Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised his players following their narrow victory over Hull City, while also discussing the controversial VAR decision involving Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke's impressive performance during the encounter.

According to a report by Football London, Arteta addressed journalists after Arsenal secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium. Martin Odegaard scored the only goal of the match, giving the Gunners all three points and ensuring they entered the international break on a positive note.

Although Arsenal managed to secure the victory, the Spanish manager admitted that his team had enough opportunities to win by a more comfortable margin. The Gunners created several promising attacking situations but were unable to convert a number of their chances, making the closing stages more difficult than necessary.

Nevertheless, Arteta expressed satisfaction with the result, particularly because securing maximum points before the international break was important for maintaining the team's confidence and momentum. He described the victory as a positive achievement and explained that going into the break with a win was one of the most satisfying outcomes for a manager.

The Arsenal boss also acknowledged the collective effort of his players and the backroom staff, praising their commitment throughout a demanding period of the campaign. According to Arteta, maintaining consistency requires significant work from everyone involved, and he was pleased with the mentality demonstrated by the squad against Hull City.

Beyond discussing the overall performance, Arteta was also asked about the controversial penalty incident involving Kai Havertz. The situation attracted attention after the initial decision was overturned following a review by the Video Assistant Referee, leading to questions about whether Arsenal should have been awarded a spot-kick.

However, the manager refused to offer a definite opinion on the incident because he had not watched the replay. Rather than make a judgement without properly examining the situation, Arteta admitted that he could not provide an honest assessment of the decision.

He explained that he had not reviewed the footage and did not want to give journalists an inaccurate response. His comments suggested that he preferred to understand exactly what happened before expressing any strong opinion about the officials' intervention.

Meanwhile, Noni Madueke was another major subject during Arteta's press conference following his encouraging contribution against Hull City. The winger has recently shown signs of improvement after experiencing a difficult period earlier in the campaign, and the Arsenal manager was particularly pleased with his response to being left out of the starting lineup.

Arteta revealed that Madueke had worked hard to regain his place in the team and demonstrated the right attitude whenever opportunities were presented to him. The manager explained that players must prove themselves through their performances and commitment before expecting regular involvement.

He praised the winger's reaction to the disappointment, describing his attitude and determination as evidence of his professionalism. According to Arteta, Madueke deserved the opportunities he has recently received because of the effort he has invested in improving his performances.

The manager's comments also came after Madueke missed out on England's previous international squad, a development that could have affected his confidence. However, Arteta believes the winger has responded positively by concentrating on his responsibilities at club level and working towards becoming a more influential player.

Despite acknowledging his improvement, Arteta insisted that there are still areas of Madueke's game that require attention. In particular, the Arsenal manager highlighted his finishing as something that must improve if he wants to become more effective in the final third.

Madueke reportedly missed three clear opportunities during the match against Hull, situations that could have allowed Arsenal to secure a more comfortable victory. Although the winger played an important role in the move that produced the winning goal, Arteta believes he must become more clinical when presented with opportunities to score.

The Spaniard's assessment therefore reflected both appreciation and constructive criticism. He recognised Madueke's growing influence and praised his determination, but also made it clear that consistent improvement requires greater efficiency in front of goal.

Overall, Arteta's comments demonstrated his satisfaction with Arsenal's latest victory and the positive mentality displayed by his players. However, the manager also recognises that his team cannot afford to waste too many scoring opportunities if they want to maintain their competitiveness.

As Arsenal prepare to resume their campaign after the international break, improving their attacking efficiency while preserving their defensive organisation will remain important priorities. The victory over Hull provides encouragement, but Arteta will expect his players to show greater sharpness when they return to competitive action.