next week, when Mikel Arteta ’s side face Girona away, would see them drop out of the top eight and into the play-off places.
And Arteta, who saw Kai Havertz score the 500th goal of his time in charge before Martin Odegaard added a late third, joked that he was “struggling” to get his head around the permutations. “A lot of things have to happen [to drop out of the top eight] but we still have to go to Girona and do a good job,” Arteta said.
“I’m really happy overall. It's a massive step tonight, putting us in a really strong position. We scored three, created plenty and didn't concede many shots.”. Arteta also hailed Rice, who found the net after just 104 seconds, for a dynamic performance that he believes signals the midfielder is back to top form. Rice has been dealing with a nagging foot injury having started the campaign still feeling fatigued from last summer's Euros.
"The good thing with Dec is he's so consistent, so reliable. He's always there,” Arteta added. "His intent, purpose, especially attacking, how he's driving with this ball. Today he could have scored two goals. “I’m very happy because we need to affect the game from those positions. He is doing that.”.
Rice, meanwhile, said that he hopes the win can help the Gunners build momentum as they seek to close the gap on Liverpool in the Premier League. “What I learnt from last year is that you need to be there or thereabouts at this time of the season and we are at the minute,” Rice said.
