WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.359 Hello and welcome to HYBR1D Powered by chinkseyMEDIA. 00:00:03.359 --> 00:00:10.259 Media. Yasim Yasser. Yeah, man. We're back once 00:00:10.259 --> 00:00:14.339 again for every word from Arteta's pre -Olympiakos 00:00:14.339 --> 00:00:18.300 presser. Following our victory over Newcastle 00:00:18.300 --> 00:00:21.280 United two days ago, Mikel Arteta is back in 00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:23.739 front of the press ahead of our Champions League 00:00:23.739 --> 00:00:27.199 clash against Olympiakos. We started off our 00:00:27.199 --> 00:00:29.760 Champions League campaign with a win over Athletic 00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:32.619 Club in Bilbao and now host the Greek champions 00:00:32.619 --> 00:00:36.420 at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow, October 1st. 00:00:36.939 --> 00:00:41.640 On William Saliba signing a new contract. Yes, 00:00:41.719 --> 00:00:46.240 big news. Very happy. Congratulations to William. 00:00:46.719 --> 00:00:49.979 Fully deserves his new contract. His contribution 00:00:49.979 --> 00:00:52.219 to the club, to the team has been phenomenal. 00:00:52.829 --> 00:00:55.149 the last few years and very happy to keep the 00:00:55.149 --> 00:00:58.590 spine of the team with us. Yeah, I mean, the 00:00:58.590 --> 00:01:01.469 news broke last week. It's not come as much of 00:01:01.469 --> 00:01:04.109 a surprise, but obviously, like I mentioned in 00:01:04.109 --> 00:01:06.049 one of the press conferences last week, I think 00:01:06.049 --> 00:01:08.650 it was the Port Vale pre -match. Once Arsenal 00:01:08.650 --> 00:01:12.810 announce it, then it's announced. But until that's 00:01:12.810 --> 00:01:15.129 done, then it's all speculation, I guess. But 00:01:15.129 --> 00:01:19.150 no, William Saliba has committed his next five 00:01:19.150 --> 00:01:21.469 years to Arsenal Football Club. So he will be 00:01:21.469 --> 00:01:25.329 playing for the club until at least 2030. And 00:01:25.329 --> 00:01:28.950 yeah, good luck to him and hopefully he can be 00:01:28.950 --> 00:01:31.209 a major part in us lifting honours starting from 00:01:31.209 --> 00:01:34.170 this season. On our players believing they can 00:01:34.170 --> 00:01:37.150 win trophies here and committing futures to us. 00:01:37.469 --> 00:01:40.549 Oh, I just alluded to that. Yes, first of all, 00:01:40.549 --> 00:01:42.810 that they feel that they belong to this club. 00:01:42.969 --> 00:01:45.709 They feel very attached to it and they share 00:01:45.709 --> 00:01:48.010 the same ambition with the club and obviously 00:01:48.010 --> 00:01:51.379 they feel valued. They feel loved here and they 00:01:51.379 --> 00:01:54.000 want to continue their careers here, which is 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:57.239 great. Yeah, I mean, like Arteta alluded to earlier, 00:01:57.459 --> 00:02:01.579 the spine of the team have pretty much all renewed 00:02:01.579 --> 00:02:04.799 their contracts. I think the next one due is 00:02:04.799 --> 00:02:07.640 obviously Bakayo Sakaan and probably from next 00:02:07.640 --> 00:02:10.419 year, probably looking at Declan Rice renewing 00:02:10.419 --> 00:02:14.219 terms. Because we've got the likes of Odegaard, 00:02:14.319 --> 00:02:17.120 Gabriel, Saliba, Myles Lewis -Skelly, Wanyeri, 00:02:17.319 --> 00:02:21.610 all tied to long. term contracts and yes looking 00:02:21.610 --> 00:02:24.729 good all our key players have i've obviously 00:02:24.729 --> 00:02:27.210 seen the potential in the side and believe that 00:02:27.210 --> 00:02:31.289 they can achieve their goals with arsenal football 00:02:31.289 --> 00:02:34.490 club on the impact of our late win over newcastle 00:02:34.490 --> 00:02:37.710 well great energy obviously the moment you go 00:02:37.710 --> 00:02:39.729 in the dressing room everybody is celebrating 00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:42.419 especially because the manner and the way it 00:02:42.419 --> 00:02:44.939 happened. You have to move on immediately and 00:02:44.939 --> 00:02:47.340 