The Arsenal boss has spoken to the press after his side's Premier League victory over Brentford in the Premier League

Mikel Arteta has addressed the media following his side’s impressive 3-1 at Brentford, which sees Arsenal move into second in the table. Goals from Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli were enough to cancel out and turn around the early strike from Bryan Mbeumo.

Ethan Nwaneri started his first Premier League game on the right-hand side and he sparkled. The absence of Bukayo Saka is certainly going to be felt, but more performances like that from the winger and the impact will be lessened.

READ MORE: Arsenal player ratings vs Brentford as Ethan Nwaneri sparkles and Thomas Partey tops the scores

READ MORE: Mikel Arteta doubles down on clear Arsenal January transfer hint as two blows confirmed

Yet again it was the centre-half pairing who managed to help keep the nerves calm and the threat on the counter that led to their victory. Mikel Arteta was quizzed on the magnitude of the win and the individual performances of his players as the title race goes on.

What did you make of the performance?

It's a very difficult place to come. Their record at home, the way they play, they cause issues to opponents, very impressive.

On top of that, we went a goal down and it became a big mountain to climb. I think the team showed a lot of composure, was very calm emotionally because we needed that in today's game and as well had the right desire to keep persisting, attacking them in the way that can cause them problems which is difficult. So overall I think we deserved to win the game.

What's going through your mind when Raya spills the ball and it's going backwards?

That hopefully the walls doesn't vibrate, it was a really unusual action from David. It happens and we're lucky that the goal didn't go in, it would have probably changed the game.

The team adapted, we lost some players again before the game. We had little issues, the team performs, goes out there, and with a 17-year-old in the starting line-up which is great to see that he plays with that courage and that determination.

Did the bug affect some of the players on the pitch?

Yeah, on the pitch and off the pitch.

On Ethan, you said you wanted the right context for him before, why was now the right context?

Well, in that position it wasn't because of the bug, it was a decision I made because I thought he was the best player to play in the position to start the game and because there was a story there with his debut here. He made his Premier League debut and sometimes that feeling comes in and you feel it is the right one and then who knows?

You said it was a gut feeling to give him his debut, you have not rushed it since, how do you feel about his development now so he can start tonight?

Part of that development is patience, managing frustration, managing expectation because you expect that everything is going to go so fast as the previous things happens and it's not the case. So now we're building him, he's already played a lot of games, a lot of minutes for us, the age that he’s got and he fully deserves that.

How disruptive was the bug to your plans?

These things happen in this period, there is always things. Throat, infection, viruses so I try to delay the line-up as far as possible because you can get up in the morning and you can have a surprise unfortunately.

Are those players who were affected going to be back soon?

Yes, I hope so, it's nothing serious but they weren't in the ideal condition to play today.

What's the protocol, do you have to isolate players in these situations?

Leave that one to the doctor obviously, in relation to the symptoms that they have. With Kai, it was obvious he wasn't feeling well at all and he had really clear symptoms so stay away from it, put him in a car and go back to London.

Are there others who have had to isolate?

I don't think so.

Nine games in January, it's a lot, injuries, illness, are you a bit stretched and short right now?

When I see the willingness of each individual to play through anything and the versatility that e can create within our idea, the answer is no. But something else happens and I would have all the issues, hopefully not, hopefully we have people back like Ricky today, and other players they are in top form as well so we need everybody.

Only the second time in six matches this league season that Arsenal have gone behind and Arsenal have turned it around and won, did you notice a difference in your side's reaction in this specific game?

Yes today, and we discussed about that option because it can happen and then the game falls in their hands and they get exactly what they want. But we managed to change it around, the timing of it was really good so we were lucky that we took advantage so early in the second half and it was a different game.

Did the news of the bug leaking so soon affect things

I didn't know anything that was leaked. Kate's fault! (Joking)

How did you assess Mikel Merino's performance?

Very good. It is because he deserves it, and the type of game we had to play. The amount of density they defend with when they are deep requires people with a lot of threat in the box. He is a master of that. We believe with the unit on the left we could have the dynamics we wanted. He scored a very very important goal again. He is always there, a big threat. Great to have these options.

Why was it so important to remain calm in this specific game?

That is something general but there are certain teams that are so good at doing certain things and you have to manage that better.

Are you confident that Kai will recover quickly for Brighton?

I think so, yeah. Hopefully, he will recover very quickly.

Thoughts on Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli?

Very good timing! Both of them are really important. It is a big quality of our team, to share the goals. Today we have done it again, scoring in three very different ways. Great. That is what we need. The people up front have to be firing, with that feeling, and they are with that feeling right now.

Have they answered their critics?

Yeah, but they are so consistent in the way they train and behave. They want it. Goals are about moments as well, about the feeling and energy the player is in. They are in a good mood right now.