Mikel Arteta praised his Arsenal players for their commitment in Saturday’s Community Shield against Liverpool at Wembley stadium.
The Gunners beat Liverpool 5-4 on penalties after 90 minutes ended 1-1.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had given Arsenal the lead in the first half before substitute Takumi Minamino equalised for the Reds.
In the shootout, Arsenal converted all five of their kicks while Rhian Brewster’s missed for Liverpool.
It was Arsenal’s 16th Community Shield win and have now won their last four (2014, 2015, 2017, 2020) English curtain-raisers.
For Liverpool, the long wait for a first Community Shield continues after last winning it in 2006.
And reacting to the win, Arteta said:”We had some challenges and some players who only had one training session for a final after the holidays, but I kept pushing them, I kept demanding and they kept responding,” he told Arsenal Digital.
“They are willing to do more and I’m really happy with how they competed in the game. They showed course to play against this team with no fear. They really went for it and it’s nice to win it on penalties too.
“There are never any excuses. We had to compete in this game and we came here in these circumstances, but the players were willing to put their bodies on the line and to play against this opponent with the way that we did today. Credit to the boys.
“We had them for three or four days and now they will go back again,” Arteta added. “It’s a very strange mini pre-season and because it’s an international week we will do what we can. Whoever we have available [for Fulham] we will get them in the best possible condition.”
By James Agberebi
