Arsenal 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen: What Arteta and Rice said
· Yahoo Sports
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking in the post-match news conference: "We started the game so well, and we were a threat from every angle. Their keeper kept them in the game, and we needed a magical moment from Ebs [Eberechi Eze] to give us the lead.
"Then, in the second half, Declan's action gave us the opportunity to win the game, and we had four or five situations where we should've scored a third, but overall, we fully deserved to win and be into the quarter-finals.
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"Ebs is playing every three days, he has rhythm, has an understanding with the players and this [the goal] is why he is here. He is building an understanding with all of them and when you start to make key moments in games, that lifts your confidence.
"Declan was immense, him and the whole team - the manner they go into every ball and the passion they show is remarkable."
Arsenal goalscorer and player of the match Declan Rice, speaking to TNT Sports: "I'm shattered, it's non-stop. We're in all the competitions still, so it's been every three days since October. We deal with it the best we can, but it's difficult. We find ways to win and it's all good. Everyone asks where I get my energy from. I just get this second burst of energy."
On his goal: "I stepped in front of him, the first touch set me up for everything, there was nowhere else to go, so I just went for it. You find it in your belly somewhere to keep on fighting, to make the tackles, to win."
On Eberechi Eze: "There aren't many players that I've seen that can hit the ball like him. We need to get him on the ball more."
Did you know?
- Arsenal have won 37 of their 49 games in all competitions this season (D9 L3). Only in 2001-02 (39) and 1970-71 (41) have they ever won more in a single campaign (also 37 in 2003-04).
- Arsenal have reached the UEFA Champions League quarter-final in three consecutive seasons for the second time, previously doing so between 2007-08 and 2009-10.