Mikel Arteta reveals what he told his squad at halftime in their win over Brighton

Arsenal came into their match against Brighton & Hove Albion with the hope of getting another crucial three points but they however also understood how it would be tough game since they had not beaten the Seagulls away from home in a long time. After a shaky first half, they did the job in the second and Mikel Arteta has explained what he told them at halftime.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been underpressure in the last few weeks due to the club’s misfortunes in their previous games but a win against Chelsea seems to have brought back the support that he had lost and he just needed a win over Brighton & Hove Albion to signify that he was trying to turn their season back on track and he did it even though it was hard.

Arsenal hardly created chances in the first half as their only shot on target was a free kick by Granit Xhaka and the fans were nervous as the players went to the dressing room at halftime. Mikel Arteta met with his players and gave them instructions which seemed to have an impact as the came into the second half with more energy levels and precision in attacks which saw Aubameyang and Martinelli almost get on the score sheet.

The gunners finally got their long awaited goal from Alexandre Lacazette who had just come on and Mikel Arteta was asked in his post-match press conference on what he told them at halftime which saw the Arsenal team perform better in the second half.

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 29: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta celebrates with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal at American Express Community Stadium on December 29, 2020 in Brighton, England.The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

“We had two issues in the first half. First of all, the balls that we gave away were simple balls in our own half when we were open and under no real pressure.” Mikel Arteta told Arsenal Player.

“That’s where they generated one or two half-chances. The second one was the way we attacked against that block.”

“We weren’t efficient enough, we didn’t have purpose and we didn’t have the right intentions with the players around the ball, the movement and situations we wanted to create. We talked about it and straight away we were much better.”