Hello and welcome to HYBR1D Powered by chinkseyMEDIA.
Media. Right, it's Friday, you know what time
it is. Time for Mikel Arteta's pre -Newcastle
press conference. Mikel Arteta spoke to the media
at the Sober Realty Training Centre for his pre
-Newcastle United press conference today. Here's
what he had to say on the following subjects.
On the sad passing of Billy Vigor. Or Vajra,
sorry, I don't know how to pronounce his name.
Some shocking news. When I got home yesterday,
straight away, I was thinking about the family
and how difficult it is to go through something
like this in a very unexpected way. Hopefully,
the footballing authorities will dig in and understand
what happened, why it happened, and try to avoid
these kind of things. Really sad news and our
full support with the family and our thoughts
with all the loved ones. Yeah, I just want to...
Pay my condolences to Billy Vajar and his family.
It's sad news and I just hope and wish the family
all the best in this time. Billy Vajar, 2003
to 2025. On Martin Odegaard's availability, Martin
will be training with us the next two days, so
hopefully he'll be available for the game. Yeah.
Obviously, as a sequel to the last press conference,
where obviously Mikel Arteta said he'll be out
for days, which a day before the Port Vale game,
so that ruled him out of that game. But as I
said in that last press conference, he should
be fine for Sunday. It's just a question of whether
he starts or not. But personally, I think he'll
be on the bench. I'll be surprised if he does
start, but I'll also be surprised if he's not
on the bench. On if there's been a scan of Noni
Madweke's injury. No, not yet. Okay. Okay, there's
nothing more to add to that. On rumours surrounding
William Saliba signing a new contract. Hopefully
it will be everybody in the world reporting it.
Arsenal included, very soon. That's what I'm
hoping. But let's leave the club to announce
that when it's all done. I like the way he did
that. Basically, he's trying to say everyone's
talking, but until Arsenal talk, then it's all
talk. On how important William is for us. He
certainly is and he's been instrumental in everything
we've done in the last few years. It's great
to see a lot of players willing and so driven
to come into the club. That means that they are
happy. They feel valued and they see that this
is the best opportunity for them to continue
their careers and fulfil the ambition of the
club. Yeah, I mean, William Saliba has been an
unbelievable servant to the club. I think the
world knows that it's as good as done, the contract,
a five -year renewal, which would take him to
2030, which would take him to around 28, 29.
So that is like kind of penultimate. Big contract,
if you like. His next one will be the bumper
big contract. It will be a question of whether
he remains with Arsenal or seeks past his new,
obviously. But yeah, I think it's time now for
people like Saliba, Gabriel, Saka, Odegaard,
Rice to start bringing in the trophies that their
talent befits. On how much pride he takes in
Saliba's form. It's very impressive what he's
done at his age because sometimes we tend to
forget. But his consistency, I think, the way
he's progressed, I think the way he's matured
as well as a person and his role in the team
has grown year after year. I think he's built
a partnership with Gabby especially, but also
with the backline and the keeper that has the
best defensive record in the last three years,
I think. He's been pivotal to that. Yeah, I mean,
William Saliba is a phenomenon, phenomenal player,
phenomenal defender. Obviously for Arsenal and
France. For France, he partners Ibrahima Konate.
If not, it will be Dayot Opamecano at centre
-half. But he rarely puts a foot wrong. He's
very young. He's 23, 24 years old. I think 24.
But still a lot to learn, a lot of potential
to reach. and a lot of trophies to attain at
Arsenal. So hopefully he can keep progressing
as a player, as a man, and become a leader for
both club and country. On if we have the best
defence in the league, I know we want to have
the best team in the Premier League, and in relation
to every phase, I think the contribution of every
player is critical. We start from our front line
and the amount of pressure and work that they
put into any defensive line, any goalkeeper is
tremendous. So it's something collective. It's
a team sport and in anything that we do, everybody
has a pivotal role in that. So yeah, the journalist
clearly tried to trick Arteta into saying that
Arsenal have the best defence in the league because
what does that even mean? It's about having the
best team. It's about finishing top. So how you
go about doing that? Obviously, Arteta's faced
criticism for, quote -unquote, playing with the
handbrake on and not going as attacking as he
could. I mean, my personal view on that is I
think Arteta's method is to try and control a
game, which is to, to an extent, have the handbrake
on. which limits the opportunity of the opposition
creating chances, which means it's hard for us
to lose games. However, with that handbrake being
on slightly, it hinders our attacking efforts,
prowess, endeavours. So if you loosen the handbrake,
we're more prone to losing matches because the
control lessens. We're more able to create chances.
