On Friday, Mikel Arteta once again met with the media at the Sobha Realty Training Centre for his pre-match press conference and answered their questions.
On Bukayo Saka’s injury:
Obviously, he will be out for several weeks. After the international break, he will start getting back out on the pitch and gradually increasing his workload, and we will see how he feels. Unfortunately, he will be unavailable for some time.
Could he return for the Manchester City match in three weeks?
I don’t want to put too much pressure on these players. They are doing everything they can to get back. Bukayo is desperate to rejoin the team, but it is still too early to say.
On five Arsenal players being called up to the England squad:
It is a source of pride to have such a strong English contingent from our club represented in the national team. It is part of our identity. What matters is not just the number of players, but also who is representing our club and the national team. They are very happy to be back, and you can see that. So for now, our focus is on tomorrow’s match, and afterwards they can join up with the national team.
Thomas Tuchel described Ben White as an outstanding player.
He has been magnificent, and I am very happy for him. We know the story of what happened with Ben. Now he looks very happy. He deserved this moment, and now he needs to enjoy it.
Were you surprised that Noni Madueke was not called up again?
That is Thomas’s decision. He has a very big pool of players and has to make decisions. This time he made that decision, and that’s it. I leave that entirely up to him.
Have you spoken to the French national team about William Saliba?
We are in very close contact. I think they will announce their decision tonight at 5pm, so they have all the information they need. Now it is up to them, in this case Zinedine [Zidane], who has to make the choice. We will accept any decision.
Would you prefer Saliba to go away on international duty or stay at Arsenal?
I think that is more a matter for them to decide between themselves, because William also needs playing time. I know how much he loves being with the national team. There is a new coach, and a very interesting one. So whatever decision is made, we will be fine with it.
The missed chances against Slavia Prague nearly cost you the victory.
We wanted to finish the match in a completely different way, especially after how we started and how brilliantly we played in the first half. But these things happen. Credit to the opposition. We know we should have done better in those situations, but it is also true that we did a lot to deserve the win.
Can Arsenal be as prolific as PSG?
Yes, but over the last two seasons they won the Champions League despite not being in the top eight before going into the next stage. That shows how difficult it is for any team to maintain that level and consistency. It is up to us. We always want to improve because we have the opportunity to do so.
Do you want to go into the international break with a victory?
We want to start tomorrow on the front foot, from the first minutes. We understand the momentum we have and need to build on it, especially before the international break, because we know what awaits us after November and December.
After the away match against Newcastle, Arsenal have 11 consecutive games in London.
We need to manage the situation properly. So far, we have handled it very well despite facing many difficult opponents and making some challenging trips. But all our focus is on tomorrow. We need to go out there, play better than Hull City and win.
Is Ezri Konsa’s knee okay?
Yes, he is fine. He felt much better today. We substituted him on Wednesday as a precaution, but he felt fine yesterday and today.
Why has Declan Rice been involved in so many goals and assists this season?
It is his mindset. He wants to win matches, add new elements and threats to his game, and become much less predictable. He has worked a lot on that. He is desperate to improve every aspect of his game, despite already achieving incredible things. He is moving in the right direction.
Did you expect, early in your coaching career, to be regarded as a defensive specialist?
I never thought about that. Whatever people say, if it benefits the team, the players and the club, I welcome it.
What has surprised you about Hull City this season?
It is an incredible story, considering what the club achieved last year. They have gone through some difficult matches and competed well. They deserve to be where they are, and they have impressed me. We have discussed with the players what to expect tomorrow and analysed in detail what we need to do to win.
Is having a strong defence the main requirement for winning the title?
Everything matters. You achieve it through the commitment and responsibility of every player. The same applies to attacking duties, set pieces, transitions and every other aspect of the game. For ten months, you have to maintain an incredibly high level. You need absolutely everything; otherwise, you will not succeed.
How has Viktor Gyökeres’ week been?
Very good. Everyone is happy to see not just his goals, but also his performance and how free and happy he looked, as well as the energy he brought to the pitch. That is what we need. That is the player we brought in, someone who can help us gain a decisive advantage. That evening, he certainly did.
Myles Lewis-Skelly has been called up to the England Under-21 squad.
It is great news. He is very happy, and now he has the chance to contribute to the national team. Unfortunately, he will not be able to play for us in the upcoming matches, but he gets the opportunity to represent his country. That is great.