you know that we have a very tough match tomorrow 00:02:47.340 --> 00:02:50.060 against Olympiakos and I'm ready for it. Yeah, 00:02:50.099 --> 00:02:53.599 as I mentioned in the previous press match conference 00:02:53.599 --> 00:02:58.659 analysis, Olympiakos are the top side in Greece, 00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:01.699 so the Arsenal of Greece. They are used to winning 00:03:01.699 --> 00:03:03.520 matches. They are used to playing front foot 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:05.599 football. I saw that first time myself when I 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:07.599 watched them on Saturday. They won their game 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:12.939 3 -2. So it will be a kind of culture shock to 00:03:12.939 --> 00:03:14.520 them when they come to the Emirates where we're 00:03:14.520 --> 00:03:16.280 playing the front foot, we're dominating the 00:03:16.280 --> 00:03:18.699 game. They're going to be kind of defending and 00:03:18.699 --> 00:03:22.259 trying to hit us on the break. So for that reason, 00:03:22.300 --> 00:03:24.500 I think we're more likely to win because they're 00:03:24.500 --> 00:03:26.900 not used to kind of changing their style and 00:03:26.900 --> 00:03:29.300 having to play pragmatic and tight away from 00:03:29.300 --> 00:03:30.860 home. They're used to being in the front foot. 00:03:30.919 --> 00:03:32.780 And that would have been the case even in Piraeus 00:03:32.780 --> 00:03:35.500 in Athens. If we were to play them there, we 00:03:35.500 --> 00:03:37.199 would be on the front foot once again, just like 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:40.219 we were. Newcastle on Sunday. So yeah, Olympiacos 00:03:40.219 --> 00:03:42.379 should prove a tough test. They're half decent 00:03:42.379 --> 00:03:44.020 side. They won the Europa Conference League. 00:03:44.240 --> 00:03:48.659 But no, I fully expect Arsenal to emerge victorious 00:03:48.659 --> 00:03:53.919 and by a couple of goals as well. On if everyone 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:57.659 is fit and available for Olympiacos. Yes, no 00:03:57.659 --> 00:04:01.280 surprises. Hinkapie and Lonnie are still out, 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:03.939 so no news. The rest are all good. Okay, so we've 00:04:03.939 --> 00:04:07.060 got a relatively fully fit squad. Well, saying 00:04:07.060 --> 00:04:09.800 that, we've got Havertz out, we've got Jesus 00:04:09.800 --> 00:04:12.759 out, the Forgotten Man and Kapia Noni. So there's 00:04:12.759 --> 00:04:14.680 a couple of players out. But other than that, 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:18.160 there's a fully fit squad, fully fledged squad 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:20.980 and a lot of competition for places. I'd like 00:04:20.980 --> 00:04:24.019 to see people like Myles Lewis, Skelly and Ben 00:04:24.019 --> 00:04:27.860 White perhaps come in ahead of our game against 00:04:27.860 --> 00:04:31.040 West Ham, which then punctuates the season because 00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:33.600 there's going to be... an international break 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:35.699 so Arteta might think all right let me go my 00:04:35.699 --> 00:04:38.639 strongest squad these next two games and then 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:42.540 obviously we've got the break so I think that 00:04:42.540 --> 00:04:45.759 would could or would play a major factor in the 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:49.060 team selection so he might tinker with it a bit 00:04:49.060 --> 00:04:51.319 but then again knowing Arteta he's not taking 00:04:51.319 --> 00:04:53.240 any chances especially in the Champions League 00:04:53.240 --> 00:04:56.920 I think he'll pick a team that will be more than 00:04:56.920 --> 00:04:59.600 likely to win the game so he'll probably go with 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:03.279 a very similar team to the one we saw take the 00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:07.139 