"The team is working really well and always focused on each game.”

It is difficult to stay fit and focus in games when you are playing three times a week, but we are doing really good work in our recovery sessions.

"We are confident we can win in any stadium and we feel comfortable at home. We are going to keep this goal in the future and hopefully it comes with the same results.

"It has gone very quickly [Reaching 50 appearances].

"It has been just one year and a few months since I came here. I'm really happy with how it's going. I'm feeling comfortable with my team-mates as well.

"I just want to say thank you to the fans - they are always supporting the team and we can feel it on the pitch.

"Hopefully 50 more appearances are coming - then more and more [after that]."

Pau Torres pre-match.



The changing room is disappointed. A lot of frustrated faces because to concede a late goal like that, we work on that on the training ground. We will take lessons from that."

"These things can happen [John McGinn’s disallowed goal]. It was a great finish, but it was unfortunate - millimetres really. We had plenty of chances to put them away, but it is what it is and we have to build on this.

"It hurts because of conceding a late goal. We want to keep clean sheets to keep fighting and achieve a successful season. We will work on it.

"Disappointing really. After we got the goal I think we could have played out better and we went long a lot. The late goal, we work on our defensive side and it is really disappointing to concede that.

"Last time I was here, it was the second lockdown so there weren't any fans here. It was nice for me to finally get that in front of the fans but overall it is disappointing really.

"Working with him [Unai Emery] every day since I have been here, I can see the growth of the club. We are fighting to remain in the Champions League.

"We are growing and learning every day and the manager is pushing us as far as he can. Today we can hopefully take lessons from because we have to fight until the end. It's like two points lost, really."

Ross Barkley post match.


"We played a fantastic match. We played I think the best minutes since the start of the season. The first half we controlled the game. At the beginning we were dominating and creating chances. We didn't score, or when we did it was a no goal.

We played a fantastic match, against this team was very difficult. We imposed our ideas. We created chances to scored in the first half, we had one goal which was not because the ball was out.

"The second half we started even better than the first half. We were pushing, dominating, creating chances. The goalkeeper was saving a lot of times.

"We improved even in the second half and for 35 minutes we played fantastic. We created chances, we stopped them, and we scored the goal. But we knew before how we needed to be always ready for everything, because they are a team who are always going forward when they get the ball.

"We scored the goal, fantastic, but we didn't manage the last 10 minutes. We didn't manage because they are a very competitive team always playing to win corners and chances, force mistakes. They scored in the last moment and we have to accept it. But we were fantastic again, really I'm very happy.

"Of course we are very demanding in our own way, but we are having a fantastic season. Today we only got one point and of course we deserved three points, but football is like that, and from the last 10 minutes they deserved to get something and they got it.

"The VAR is for the referees and the referee today did a fantastic job.

"VAR is clear, of course. If VAR is telling us no goal it's clear. For me the referee was fantastic today. It was not a goal because it was out, through VAR.

"We try to avoid our opponents getting to our box, try to avoid conceding corners. Teams like Bournemouth their style is so direct, quickly getting to the opposition box. We made a mistake in our focus because maybe we were tired, not focused 100%. This is one thing I know we have to improve.

"At the last moment we didn't control the match. For the last 10 minutes we didn't control. Of course we deserved to win, but we have to accept it. It's painful but we have to accept it.

"We are being very demanding and we want to be in the top position in the league. But we have to accept that we are continuing. We are having a fantastic start in the league and Champions League and we are of course frustrated because we want to win."



“The ball is brilliant from Marcus Tavernier, and Evanilson does well to get in front of his marker to reach the ball and nod it across Emi Martinez and into the far post. Bournemouth have deserved that equaliser.”

Chris Sutton makes a total fool of himself reacting to what’s just happened on the telly rather than analysing the reality of a match… imagine the salary this joker is on.



"We played a fantastic game and we are very demanding and increasing our level. Our mentality is to be in the top seven in the table and to get it is this through a lot of points to try to get and try and achieve in our way. We deserved to win we dominated and imposed.

"In our process here we are being demanding to win clearly and we are frustrated in case we aren’t winning. If I want to play again this match the plan would be the same, how we played we played would be the same. We controlled the game for 30 minutes perfectly and we didn’t concede a lot in the first half.

"They were having some corners and we accepted 0-0 in the first half but we were in the way we wanted second half we started to get better and then we scored. After that the match was changing, they were playing with fresh players and they were trying to push and get in our box. We needed our defence focusing and being strong.

"They scored and we were frustrated because we deserved to win but there’s still work to do because we’re trying to get a strong mentality. Emotionally when you are 1-0 in the last minute and you think the three points are very important, we didn’t control it and we have to learn, the players have to learn.

"This is analysis I have to do deeply, but at the beginning we know we should score the second goal, but especially Bournemouth. Maybe the control is trying to avoid the players and have the second ball and try and score the second goal, that’s the best way. They are very competitive. We avoided their game plan, but in 90 minutes they can get it. The first half for 10 minutes and at the end of the game too.

"We are trying to play and not concede a lot of yellow cards but a team like Bournemouth, they do a lot of duels, a lot of contact We had a a lot of yellow cards and they had yellow cards. When I changed Onana, one reason was because of it.

