Arteta: I'm a bit surprised, we showed great desire

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's head coach, praised the performance of his team during their 3-0 victory over Manchester City and their triumph in the FA Community Shield.

Mikel Arteta spoke to TNT Sports, saying: "It was a really good performance. We showed great desire, and the reaction we provided was truly impressive. I told them that I really enjoyed watching them play."

Regarding the new arrival Christos Tzolis, he said: "I believe he has adapted to the team very naturally. He has a great level of understanding; he is a player who makes the right decision when many rush and make wrong choices. He is very smart and precise. Today, in tight spaces, he made the right decision twice and scored two goals."

Discussing the strength of Arsenal's midfield, Arteta stated: "Very strong. I think we are adding quality year after year. We have great combinations, and now we have many leaders."

Reflecting on the significant victory against Manchester City, he stated: "I am a little surprised. We had a preparation period and had eight or nine players needing to be tested, so playing this way is very impressive."

Mikel Arteta addressed the absence of duo Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus from the team list, stating: "It’s really sad not to be able to benefit from them. I have been urging the Premier League to extend the rules and allow us to add more players to the list. They deserve to be part of the team, and I hope we can change this rule."