Every word Mikel Arteta said on Port Vale, Brighton draw, Saka clarification and Eze goal

Mikel Arteta faced the media following his side’s victory over Port Vale in the third round of the League Cup. They will now host Brighton at the Emirates Stadium in the fourth round.

Goals from Eberechi Eze and Leandro Trossard staved off fears of a cup upset. The side were dominant but perhaps not convincing, and Arteta admitted after the game that they lost their grip in the second half.

That said, nine changes made from the weekend and to field a team that strong is a testament to the strength in depth of the side. Another chance as well to see Max Dowman dazzle and even set up a chance for Viktor Gyokeres.

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Here is every word Arteta said to the press during the conference:

Assessment of the performance

Something that we discussed before the game, what was at stake in this game was your reputation, as a club, as a team, as an individual. We played these type of games, I've been here long enough to understand it's going to be very tricky. I think we started the game really well, very dominant, scored a goal. We had another three or four opening chances that we didn't manage to score the goal. In the second half we lost a little bit of grip of the game, especially with the direct play, with all the throw-ins to the sidelines and winning territory and then again. We lack a bit of dominance and control. With a few adjustments, we go back to that. We scored a beautiful goal, the second goal from Willy and the quality of Leo on the finish is top draw. In general, happy with the win, the clean sheet and the debut of Kepa for us today. The goal of Ebz, his first for the club and then the fact that even making nine changes, the team can still perform really well.

Yourselves, Manchester City and Chelsea all were limited to just two goals away from home against lower division sides. What does that say about the quality of the English football pyramid?

Unbelievable how tough it is and we knew that by looking at last night, Liverpool and Chelsea and how long it took them to actually win the game. You know that you have to expect that if something different happens, great, but you know that you're going to have to really earn the right to win games here.

Was it always your intention to give Bukayo an hour? Obviously we saw a few minutes before he came on that he had a little injury.

No, it was planned, 60 minutes was the maximum. We had four, almost five players already in the line-up that we had to get him out for different reasons, especially load because they're coming from long periods out. So we planned for that and the good thing is that nobody got injured, so he has no muscular issues. So that's a very positive thing again.

Incredible that you can make nine changes and still put out that squad. It just shows how good that squad can be in these competitions.

Yes, and what we need to do as well apart from that is generate the performances that we want with the players that haven't really played together, with a completely different midfield than they've played together before, with a front line that is different as well, Max [Dowman] coming in as well and connecting immediately with the team. It's a lot of positives to take from the game.

Did a few players put their hands up for the weekend? You know, coming to ask you to play like Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri?

And that's exactly what we want, that they're giving us and me those headaches because that means that they are so connected with the team that they really want to help the team and the steps to play and everybody will play a lot of minutes.

Can I just ask you about Eze, I think that's the first time he's started in that left-eight role for you. How did you think he got on and what did he bring to that position?

He played very centrally against a team that's obviously with a 5-4-1, they are super compact inside, it's not easy to find spaces but he's very capable with the goal. You've seen that, there are another three or four actions that he's completely through and people playing through. He needs to still play more time a little bit with those guys to understand the timings, especially the things that he needs to do and then actions like that will be more consistent and better for us. In general, very good. There is still a lot more to give I think.

And I know you like versatile players, but we've seen with him he's played left-wing, he's played right-eight, he's played left-eight. Is he probably in those sort of attackers, almost your most versatile one you've got now and how valuable is that in terms of when you're picking a team?

Yes, probably yes and at the end what we want to do with him is to get him in positions, in spaces that he can create his magic moments and the defence in the team and some of that will be from the wide area, some of that will be from the right or left in relation to the opposition as well.

Just on Brighton?

A tough one, it doesn't get any easier. No, a tough one. At least he's at home, so that's always a positive thing, but we know they are top side and it will be a difficult night.