Hello Freddie, what did it feel like to be in charge for the first time and how did you feel about the game?
Of course I was proud and honoured to be allowed to stand there on the touchline and lead this great club.
If we look at the game, truly we started well. We dominated totally, found pockets of space
and created chances. I would have expected us to take the lead.
Everyone can see we have problems on the transition when we lose possession. That is something
that is easy for a coach to see what we have to work on and not get countered in those ways.
After that, I'm extremely proud of the players that they came back twice, especially as they
scored just before half time. You get that and morale goes down but they came out fighting and got it done.
The end of the game was too open for my liking. I saw my players getting tired, we've played
a lot but in the end it was a draw. Of course I was hoping Lucas (Torreira) would score
in the last second but that's how it is.
Did you see enough today to encourage you?
100%. What I saw in the first 30 minutes and the belief and how we played that was good. Offensively that was good.
I don't know if you saw it but when we went 1-0 down, the players weren't shaking their
heads, they were actually going 'come on guys we can sort this out'. That shows they believe they are quality players.
We need to change a negative trend plus, with our run that was a difficult game and the players did really well.
How many sessions do you need to get them playing the way you want them to?
Normally a pre-season is five-six weeks and you can implement how you want to play football but I don't have that.
I just try to do small building blocks and try to change things in a slow tempo so people
can understand and practice. Now players need to recover and we'll probably get one and a half sessions but that's football.
I just try to make things simple as possible and hopefully we get better.
Does everybody start with a clean slate?
I haven't had that word with them but that's how it works for me. I've been here for three
months and last year I was with the Under-23s so I saw every first team game so I have an
opinion of how we can play but I try to see it as everyone has a fair chance.
I am going to judge them on training and their games.
The team are still conceding so many shots, is it a major problem?
I think when we dominated and had possession it wasn't a problem. We have a problem on transition and I want to try to fix that.
We want to be a club that has possession and hopefully when we have the ball the opponents don't so they can't shoot as much.
Can you show what you can do and put your case forward?
I hope the club knows what I can and can't do. I'm looking forward day by day and I'm
honoured that they trusted me to do this. I'm trying to help the players as much as I can and that's how I see it.
Is top four still achievable?
100%. People drop points here and there, we drop points, so it's a bit of a crazy league
at the moment but of course I think Arsenal can go back to the top four.
Are you any closer to bringing in staff?
That's something we are working on and when I know, I will let everybody know.
What was the thinking behind not bringing on Nicolas Pepe?
Pepe's a very good player but I try to go off what I see in training and what's being done everyday and that's how I judge.
Thank you