field Sunday on if Odegaard is fit to start he 00:05:07.139 --> 00:05:09.600 was very good he came on and immediately you 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:11.860 could see the desire and the responsibility to 00:05:11.860 --> 00:05:14.399 get in the game to try to change it his decision 00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:17.439 making the way he approached every ball and he 00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:20.000 made a difference to help us win the game okay 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:22.939 that's a remarkable amount of talking about answering 00:05:22.939 --> 00:05:26.259 the question as a political answer but yeah obviously 00:05:26.259 --> 00:05:29.759 as if Mikel was going to tell you whether Odegaard 00:05:29.759 --> 00:05:33.980 will play but I fully expect him to feature whether 00:05:33.980 --> 00:05:37.480 we start that's an interesting question but yeah 00:05:37.480 --> 00:05:40.920 I think Odegaard will play and if I was to make 00:05:40.920 --> 00:05:44.060 a prediction to start I'll say yes on if there's 00:05:44.060 --> 00:05:46.279 greater pressure on us in the Champions League 00:05:46.279 --> 00:05:49.839 this year well we have the same ambition which 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:52.459 is to go game by game and try to be better than 00:05:52.459 --> 00:05:54.560 our opponent which is very difficult in this 00:05:54.560 --> 00:05:58.220 competition and win as many games as we can Tomorrow 00:05:58.220 --> 00:06:00.819 we're going to have a really difficult one. We 00:06:00.819 --> 00:06:02.759 know how important the home form is going to 00:06:02.759 --> 00:06:07.920 be to reach in this phase where we want to arrive. 00:06:08.199 --> 00:06:10.899 And tomorrow we have the opportunity to start 00:06:10.899 --> 00:06:14.399 well. So yeah, we got off to a win at Bilbao. 00:06:14.519 --> 00:06:17.060 We have a few games at home where we're going 00:06:17.060 --> 00:06:19.839 to be heavy favourites to win. But then there's 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:21.459 also one or two games where you're thinking, 00:06:21.579 --> 00:06:24.399 ooh, games like Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid. 00:06:25.209 --> 00:06:27.149 and into Milan, where we've got to be at our 00:06:27.149 --> 00:06:30.230 best. However, the fixtures that we have against 00:06:30.230 --> 00:06:33.110 Kairat Almaty, who are playing Real Madrid today, 00:06:33.290 --> 00:06:37.029 and Olympiacos, we've got to be picking up all 00:06:37.029 --> 00:06:39.689 three points in those games. So, yeah, there's 00:06:39.689 --> 00:06:42.490 no relenting. We have to win tomorrow. We've 00:06:42.490 --> 00:06:44.730 just got to have our mentality right, take to 00:06:44.730 --> 00:06:48.069 the field with a good spirit, a good resilience, 00:06:48.470 --> 00:06:53.009 you know, move the ball fast, play like anything 00:06:53.009 --> 00:06:55.529 we did on Sunday. we should win comfortably for 00:06:55.529 --> 00:06:57.790 me. On being on top of contracts for players, 00:06:58.529 --> 00:07:01.389 well, I don't know. What I know certainly is 00:07:01.389 --> 00:07:03.810 that at the end, there are two or three parties 00:07:03.810 --> 00:07:06.709 that have come together to an agreement and with 00:07:06.709 --> 00:07:09.449 the three of them having the same intention and 00:07:09.449 --> 00:07:13.910 the same will. It's easier to get it done. In 00:07:13.910 --> 00:07:17.810 these cases, it's been extremely positive. Andrea 00:07:17.810 --> 00:07:20.689 Berta, the team and the support that we have 00:07:20.689 --> 00:07:24.250 from Stan and Josh, especially. make this possible 00:07:24.250 --> 00:07:27.569 and available. And we are extremely happy to 00:07:27.569 --> 00:07:32.350 continue this journey with them. Yeah, I think 00:07:32.350 --> 00:07:34.670 it's been a far cry from what Arsenal used to 00:07:34.670 --> 00:07:36.990 be, where we would let players' contract run 00:07:36.990 --> 00:07:40.089 low, run really low to the last two