Alexandre Lacazette has revealed how Mikel Arteta ”shouted a lot” at half-time to inspire Arsenal to victory in their FA Cup third round tie against Leeds United.
The new Gunners boss watched on as the Championship side outplayed the hosts in the first half but failed to capitalise.
Arteta sparked a reaction in the second half with Reiss Nelson’s winner taking Arsenal into the fourth round and Lacazette insists the players did not listen to the boss, which provoked an angry half-time reaction.
“The manager shouted a lot. He was not happy because we knew they’d play like this and we didn’t respect what he had said,” Lacazette told the BBC after the win.
Arteta admitted as much afterwards, with the contrasting performances in each time.
“Now I’m really pleased but we saw two different teams from the first to second half,” Arteta said.
“I tried to tell them exactly what they were going to face and after 32 minutes we had won one duel, I think.
“We changed our attitude, desire and organisation at half-time and then we were completely different.
“Sometimes they have to experience themselves how tough and how hard it is going to be. I watched a lot of Leeds games and they battered every team every three days.
“It was good for my players to learn and to suffer on the pitch.”
