Arsenal go back top with narrow win against Newcastle.

Mikel Arteta on the importance of the win: “I’m really happy for the win. We talked about game one and how important that was. We did the job. We should have finished with a bigger margin in certain moments of the game, but when it’s 1-0 it’s always tough because they have quality, because they brought so many good players on the bench as well. And when we don’t finish the action, especially the open ones that we had, the margin is going to be smaller.”

On the decision to not send off Nick Pope: “They will have their opinion, I’m here to give my opinion and somebody that has been in the game for a long time, and you talk to any of the players, because the trajectory where the ball is, there’s no keeper there. If that were to happen the other way around, it’s a red card.”

On Eberechi Eze: “Eze is a big player for us and he’s in a really good moment. He produced an incredible moment to score the goal. Hopefully he’s fit and he can be with us on Wednesday.”

On Kai Havertz’s injury: “He had a little niggle, so I don’t know how serious it is. It didn’t look too big because the action, the way he describes it, is not too sharp, but I have to wait and see.”

On the return of Bukayo Saka: “Great. I think he had a very good impact as well in the minutes that he’s played. He’s back, I think he looks sharp, he looks good, he looks fresh. You certainly notice something different in the team and in the stadium as well when he comes in, so we certainly need that.

“Let’s see how he reacts tomorrow, how he absorbs the load. He’s so keen, he’s so motivated, it’s the most beautiful part of the season, and he’s with us.”

Eberechi Eze: “I don’t hear pundits! The pressure we put on ourselves is so much more than what’s coming from outside.

“It’s the necessary pressure to win, it’s not negative, it’s beautiful.”

On his injury: “I’m all good, I have no serious injury.”

Declan Rice on a ‘massive’ three points: “The three points were massive today. After the week we had against Manchester City, there was a lot of encouragement to take from that game, but we knew coming into this, with five games left, we have to win all five.

“To tick that one off today was a real boost, so we’re really, really happy with the win today.”

On the difficulty of playing Newcastle: “Always against Newcastle, it will be a really tough game, they have unbelievable players who can hurt you at any time.

“We could have done better in front of goal in the second half, it opened up for us, and it was just lacking that final pass. But in the end, three points, a special goal from Ebs and that makes the weekend better, so it is all good.”