So it's like something's got to give in a way.
Do you know what I mean? On if he's proud, we've
conceded twice in seven games. Yeah, especially
as one of them was a free kick that you cannot
do much about. And one was an action in that
there are things to improve. But overall, I think
we've been consistent. It will be key to maintain
that level. Yeah, I mean. We've conceded two
goals in seven games and we've played... Most
of those games have been against top teams. Liverpool,
Man City, we've got Newcastle coming up. So,
yeah, but I think it's just about winning games.
It's just about creating chances. I think it's
just about getting our creative players on the
pitch, getting the team right, getting the right
blend of players right. If you're going to play
with three... three solid, rigid midfielders
in a way. I wouldn't say defensive midfielders,
but if you're going to play the likes of Zubimendi,
Rice and Mourinho, then you have to put someone
like a Wanyeri or an Eze in the wide positions.
I don't think you can add a Martinelli to that.
So, however, if you put like an Eze in that midfield,
then you can add someone like a Martinelli or
Trossard. So it's like horses for courses in
a sense, you know? On if Newcastle are completely
different without Alexander Isak. No, because
he wasn't playing against Barcelona and what
could have been in the first 30 or 40 minutes
could be very different to the result. I always
praise the work that Eddie and the coaching staff
have done there and the way they have managed
to create such an atmosphere, especially at home.
And a very clear identity of playing football.
They make it really difficult. We know the test.
We know that we're going to have to be much more
efficient than we've been lately when we've played
up there to win the game. And we're going to
work on that in the next two days. OK, first
things first. What I've noticed over the last
few years is I don't think Arteta likes Eddie
Howe. I think there's a kind of, I don't know
if disdain is a strong word to what I've observed
between them, but there's a little friction there.
So I'm going to be observing how they kind of
greet each other and, you know, how they move
towards each other on Sunday. But that's what
I've taken from them. And obviously, I think
Eddie Howe kind of uses that. Oh, it's Arsenal.
They think they're better than us. They think
they can swan over here and play their football.
And we're not having that. Let's go and get at
them. So he's probably riling up the boys in
the changing room. Whereas Arteta now is, you
know, coming up against a team that are fired
up with strong players in midfield like Bruno,
Joe Linton, Tonali, who like to leave a foot
in. And then you've obviously got big lads at
the defence, people like Dan Byrne, you know,
Livermentos, no slouch, he's a strong, fast boy.
So, you know, it's going to be an uphill battle,
not to mention that St James' Park is on a slope.
So, yeah, it's going to be a tough game, a bruising
encounter, but hopefully one that we can emerge
victorious for the first time in a few years.
On the thinking behind kick -off tactics, I like
more the one where you put the ball in the back
of the net straight away instead of kicking it
for a throw in. There are a few patterns and
a few ways that teams have done it over the past.
But there are some tendencies as well in relation
to the game that we expect. You expect certain
things that you can do to try and avoid certain
pressure in the first minutes. It's all down
to preparation, I think. Teta's been facetious
there. I prefer the one that he put the ball
in the back of the net. But yeah, I mean, I don't
know. Football's all... swings and roundabouts
in terms of tactics i think a lot of the teams
are going back to the kind of early 2000s 90s
where like no one's scared to put in long throws
you know corners set pieces all percentage football
uh sam allardyce tony pulis you know this is
their kind of forte and also like you know from
the um From the kickoff when you just lump it
long and things like that, long balls, all of
that. So that's from early 90s and it's coming
back into fashion. I think it's because there's
so many fine lines in football. Arteta is trying
to kind of get any type of advantage and use
it to his advantage over the opponent. On if
we would only kick the ball straight out away
from home. It depends. First half, second half,
if you concede and it's two minutes to go, it
depends. I think the context of the match and
the results make you decide what's the best thing
to do now. Yeah, but the context of the match
doesn't matter when it's the first kickoff of
the game, does it? So he kind of sidestepped
that question. I wouldn't be surprised if Arsenal
were to kick the ball out of play if they had
kick -off at St. James's, just to kind of get
into team shape, get the ball out upfield. And
yeah, that's my take from that anyway. On how
much Saliba has exceeded his expectations. Probably
all of them, I would say, especially the way
we started our relationship. Probably we had
different expectations or ideas of how to create
the best pathway for him to fulfill his potential.