years, last 00:07:40.089 --> 00:07:42.769 year, leave for free. People like Van Persie, 00:07:42.870 --> 00:07:45.829 Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Thierry Henry, to 00:07:45.829 --> 00:07:48.149 name but a few. But however, we're more proactive 00:07:48.149 --> 00:07:52.029 these days, you know. Our key players are seeing 00:07:52.029 --> 00:07:55.579 the project. this project buzzword. They're seeing 00:07:55.579 --> 00:07:59.139 the project and they're seeing that we are really 00:07:59.139 --> 00:08:02.079 close. And if you win a trophy with Arsenal, 00:08:02.180 --> 00:08:04.959 especially given our trophy draw, which will 00:08:04.959 --> 00:08:08.959 be stretched into now 22 years, as the earliest 00:08:08.959 --> 00:08:11.839 we can win a league title will be in 2026. So 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:14.680 that'll be 22 years. They will go down as legends. 00:08:15.939 --> 00:08:19.120 We're now actually favourites for the Premier 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:21.779 League. Slight favourites, but favourites nevertheless. 00:08:22.730 --> 00:08:27.230 given our fixtures that we've got coming up against 00:08:27.230 --> 00:08:33.049 Fulham, Crystal Palace, West Ham, 8 -0. And then 00:08:33.049 --> 00:08:36.370 Liverpool have to endure a gruelling match against 00:08:36.370 --> 00:08:41.070 Galatasaray today, tonight, should I say. And 00:08:41.070 --> 00:08:43.889 then they've got games against Chelsea and Man 00:08:43.889 --> 00:08:46.110 United coming up. So it will be like, oh, OK, 00:08:46.269 --> 00:08:49.429 can Arsenal now put their foot on the gas and 00:08:49.429 --> 00:08:52.370 really, really, really move the dial? move the 00:08:52.370 --> 00:08:55.210 needle and take it to Liverpool and say, right, 00:08:55.250 --> 00:09:00.549 this season, we mean business. On Mikel speaking 00:09:00.549 --> 00:09:05.830 to RAF pilots, you're a bit late. That was two 00:09:05.830 --> 00:09:08.750 years ago. So the plane's already gone. I like 00:09:08.750 --> 00:09:10.769 that metaphor. Yeah, I actually see that today 00:09:10.769 --> 00:09:14.470 as well. So, okay. So I guess this old news. 00:09:14.669 --> 00:09:19.889 Okay. Less said about that, the better. On if 00:09:19.889 --> 00:09:22.690 there was any fear that Saliba wouldn't sign 00:09:22.690 --> 00:09:25.509 the contract. Probably more than the length of 00:09:25.509 --> 00:09:28.029 the contract, it's the will of the player. You 00:09:28.029 --> 00:09:30.110 can understand that some players have a dream. 00:09:30.309 --> 00:09:32.309 Some of them is to play in the Premier League. 00:09:32.450 --> 00:09:34.350 Some of them is to play in the Premier League 00:09:34.350 --> 00:09:37.129 for Arsenal. Another one can be to play in a 00:09:37.129 --> 00:09:39.389 different country for a different club. Real 00:09:39.389 --> 00:09:42.429 Madrid or Barcelona. So you have to respect that. 00:09:42.490 --> 00:09:45.389 I think we've been really, really lucky. But 00:09:45.389 --> 00:09:47.970 it shows the power of this football club. And 00:09:47.970 --> 00:09:50.529 how much people love it and want to come here. 00:09:50.730 --> 00:09:53.450 None of that is happening. Even if they had the 00:09:53.450 --> 00:09:56.490 possibility to go somewhere else, they wanted 00:09:56.490 --> 00:09:59.009 to remain here. Okay. That's not the first time 00:09:59.009 --> 00:10:02.750 he's kind of intimated that other clubs were 00:10:02.750 --> 00:10:05.649 linked with him and were kind of hovering around 00:10:05.649 --> 00:10:08.389 him like vultures. So obviously Real Madrid's 00:10:08.389 --> 00:10:11.029 business plan is to notify a player of their 00:10:11.029 --> 00:10:13.490 interest, even if they've got two, three years 00:10:13.490 --> 00:10:15.870 of their contract remaining. Let that be known 00:10:15.870 --> 00:10:18.730 through the press. as they've done for Trent 00:10:18.730 --> 00:10:21.049 and Mbappe and players like that over the years. 