Mikel Arteta spoke to the media after we opened our Champions League season with a 0-0 draw away at Atalanta.

The boss was asked about the result, David Raya’s double save and more – and this is his answer.

About the result:
I think we started the game really well in the first 20, 25 minutes. I think we played with the ball in the right places, with a lot of intent and were effective, but without creating too many clear chances. Then we lost control of the game because we were very inconsistent with the ball, gave away a lot of simple balls – and against a team that is man-to-man (that) costs you moments to switch because the moment you lose your man, there is space and you are equal in numbers at the back or overloaded. Defensively we didn’t suffer – that’s the reality. But in the second half we gave away a penalty and I saw two of the best saves I’ve probably ever seen in my career to save us from that moment. After that the game continued in the same way as after the first 25 minutes. We were inconsistent with the ball. We had moments, but we never managed to dominate or threaten. Then we had a great chance with Gabi Martinelli to win the game, but unfortunately he didn’t go in. (Overall) there is still a lot of room for improvement.

On David Raya’s double save – and whether he feels liberated this season:
That’s a question for him, but last year was already very impressive and really good, even in a different context. This season he’s started exceptionally well – the save he made against Villa, today he kept us in the game. That’s the reality. You need that from your goalkeeper at this level. I’m really happy that he’s in the form he is now.

Whether Raya is the best goalkeeper in the world at the moment:
I don’t know, I haven’t seen all the goalkeepers, but at the moment he is exceptional for us, that’s for sure.

Along the way, the team managed to get through the final phase well:
It was a very difficult game emotionally, because you are all focused on the man, so every action counts in your emotions. When we had certain moments that did not go our way, I felt the team was losing the discipline that is needed for that a little bit. I think we showed more maturity tonight than last year – if you can’t see a way to win, at least don’t lose. But that is certainly not the message I want to give the team.