Mikel Arteta says two of his Arsenal players were ‘incredible’ at Newcastle yesterday

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To say Mikel Arteta was seething after seeing his Arsenal side lose to Newcastle yesterday would be one of the understatements of the year.

The Gunners boss was raging with the VAR and referees after Anthony Gordon’s effort was given, despite multiple offences being checked prior to the the goal.

Arteta was furious, admitting he was embarrassed about the decisions and saying that in this league, these things shouldn’t be happening.

Of course, his players weren’t exactly great on the day either. But Arteta did reserve some special praise for two of his young stars, including a certain Kai Havertz.

Mikel Arteta praises Kai Havertz and William Saliba after Newcastle

Speaking in his press conference, Arteta was asked how he felt both William Saliba and Havertz did.

And rather than suggest they’d been below par, Arteta instead used it as a chance to praise the young duo.

“So much. It’s incredible the way these guys play with 20-years, 21-years-old, the way they play here, the way they compete against this team because they are a top team. Incredible. So to get a game out of that like this, I feel sick. That’s how I feel. I feel sick to be part of this,” Arteta said.

Arsenal still need more

There was no way Arteta was going to throw his players under the bus here. After such a tough game, the Spaniard was always going to back his stars.

However, Arsenal quite simply need more from their players in these big games. The likes of Saka and Martinelli were quiet and as for Havertz, well, he should have been sent off in the game.

To suggest Havertz is playing well seems an odd take and you can’t even throw his age in, given he has bags of experience in the Premier League already.

Havertz has to be doing more for the £65m Arsenal paid, no matter how much his boss defends him.