But I think at some point we got to the same
conclusion, to the same line, and we started
to work together. From there, with the help of
all the coaches and players, everything started
to flourish because it was clear that the potential
was there. It was about timing and especially,
in my opinion, creating the right environment
and players for him to deliver what he could
do. Okay, so that's Arteta essentially saying
that they didn't get on, they had a kind of friction
between them at the start, which was obvious
in the way that... Saliba was sent on loan after
loan after loan. I think two or three loans in
France. But obviously he excelled while he was
there. He grew as a person and as a player. And
he's proven to Arsenal that he's been one of
the best signings in recent years. On Saka's
next goal involvement, being his 100th in the
Premier League. 100, 101 and 102, hopefully on
Sunday. I think that's in less than 200 games
as well, which is a really impressive record.
That tells you again, when we talk about consistency
of attacking players, creative players, that's
very rare to find. And at his age, especially
more. But that's the talent that we have. Well,
I mean, hopefully Bukayo can reach that landmark
because he's an exceptional talent. He deserves
everything he gets and hopefully he's the next
player to sign a new contract. On the biggest
challenge facing Eddie Howe's side, it's a lot
of games that you have to dominate when you play
against them. Now we have to be ready because
they continue so rapidly, so quickly. It's a
really intense match. We will prepare for that.
We know that as well, but increasing especially
our efficiency and two very specific key things,
I think it gives us the best chance to win the
game. Yeah, I mean, I think it's more so getting
the team right. The risk is, or the big question
is, where you play Eze or if he plays, because
there's a chance Eze may be on the bench. I mean,
that would be folly if Eze is not in a certain
line -up. That would be ridiculous, you know?
But it's a question of where you play him to
determine how, in quotation marks, brave he is
or is being in that game. So, for instance, if
Eze plays centrally, then you're like, rah, okay.
You're kind of going for it, in quotation marks.
However, plays on the left and he puts Mourinho
in, it's like kind of handbrake -ish vibes again.
But Eze to kind of... you know, inflict his wizardry
upon the opponent. So it'll be interesting to
see what kind of team that Arteta goes for because
there's options and players that can come in.
However, with Newcastle, we know what we're going
to get. We pretty much know what starting XI
is going to be. So, yeah. On plenty of players
having signed new contracts recently. extremely
happy every time i sit with a player and we discuss
with the club and what their intentions are the
first thing they say is that they want to continue
with us they want to win with us they want to
continue to grow with us in this environment
that's a great thing to have because it's not
always the case we don't take it for granted
but that means that obviously the club is doing
really well as well to make their people and
their staff feel very valuable and happy here
yeah i mean I think the main thing is winning
creates a great environment because everyone's
happy. When the players that aren't in the squad
are in a winning team, there's nothing to complain
about because a winning team, you don't really
make changes. However, when things aren't going
well, that's when the problems arise where you
might see players upset that they're not starting,
disenchanted, not really... with it and training.
So it's important to keep the culture, a winning
culture. You know, obviously there looks like
a good camaraderie between the squad, between
the players. So the main thing is giving all
the players an opportunity or making all the
players feel that there is an opportunity to
get minutes and to feature and to play a prominent
role in our quest for trophies this season and
beyond. On how the club has evolved since he
was playing in the team. I think the circumstances
were different because we moved to the Emirates.
The club had other needs, so it would be difficult
to compare. What I can say again is that I'm
extremely happy that players are feeling so committed
and so willing to continue with us because we
want to do the same and continue with them because
they've been exceptional for us. Okay, it seems
that Arteta sidestepped that question. He swerved
it. Swerved it. Like Roberto Carlos free kick.
But yeah, basically what he's saying is when
Arteta was with the club, we had to sell players
to kind of stay afloat, pay off the stadium debt
and things like that. And we weren't really going
for the title like that. However, now we're kind
of a behemoth of a team now. We're really going
hammer and tong for big trophies. We're within
the top four or five favourites for the Champions
League and we're second favourites for the league.
We've been going toe -to -toe with Liverpool
for two seasons now. We went toe -to -toe with
Man City for three prior to that. So, you know,
we're not going away. We've been at a high consistent
level or consistently high level for a long time
now. But it's just about getting over that line.