"He [Bournemouth ‘keeper Travers] was fantastic for them, he saved them clearly.

“We drew against Manchester United and played a fantastic game as well, it’s not a consequence. Maybe we did some changes and maybe Morgan [Rogers] playing a lot of matches in a row, but it’s normal. Even no Champions League football you can feel tired. Overall the players and the team played well and played with the mentality we want, but we didn’t achieve the win.

“Today, the referee was fantastic. He did a fantastic job. VAR is refusing the goal because it was out, it was very tight, but I accept it completely and the referee was right.

“The handball of Leon Bailey is not a penalty but it’s not relevant, yes he touched the ball with his hand but the ball was going to the corner of the box, it’s not the position deserving a penalty.

“And the penalty of Cash on Semenyo, the referee watched it perfectly and the VAR confirmed it. I think he did a fantastic job.

“We are being demanding in our increases, in our way to try to get better, trying to be competitive in the top level. Today, we had the opportunity to get three points, to be third, to be in the top four, but we got only one. Of course, there are other teams strong - Liverpool, City and Arsenal. There are other teams like Brighton, Tottenham, Chelsea, Newcastle, Manchester United and even Fulham.

“We have to be demanding, we have to try to understand how we want to get the level we are playing, keeping it. This is very demanding our way, very demanding for myself in how I take my decisions in everything, and how the players respond tactically and emotionally with our mentality.

“Today, I am disappointed a little bit because there’s still work to do. One is emotionally, we have to try to control ourselves in the moments that are a bit more difficult - when we are at 1-0, when the opponent is pushing - you have to try to get the balance and be strong in our mind to keep the same focus, the same demands, the game plan and the strategy, the set pieces.

“But I am really happy with the team and the players, I know sometimes we can have some moments like that. We had very good moments and a very good match but the result was not deserved. And why? Because we have to get better even playing well, sometimes it’s not enough.

“My objective is to play with the best players and my objective is to build a team. To build a team, I need players, and if I’m not given them opportunities to play I am not confident with them.

"Of course, we started in August and September with the same players but we were struggling a little bit as we didn’t have players available. Now we have and this is the moment I can be confident with Lucas, Maatsen, Ross Barkley, Tielemans…

“We are adding players, of course there are some players not playing but I am confident they can help us. But we have to play getting our high level with the team we are facing in the Champions League and Premier League with the players in the same way. We are going to analyse deeply. After two months, again it is the transfer window. In case we are perfect like that or we need something, to change something.”

Unai Emery post match.



“There's a bigger picture on this game. As a referee, we've all had games that have been very difficult. I did a Merseyside derby where I didn't have a particularly good game myself and I think I ended up with the most yellow cards I ever had in the Premier League, but those sorts of occasions are few and far between.

“But this season, in the past month we've had two games where I think was it 14 yellow cards in one game, 13 in another. As a referee, I think you've got to look at yourself after a game like that, because if you've jumped in in the first minute with a yellow card, you've set the standard.

“Now people all ask for consistency, so if you've set the standard of what your tolerance level is for that afternoon, you've got to continue. But when you're getting up to double figures of cards, I would suggest you've lost control.

“You've lost the respect of the players and sooner or later the law of averages, somebody's going to pick up a second card. You're uncomfortable with the way you're refereeing it, the players are uncomfortable with the way you're refereeing it and you make mistakes.

“Antoine Semenyo was cautioned for simulation and if we go back to my favourite pet subject VAR, surely that is a mistake. But you know there's certain things that they can look at, certain things that they can't look at. They can't contest a second yellow card, they can only look at straight reds. And you think why?

“If you've got this system, use it for things that are important, instead of getting involved in things that just create more problems.

“I think the referee at the end of that game, people ask for consistency, and someone might say, well, the referee has been consistent because he's cautioned so may players. But a caution is supposed to be a warning to tell that player and the other players, we're not getting away with that this afternoon.

“If I'd have been the referee of that game, I don't think I'd have been too happy coming off with that many yellow cards. You've got to look at yourself and say, did I contribute to that number? I don't know how he kept his notebook, you’d need an A4 piece of paper to keep all those names and numbers.

“But in the case of Leon Bailey, no, he hasn't deliberately gone to handle the ball, but what's his arm doing waving about like that? I thought it was a penalty for handball, but I'm not too sure as I say what the laws and interpretations are nowadays, but you know we'll see one given next Saturday because now the refs will have a meeting, and the authorities will say ‘if that one happens again, give the penalty’.

“So all of a sudden seven days on, the interpretation changes. Your team won't get the penalty on week one, but on week two, when they've tweaked interpretations, you concede one. So, I fully understand why the fans, managers, players are frustrated by a lack of consistency.”

Former Premier League referee Jeff Winter on Chris Kavanagh’s poor performance.


“The referee’s call of goal for Aston Villa was checked by the VAR. As there was factual evidence that the ball was out of play in the build-up to the goal, the VAR recommended that the goal was disallowed.”

Premier League Match Centre statement… making it us as they go along… referee’s call was supposed to be the thing this season wasn’t it?