Every word Mikel Arteta said on Everton draw, Myles Lewis-Skelly penalty and Real Madrid

Mikel Arteta was not in a positive mood after his side dropped two more points in the Premier League. Much to do with another refereeing decision which was debated among supporters but the Spaniard was headstrong in his own view.

There was a chance to hear his thoughts on rotation and that looming fixture on Tuesday night against Real Madrid., and also his last ever fixture at Goodison Park.

Here is every word from the press conference as Arteta faced the media:

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A point apiece, did you deserve more?

I think we deserve more, but that's what we got at the end. A really tough place to come. What they do, they do it really well. Constantly putting the balls into the last line, dealing with direct play and second actions.

I think we haven't conceded anything in the game, which was really positive. We were 1-0 up, had some big opportunities, ran into spaces, we didn't finalise the actions. Second half we want them to start good, start to dominate the game, they're going to be more aggressive, have more spaces. We did the opposite, we gave the ball straight to the keeper, direct play, trouble, again direct play and the referee decides to give a penalty. That changes the course of the game, which I'm here to give my opinion.

I've seen it 15 times, there's no way, in my opinion, that's a penalty. Because if there is, then O'Brien has to be out and Everton has to play with 10 men, that's clear. After that again, we dominated the game. We didn't get too much momentum because he's constantly breaking the play and a big part of that was down to us, because after direct play we get very cheap free-kicks away. .

We had two big chances to win the game, we didn't convert them, so we have to accept the point.

I feel like we've spoken a lot after games where refereeing decisions have come up this season and the gap between yourselves and Liverpool is quite significant. Do you feel as though that has played into maybe why the gap is so large this season?

Credit to Liverpool, the way they are winning their football matches. I'm talking about a reflection of what happened today, what was really relevant for the score.

There's no question that apart from that they had nothing, but obviously, that changes completely the momentum and the results.

A few times now with Myles Lewis-Skelly in certain situations in defensive scenarios where there's been controversy. Do you think in some ways he's been targeted by referees because he's been involved in these situations in the past?

No, I don't think any referee targets a player.

Just in the team you picked, you've seen a lot of first-teamers left out and then came on in. Presumably that's with Real Madrid in mind?

There were four players that couldn't start the game after what happened with Fulham and obviously the injury of Gabi, so that forces you to make some changes as well because players deserve to play minutes. I'm very happy with that. Everybody has to be important, has to feel important. We have so many games coming up right now and we have to rely on all of them.

So those players, it wasn't a case of thinking we've got a massive game on Tuesday?

We thought it might be, but not for what was happening on Tuesday, but because some of them haven't trained, they haven't had the opportunity to start the game.

Just with Bukayo, do you feel like he's in a position that he can start on Tuesday?

Well, he's in a much better place. Obviously, we have built that up. He played 30 minutes, today he's played 49, a little bit less because we whistled before we ended the game. And after that, he will be in a much better place. You've obviously got that big decision about who plays that left centre-back without Gabriel.

How did you feel Jakub did today? And also, is Ben moving back to centre-back something you're thinking about with those games?

Yeah, we have alternatives there. Today obviously we had players that haven't played together, so that connection hasn't been there. Ben especially hasn't played at all this season. So, good that they have the minutes, they have that understanding, and we will assess what are the best options for that back line.

Can I just check how Merino is feeling after the game with a head knock?

He's fine, I just checked with the doctor. He had a cut, so he was bleeding quite a lot in the first half, then he started again, so overall he wasn't feeling anything.

No other injury concerns?

No.

Obviously sentiment doesn't play any part for you, you were here to do a job, but you're a very much-loved former Everton player coming back to Goodison Park for the last time, just offering your thoughts on the stadium, you say how difficult it is to come here, just what's it like as an arena?

Well, I think the Premier League has got a reputation all over the world for places like Goodison Park. I think that makes the Premier League unique, so it's going to be very strange.

I understand it's the evolution of football, of a football club, but this is very much part of the history of this league, and when you want to describe somebody from abroad how the Premier League looks like, you say go to Goodison Park and experience it. Unfortunately in a few months, we're not going to have that again.

How much anticipation is there among your players now, even on the journey home about Tuesday night?

Yeah, one of the most beautiful games that you can play in football, in the highest European competition against the team that has dominated that competition in the last 20, 25 years. So, yeah, really looking forward to it.

And do you just rest, rest and rest now, is that all you can do?

We have to train and prepare a few things, but tomorrow we'll have some time to rest and start preparing really well for the game. We’re looking forward to that game, yeah.