00:10:21.370 --> 00:10:23.710 And then obviously, as they wind down their contracts, 00:10:23.909 --> 00:10:26.309 they pick them up on a free, giving them a hefty 00:10:26.309 --> 00:10:29.490 signing on fee, which would effectively replace 00:10:29.490 --> 00:10:32.250 what would be a hefty transfer fee, but even 00:10:32.250 --> 00:10:34.610 less. And that's what they've been doing over 00:10:34.610 --> 00:10:36.789 the years. So it's a remarkable feat that we've 00:10:36.789 --> 00:10:39.730 actually managed to get William Saliba to sign 00:10:39.730 --> 00:10:41.870 this long -term contract to stay at the club 00:10:41.870 --> 00:10:44.769 for the bulk of his career, the nucleus of his 00:10:44.769 --> 00:10:48.639 career. alongside his compadre, Gabriel Magales, 00:10:48.659 --> 00:10:52.120 who got the winner on Sunday. So maybe the fact 00:10:52.120 --> 00:10:56.340 that Dean Huyssen signed for Real Madrid, a young, 00:10:56.379 --> 00:10:59.279 budding defender from Bournemouth, influenced 00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:01.820 Saliba's decision. However, you could argue that 00:11:01.820 --> 00:11:05.200 he could play alongside Huyssen. But anyway, 00:11:05.379 --> 00:11:08.340 that signing of the contract has quelled any 00:11:08.340 --> 00:11:12.350 speculation, for now at least, that... william 00:11:12.350 --> 00:11:15.669 saliba will join us morangas on if he was always 00:11:15.669 --> 00:11:18.289 convinced he would become the player he is now 00:11:18.289 --> 00:11:22.009 well i think it's a great example to get where 00:11:22.009 --> 00:11:25.250 you want there's not a single pathway it can 00:11:25.250 --> 00:11:28.570 happen in various ways in various manners because 00:11:28.570 --> 00:11:31.529 when you talk about this pathway you talk about 00:11:31.529 --> 00:11:34.870 loans well i think it's a great example to get 00:11:34.870 --> 00:11:37.730 where you want there's not a single pathway it 00:11:37.730 --> 00:11:40.269 can happen in various ways in various manners 00:11:40.269 --> 00:11:43.009 because When you talk about this pathway, talk 00:11:43.009 --> 00:11:45.690 about loans. So there's a lot that has happened, 00:11:45.789 --> 00:11:48.450 a lot that William had to get through and the 00:11:48.450 --> 00:11:51.610 club and myself with him as well to get to the 00:11:51.610 --> 00:11:54.470 point where he is at today. And that's the beauty 00:11:54.470 --> 00:11:57.169 of it, that sometimes things don't start the 00:11:57.169 --> 00:11:59.710 way you expect it, but sometimes it's the best 00:11:59.710 --> 00:12:02.750 thing that can happen to you to get where you 00:12:02.750 --> 00:12:06.250 want. Yeah, William Saliba has actually been 00:12:06.250 --> 00:12:08.590 through a lot, especially in the early genesis 00:12:08.590 --> 00:12:12.129 of his career. Firstly, he had that scandal with 00:12:12.129 --> 00:12:15.429 Randall Colomwani. Not going to go too much into 00:12:15.429 --> 00:12:17.730 that, if you know, you know. It's involving a 00:12:17.730 --> 00:12:20.529 dressing room and a mobile phone. And also, he 00:12:20.529 --> 00:12:23.149 sadly lost his mother a few years back as well. 00:12:23.350 --> 00:12:26.149 Not to mention the various loans that he was 00:12:26.149 --> 00:12:28.990 sent on back to France, where he had to go and 00:12:28.990 --> 00:12:32.389 loan to teams at Marseille. So he's had to kind 00:12:32.389 --> 00:12:34.970 of overcome a lot, really. And to get to where 00:12:34.970 --> 00:12:38.039 he is today. It's testament to his character 00:12:38.039 --> 00:12:40.120 and you can see that he's someone that's hungry 00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:43.440 to thrive and to realise his potential going 00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:47.820 forward. And if he's aware of the noise around 00:12:47.820 --> 00:12:52.240 the club in terms of having no excuses, I'm aware 00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:56.039 the moment I step in this chair that I want with 00:12:56.039 --> 00:12:59.519 this club is to win major trophies. Nobody else 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:02.559 has to put that line into us. That's the ambition 00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:06.279 