And to get over that line, you've got to win
at places like Newcastle. On if there will be
some news on Bukayo's contract soon. I would
love that. From everything that I know, he's
a player that is extremely happy and proud to
be here and have the role that he has at the
football club. Things will develop in a natural
way like they always do. We know everybody knows
how important Bukayo is for us. So hopefully
we can do it. Yeah, I mean, it's my understanding
that he's, happy at the club. He's obviously
a loved boy at the club. He's vice captain. He's
in his prime, 24, just turned 24. You know, he's
an Arsenal boy through and through, come through
the youth set up. So there's no real reason for
him to leave. And I think of the two, of Saliba
and Saka, you would have thought Saka would have
been the easiest one to kind of get. renewal
from but yeah I think it's just a matter of time
before both players see the renewal is announced
by the club of course on how much pride he takes
in players wanting to stay here I was quite direct
with them because when you hear that noise and
you can understand that there are certain expectations
at the end players have feelings have been educated
in their families maybe dreaming about something
one day And that's a really natural thing to
have. When I saw that with William, I asked him
the question. He said, no, I want to stay here.
I want to play here for you. I'm very happy in
his own way. So that's great to hear. OK, so
I think he's kind of referring to that typical.
Oh, I've always wanted to play for Real Madrid
or Barcelona since I was a kid type of storyline,
which most players have when they kind of. you
know, try and seek a move. However, with William
Saliba, you're not getting that vibe from him.
I mean, I've heard that he's an Arsenal fan from
young. I don't know how true that is, but to
some extent, there is an affinity with the club
going back a few years. So I think things like
that make it easier for a player to kind of want
to continue at the club, let alone the talent.
the potential that we have to achieve great things.
But, like I said already earlier on in the podcast,
it's, you know, you've got to get over the line.
On Real Madrid's reported interest in Saliba,
in general, I don't want to be specific, but
it was obvious the amount of noise that was around
certain clubs. We don't have to name any teams,
but they're... are not as well that many that
can come and get William out of Arsenal. So it
was clear. And again, he was so transparent and
honest from the beginning. Okay. Arteta's doing
that thing again where he's not naming the obvious.
Yes, it's Real Madrid. I mean, when you say there
are not many teams that can get a play out, if
there's any team that can get a play out of Arsenal
or teams with an S, it'll be Barcelona and Real
Madrid where we've lost... A few players over
the years too. But teams like Bayern Munich,
Liverpool, Man United, I'm not sure right now.
Obviously, they're probably bigger clubs as a
whole, but I don't think that's an upward step
by moving from Arsenal to those three aforementioned
teams. Liverpool is probably a sideways that
I think Liverpool and Arsenal kind of neck and
neck right now. But yeah, it's clear that he's
referring to Real Madrid. Let's have it right.
Let's cut the crap out. On the atmosphere at
St. James' Park. Incredibly beautiful. I think
it's one of the best football atmospheres in
this country. As a player, as a fan, as a coach,
you want to live in this atmosphere. They play
every single ball with you. It's electric. There
is so much support there and it's one team, one
city. I think that makes it different as well.
It's such a challenge and opportunity as well.
So it's a great game to play. I think one thing
that has gone over a lot of people's heads is
that if you actually go back a number of years,
if I'm not wrong, Newcastle didn't score a single
goal against us in the Premier League. for 10
years around 10 years so it's only of recent
that we've struggled up there at St James's Park
because we always used to win there before our
little issues you know where we're they've become
our bogey side of essentially so I think if we
can go there and win that arrests that poor record.
Well, let's score first. How about that? Let's
score there because that's what we have not been
doing in recent years. So I think if we can go
and get the first goal, get a win, then it's
like, okay, cool. And then you go there again
and get another result, then you can kind of
remove that bogey team tag. But for us to win,
we've got to do things right. We've got to do
things that we haven't done in recent years.
which is create chances, which is defend well,
which is to win that physical battle in midfield.
So there's a number of things we've got to do
to be able to put ourselves and give ourselves
the best chance of getting the best possible
result. On what he took from their game against
Barcelona, there are two ways to look at that
game with a tactical view. It's on mute or put
the volume up. And I decided to put the volume
up just to understand. In every decision, there
is an emotional contribution. And certainly when
you have to play your game and the way you want
to play there, you have to be able to do it in
that atmosphere. And I think that's beautiful.
Yeah, I mean, in the game that Newcastle played
against Barcelona, yeah, Newcastle started the
game well. Barcelona rode out that first 20 minutes
to half an hour. And eventually their quality
told. Similar to when Barcelona played Real Oviedo
yesterday. They were 1 -0 down. And then they
just kind of brought on Lewandowski and just
tore them to shreds and ended up winning 3 -1.