How is Cesc Fàbregas doing at Como?
Fantastic! It was a real pleasure to watch them. I watched the highlights, and what Cesc is doing is incredible. What the club is achieving, the overall concept and the way it is developing — the team, the business and the entire strategy — is impressive. Winning is wonderful; it is a great football story. They fully deserve what they are achieving. It is something to aspire to.
Is Cesc copying your style?
No, he absolutely doesn’t need to. He has all the tools, experience and knowledge to do what he is doing. I am very, very happy for him. I know him well and understand how much he loves football and how he thinks about the game. I am truly happy for him. They fully deserve their success.
Do you keep a dossier on teams whose players pull shirts?
One dossier, and it is not that big! I said this when you asked me about the shirt-pulling incident at Anfield. I said I had built up a whole history of similar incidents that we could show as well. It is about all teams, not one particular incident. That is what I meant.
You often step outside your technical area during matches.
If I step outside it, it is my mistake. I am wrong, full stop. Don’t look for blame elsewhere. The question is, as we constantly say, that everything must be consistent. If you step outside the area, does that mean you get a yellow card? If you step one centimetre over the line, should that also be a yellow card? Otherwise, sometimes decisions go one way and sometimes another, creating unnecessary noise. We all end up asking: when, then? In what cases is it an offence and when is it not? We need to improve communication with everyone involved. If we just sit down and discuss it, I can say: “There is nothing I can do about it, sorry.” I will try to behave properly, but sometimes I really can’t help myself.
Could another England omission motivate Madueke?
During the previous international break, he went abroad and trained. He found a specialist who worked with him and completed a special programme. He wanted to do it himself. That is Noni, that is his mindset — he wants to improve. I really liked that he did it because, at that moment, he wasn’t playing. When he came on, everyone said how easy it looked for him. But he was going through a difficult period, and what he did helped him return to the team and make the impact we saw. I am very pleased with him.
What do you like about full-backs who have experience playing as centre-backs?
If there is one position in our team that gives a player more space than any other, it is probably full-back. The game has changed too. Football today is not what it was two or three years ago, when we signed certain types of players. Now I think a full-back needs to be versatile. Previously, he had his own zone, lane and set of responsibilities. Now much more is required.
Do you monitor potential signings when players are away with their national teams?
Yes, we do. When we have the opportunity to talk to our players about footballers they spend two or three weeks with on international duty, that is very valuable information. I think all clubs do that. There is a big difference between Premier League football and international football, but you can always learn a lot.
Do you discuss ways to take players to the next level during the off-season or during the campaign?
Our task was to prepare the player for the next season, and a lot of work was done in the summer. But then reality sets in: sometimes you start noticing certain things, feeling them, especially when new relationships emerge. Football is very much about that. It is about connections between players who are close to you or further away. Sometimes you have to think about other things and develop a player in a completely different way. Or someone suggests a new idea, concept or vision for how to use a player. And you try it. You never know in advance what will happen. Sometimes it is dictated by necessity: we have problems with certain players or positions, so we have to think outside the box and try using a player in a different position to help him develop.
Has this happened with other players?
Absolutely, with Mikel [Merino], when we started using him as a centre-forward. That was a major shift. This season, the same is happening with Noni, whom we are trying to use in different areas and on the other side of the pitch.
Declan Rice has been dropping deeper to progress the ball. How does that benefit the team?
I don’t think we can limit his qualities and abilities. He can drop deeper and progress the ball, start attacks from deep and carry it forward, and be incredibly effective in transitions. He can win duels, deliver passes after joining attacks, play long-range passes and cross from the left and right. It doesn’t matter — he can do all that, including from set pieces. He has a lot to offer. His ability to shoot from distance is another quality we need to use more often, because he has that ability. We need to keep developing that aspect; we still have huge potential there.
Have you thought about how Rice might change or develop further?
We haven’t gone that far yet. We still have a lot to do, and I think one part of the season is enough for now. There are other aspects of his role in the team and the club that we can look at in more detail over time. But in terms of his game and his direct impact on the team, we need to focus on the short term.
Do you feel you get enough recognition for coaching a team that produces such strong defensive performances?
I don’t know. I think the team appreciates it, the club does too, and that’s it. The players appreciate it — that is primarily what we want. I don’t know if you have any more questions, but I feel very loved and respected. We still have so much to do. That’s all.
Source: arsenal.com
Author: MissingHenry
