Ahead of the match against Nottingham Forest, Mikel Arteta answered the following questions from the press:
— on the last two matches: “We have reacted really well in the last two games, producing two very good performances and results, and now we are just focused on the match against Forest, which I know will be a very difficult one.”
— on the last two goalless away trips to the City Ground: “We will try very hard to score goals and prevent them from scoring as well. It will be a very difficult match. They are an incredibly good team. We know that, and we already have experience of working with Oliver [Glasner] in the past. It is a team that can generate a really special atmosphere and momentum at home, so we are prepared for that.”
— on the Gunners scoring far more goals from open play than from set pieces this season: “We are being criticised for scoring goals! Regardless of how we score them, the team is playing fantastic attacking football. We have scored some beautiful goals, but they are all worth exactly the same. I think we have to be a team capable of scoring in many different ways, and that will make things more difficult for our opponents.”
— on injuries: “Piero is recovering really well. Knowing his character and how determined he is to get back on the pitch, I am sure it will not take too long, I think, but he will probably need another week or two. Zubi is looking much better. He looked much better today. We have another training session tomorrow, and after that we will assess whether he can play against Forest.”
— on whether Hincapié will return before the international break: “I really hope so, but we need to see how his recovery progresses.”
— on Christos Tzolis’ recovery: “He is doing really well. Yesterday he had another MRI scan so that we could see how the injury is healing. Everything is going really well, so he is another player who we hopefully can get back in a few weeks.”
— on whether William Saliba will return before the international break: “I think we will have another MRI scan with him next week to see how the healing process is progressing, but all the signs so far have been very, very positive. It will be great to have him back in the squad.”
— on William not appearing in the team photograph: “What happened was that we had already tried to take this photo three times, but we had to cancel at the last minute for various reasons. We have certain commercial commitments, and people had come and travelled here to take it, so we decided to at least get this photo done. We will have another photo with the whole squad. Hopefully, we can get everyone together at some point, and we will announce that as well.”
— on whether Saliba is happy about it: “It was not in his hands. He is usually happy with everything. He knows how much he is loved. His teammates have been teasing him about it, but he is absolutely fine.”
— on Jurrien Timber’s progress: “We can see how important he is to the team. When he is at his best physically, he is an incredible player, someone who can really change the way you attack, as well as the aggression he brings to the defensive side of the game. He is a real character, both on and off the pitch, so it is great to see him in such good form.”
— on news of job cuts at the club: “That is not a question for me. I was informed about an assessment of the situation at the club, with the intention of developing and improving. Some decisions have to be made to put people in the right roles and continue investing so that we can achieve what we want to achieve and create the success we are aiming for. That is how it was explained to me. Obviously, I am not the person who should answer that question, that is for sure, and hopefully everyone respects that.”
— on Myles Lewis-Skelly’s versatility: “We were actually discussing this a few days ago because we had some doubts about changing a player who is in such good form and playing in a particular position. But we had Piero’s injury, and we knew that at some point we would need this option with the schedule we have. He reacted incredibly well. I think he put in a great performance the other day, and that shows his maturity, adaptability and football intelligence. He is in really good form.”
— on whether he has spoken to Myles about his role: “We have always made sure he understands, especially when we have certain ideas, so that he is prepared and knows his role and what he needs to dominate in that particular game. He is very open-minded and knows how to play in different positions. As a number six, an eight or a full-back, he gives himself more opportunities to play, which is a huge asset, and he has the ability to do it.”
— on Forest’s poor start to the season: “Yes, but in some matches the results were undeserved because, in terms of their performances and what they deserved from those games, things should have been very, very different. We are very much aware of that.”
— on Viktor Gyökeres’ form: “There are moments like this in a player’s career, or in a season, I would say, and we are trying to help him as much as possible. He has had some really good moments. Three or four times he has found himself in front of goal with no goalkeeper there, and the ball should have reached him, but it didn’t. That happens to strikers. Goals, or the lack of them, change the narrative. But we understand how much he can help the team.”
— on whether players are being overworked because of the number of matches: “We help them recover and get them into the best possible condition for the next match. That is not going to change. There is a lot of talk about this, so let’s see what happens after the season. But it looks like things are not going to change.”
— on what Ken Friar meant to the club: “As I said at the press conference after the match, I think if you had to identify someone who represents the soul and heart of this football club, it would be him. I think the way he came into the club and the way he left it, his legacy in different roles, his involvement in the life of the club and his dedication are things that are incredibly difficult to achieve. He did it through his complete commitment and love for the club, and he did it in a special way because of his character, personality and aura. Anyone who met him knows that he was unlike anyone else.”
— on how the last few months have been for Timber mentally: “It was a challenge, but the truth is that he has obviously overcome another very difficult period, having ruptured his cruciate ligament in his very first competitive match for Arsenal. So he has some background and experience of dealing with this. I think he used this time to challenge himself in other areas as well, probably to appreciate his profession more and the fact that when you are fit and have the opportunity to play, you should make the most of it. I think he worked hard because he had some difficult moments, and he tried to stay close to the team while working his way back to this level.”
— on the relationship between Timber and White: “It is an excellent relationship. They were just in my office discussing the game. The way they talk to each other, the respect they have for one another and the way they treat each other is really nice to see. That is why, when one of them plays, the other is there to support him. That is what we need because, with the number of games we play, it cannot be any other way.”
— on the performances of our Brazilian players after a demanding international break: “There were several factors. They arrived in London on Sunday evening, so we had almost six days before the match. They had been in India and Australia, and what they needed was recovery, sleep, good food, a proper training session, one day off and two days to prepare for the game. I think that made a big difference because otherwise they would have been in a completely different condition.”
— on whether Bruno Guimarães can improve his attacking output: “One of the best qualities a player can have is consistently getting into the right positions, whether through passing or making runs. You could see his numbers last year as well. He is a player who should bring enormous value and influence to the squad in the final third.”
— on whether Gyökeres is struggling with his confidence: “That is a very personal question. I think what he gives off is an incredible desire, determination and work ethic to improve and help the team. That is Viktor every single day, regardless of his position or whether he scores a goal. That is why he is always ready to go out on the pitch.”
— on whether the team is now lighter in options on the left wing because of Tzolis’ injury: “Obviously, when someone is out for several weeks, the squad becomes lighter in that position. Are we lighter at left-back? Yes. Are we lighter in central defence after losing Mosquera? Yes. What we want is players who are available and robust enough to be available consistently. And when they are not available, someone else has to step in. The good news is that someone has come in, whether it is Ebs or Noni in this case, and they have still gone out there and played really well.”
Source arsenal.com
Author: MissingHenry
