Arteta says emotions are difficult to control on the pitch

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VIDEO SHOWS: NEWS CONFERENCE WITH ARSENAL MANAGER MIKEL ARTETA AND STILL PICTURES FROM ARSENAL'S FA CUP MATCH AGAINST CRYSTAL PALACE

RESENDING WITH FULL SHOTLIST AND SCRIPT

SHOWS: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (JANUARY 9, 2021) (REUTERS PICTURES - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)

1. ARSENAL'S KIERAN TIERNEY, GRANIT XHAKA AND PABLO MARI CELEBRATE A GOAL

LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (JANUARY 11, 2021) (ARSENAL HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MIKEL ARTETA, ARSENAL MANAGER, SAYING:

"To control emotions when you are playing at 200mph in a game full of things happening around you is very difficult to control. We are asking our players at corners for example to be man marking people, to be pushing people around and then we cannot fist-bump anybody, cannot say hello to anybody, it gets controversial and difficult to understand. Morally with the situation we have in the country with the situation we have worldwide, to keep doing what we are doing is a little bit of a strange feeling. But we know as well what we can bring to society if we are able to do it in a safe way. There are a lot of positives to take but it's just that balance, that when things start to get damaging and worrying and start to expose people and when we can do it and are still safe we can add, as I said, something positive to this difficult context."

LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (JANUARY 9, 2021) (REUTERS PICTURES - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)

3. PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG CELEBRATES SCORING WITH TEAM MATES

LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (JANUARY 11, 2021) (ARSENAL HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MIKEL ARTETA, ARSENAL MANAGER, SAYING:

"I think the next two games are crucial to see the direction that we are taking to reinforce the things we have improved on, the results that we are having recently. We will know much more I think in the next two games."

LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (JANUARY 9, 2021) (REUTERS PICTURES - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)

5. DAVID LUIZ AND PABLO MARI CELEBRATE

STORY: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted on Monday (January 11) that emotions are hard to control after many sides failed to maintain social distancing guidelines in dramatic FA Cup matches at the weekend.

Despite advice from authorities to maintain as much social distance as possible during the current pandemic, there were numerous occasions where players emotions got the better of them and they celebrated together.

Speaking ahead of his side's Premier League match against Crystal Palace, Arteta said it was difficult to remember the instructions in the heat of the moment.

"To control emotions when you are playing at 200mph in a game full of things happening around you is very difficult to control," he said.

Arteta added that although it felt strange morally to continue playing with much of the world in various degrees of lockdown, he appreciated the lift being able to watch televised soccer matches can give society.

"Morally with the situation we have in the country with the situation we have worldwide, to keep doing what we are doing is a little bit of a strange feeling. But we know as well what we can bring to society if we are able to do it in a safe way," he said.

Arsenal face Crystal Palace and Newcastle United in their next two games, matches that Arteta said will be a true measure of the improvement the London club have made in the last few weeks.

Arsenal have won their last three league matches in a row and began their FA Cup title defence on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Newcastle coming on the back of two extra time goals.

Arteta's side, who are 11th in the league after a poor start, welcome Palace to the Emirates Stadium on Thursday before hosting Newcastle four days later.

(Production: Andy Ragg)