Getty Images SportMikel Arteta faced the media after Arsenal edged past Hull City at the Emirates, a single goal separating the sides on a night the Gunners laboured for their win.
Declan Rice came off around the hour mark, sparking questions over his physical condition. The video technology threw up controversy of its own, too, denying Kai Havertz a penalty.
The Spaniard also tackled the offside crisis dogging his side. Havertz has now been flagged 15 times this season.
Arteta was pleased with the win heading into the international break, adding: "We were the better side and had several chances, but we lacked a cutting edge, so we intensified our attempts until we broke down the opponent's defence. Martin's goal was not the most beautiful, but it was effective.
Reflecting on nine wins from 10 matches and his assessment of this start, he said: "I praise the players and the coaching staff. The past period was exhausting, with a lot of travel and little recovery time between matches, but the team showed an amazing mentality and quality."
He added: "We are not in a perfect situation, and we know there are many aspects we can improve. We will analyse that during the break, and determine how to develop, because the next stage will be extremely difficult."
Arteta addressed the offside problem that reared its head in the first half, and arguably across the whole season, with Arsenal flagged 35 times in the Premier League.
He said: "There are things that need improving, this is one of them... The number is higher than it should be. The Aston Villa match puts these figures in a different perspective, and I think the sample is still too short to analyse the matter, but your observation is spot on."
Arteta said: "I haven't seen the incident again, and I don't want to lie to you. I was surprised by the decision, because Benjamin was telling me, when the referee was called to review the screen, that it was a clear penalty. I've now learned that they decided not to award it because Kai was in an offside position at the start of the play. I don't know the explanation for the decision, and I'm sure they'll clarify it so that we understand what happened."
He continued: "The decision seems confusing. Even here we can't determine whether the offside affects the awarding of the penalty or not."
Then came the question: "Do you still understand all the rules as a manager, or have they become this confusing?" His reply: "I don't know. First I need to understand the decision, and to know which rule takes precedence over the other in the process of making it, and then I can answer."
He went on: "I think he was offside, but the law seems to say that it doesn't matter." Asked once more whether that meant he wasn't offside, Arteta simply shrugged his shoulders.
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Arteta responded to journalists' questions about the substitution of Declan Rice and whether he was alright, saying: "Yes, he is fine."
Asked about Arsenal's run of single-goal wins in the Premier League, he stated: "We need to be more clinical. We were one-on-one with the goalkeeper twice, and we missed a penalty and another chance. Sometimes we try to score the perfect goal against compact sides, when we need more chaos and to score early."
Madueke has rediscovered his level after earning more minutes, and the Spaniard sees him taking on the attack amid a spate of absences. He replied: "Noni deserved the chance. He did not offer enough at the start of the season, but he trained and came back different and serious. He is producing amazing levels, and he has to maintain his place."
The winger showed his anger at being hauled off today. Arteta said: "He missed three clear chances. He contributed to Martin's goal, but he has to improve his decisions and his effectiveness."
Finally, he praised Bruno Guimaraes, whose name the fans chanted as the midfielder walked around the pitch. "He can produce his best. He was influential and imposed his presence, but he has more ahead of him, especially in the understanding between the midfielders."