I actually fell asleep while that game was on.
I woke up and thought it was 3 -1. I was like,
yeah, yeah, yeah. Typical Barca. But yeah, I'm
always waxing lyrical about Barcelona. But I
thought to myself today, actually. that if Barcelona
were to play against us, I think they would hate
that because we can get at their defence. However,
I think our defence could potentially contain
their attack, which is the best in Europe for
me. However, people like Lamin Yamal could be
a game -changer. I think that Arsenal against
Barcelona would be such an interesting game.
I think, personally, they'll be favourites for
that game. You won't be putting my money on them
to play against us, put it that way. But yeah,
that would be a very intriguing match -up just
to see how we kind of cope with their flair and
how they cope with us. On his conversations with
Saliba in the past that helped them get on the
same page, there were a few. The last one, it
was unfortunately over the phone because it was
during COVID. I said, listen, I have to be honest.
The last thing that I want is you being here
and you not playing the football that, in my
opinion, you have to play in order to continue
to develop. The club was on board with that.
And after that, when I saw him and looked in
his eyes, I said, in my opinion, you are ready.
What do you think? And he said, yeah, I'm ready.
And then everything started to flourish. So this
just... Makes it sound like there was big friction
between them at the start. But they kind of compromised
and said, right, you know what? You're talented.
I rate you. You want to start your career at
Arsenal. Let's meet in the middle. And they both
haven't looked back since. On what it was that
made him ready during that year. When I started
seeing it training. The things that, in my opinion,
are the basics that you need to absolutely dominate
to play as a centre -back in the league. OK,
I wonder what he's referring to. Is it physicality?
Is it communication? Well, I mean, he hasn't
really... Who knows? On how important the first
five minutes of games in tough atmospheres are.
The first five minutes are the most important
minutes for the first five minutes. What does
that even mean? Oh man, that's like a riddle,
bruv. And then the next five minutes until the
referee blows the whistle is everything. Momentum,
tendencies and feelings in relation to how the
team is feeling in that moment on the pitch.
But at the end, you need to be dominant for long
periods of time to win there. And that's what
we'll try to do on Sunday. Well, it's just about
getting the team right. But dominant's an interesting
phrase because, yeah, being dominant, is it having
more shots? Is it having the ball? Is it having
the ball and shots, the ball and more shots than
the opponent? Because, you know, in most of the
games, we have more of the ball, but we're not
really having shots. So it begs the question,
are we dominant? or are we controlling the game?
Because it might be the same thing. It's all
semantics. So for me, having the ball means you're
controlling the game, but it doesn't necessarily
mean you're dominant. I think if you're having
the ball and having more shots and having the
corners, that's dominating, because dominant
is like a complete and utter, you know, domination,
really. on if we're going to keep the same philosophy
from our 1 -0 win at home to Newcastle last season.
Every game will be different. I didn't like the
first minutes that we played at the Emirates
against them. I liked other parts of it. There
are a lot of parts I liked about the games we
played at St James' Park, but not especially
when we conceded the goals, but we will have
to be better. I think the level is better. Their
level will rise. Our level will rise. And we're
going to have to be our best. If we do that,
we're going to have a good chance to win the
game. I mean, I agree with that. He's effectively
saying if Arsenal are at their best, then they're
going to win without saying they're going to
win because no manager ever says that in a press
conference. But I'm not really sure about what
he's saying. There are a lot of parts he liked
about. when we played at St James's because we
usually play horribly there. Last season, we
played them around November. We lost 1 -0. I
believe that was our second defeat of the season
and we only lost two more after that to West
Ham and Bournemouth. We created nothing. They
scored a fantastic goal from Anthony Gordon -Cross
and Alexandre Isaac -Hedda. Do you know, actually,
I've not watched that goal. I have not seen that
goal. I know what happened. But whenever Arsenal
lose, I never watch the highlights. And I just
didn't watch the game because I wasn't able to
watch it. I wasn't at home. So I've literally
not seen that goal. But I know it was a kind
of fantastic cross and a header from Isak. And
even the game against Man City in the FA Cup
in January 23, I believe. When Nathan Ake scored,
was it a header from a corner or a free kick?
I haven't seen that go either. So whenever Arsenal
lose and I'm not watching a game live, I never
watch it back. On if he'll be asking Eze to produce
more balls over the top for Martinelli. Yeah.
Especially if he drops and puts the balls through
like he did against Man City. I will tell him
to do it very, very often. Do it, Ebereche. Do
it. Peace.