from the first day and the excuses. They've never 00:13:06.279 --> 00:13:08.779 been part of my life. You know, today I had a 00:13:08.779 --> 00:13:10.899 thought. I had a thought come through my mind 00:13:10.899 --> 00:13:14.240 that if Mikel Arteta, let's say, wins us the 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:16.500 Premier League or wins us the Champions League, 00:13:16.539 --> 00:13:18.960 because both would be remarkable feats. I mean, 00:13:19.000 --> 00:13:20.720 I've already alluded to the fact that we haven't 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:23.139 won the Premier League in 22 years. You know, 00:13:23.139 --> 00:13:25.240 a lot of the fan base haven't seen us win the 00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:27.379 Prem or too young to have seen us win the Prem. 00:13:27.899 --> 00:13:31.000 And then the Champions League, no fan have seen 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:32.759 us win the Champions League. So if you win one 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:35.649 of them, you go down. in history i was thinking 00:13:35.649 --> 00:13:39.950 that if arteta was to win one of those that would 00:13:39.950 --> 00:13:42.409 be a mic drop moment could he leave could he 00:13:42.409 --> 00:13:46.009 leave on his first european tie as our manager 00:13:46.009 --> 00:13:49.169 against olympiacos i knew there would be some 00:13:49.169 --> 00:13:51.049 kind of question on our previous match against 00:13:51.049 --> 00:13:54.250 them no but that's the beauty of football as 00:13:54.250 --> 00:13:57.029 well i perfectly remember when we scored the 00:13:57.029 --> 00:14:00.399 goal when we conceded the equalizer the last 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:02.480 chance that we had in the last second of the 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:04.960 game as well to go through what happened after 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:08.159 that as well when covid and everything hit so 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:10.799 part of the journey as well is to get where you 00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:14.759 are it's a good example like Saliba to get where 00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:18.019 you want to get sometimes you have to go through 00:14:18.019 --> 00:14:20.240 moments that you probably didn't expect to go 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:23.940 through okay shots fired at Pierre -Emerick Aubameyang 00:14:23.940 --> 00:14:28.049 who had An unbelievable effort to win the game, 00:14:28.110 --> 00:14:30.389 but didn't score it. On how that first year in 00:14:30.389 --> 00:14:33.029 the job helped him develop. It was a lot to swallow. 00:14:33.789 --> 00:14:38.570 Jesus. Coming into a massive club in the middle 00:14:38.570 --> 00:14:40.830 of the season when you've never coached a team. 00:14:41.129 --> 00:14:43.830 I think that's already a big challenge. On top 00:14:43.830 --> 00:14:46.250 of that, everything that was happening at the 00:14:46.250 --> 00:14:49.090 football club, COVID hits. You're not able to 00:14:49.090 --> 00:14:51.350 be in contact with your players or the club. 00:14:51.509 --> 00:14:54.490 And that drags on for almost two years. It's 00:14:54.490 --> 00:14:57.190 a lot. But it was an experience that I learned 00:14:57.190 --> 00:14:59.610 a lot from and I think it made us all better. 00:14:59.909 --> 00:15:01.830 Yeah, I mean, that season was a tough season. 00:15:01.889 --> 00:15:05.049 We finished eighth. That was bad times. That 00:15:05.049 --> 00:15:09.509 period, that was a hard, hard time to be an Arsenal 00:15:09.509 --> 00:15:12.929 fan. We was dubbed the banter club. The clubs 00:15:12.929 --> 00:15:15.090 or the fans of the clubs that were dubbing us 00:15:15.090 --> 00:15:17.669 the banter club have all had worse seasons in 00:15:17.669 --> 00:15:19.789 recent years. I'll leave it there. On the tunnel 00:15:19.789 --> 00:15:22.570 being removed at the Emirates Stadium to improve 00:15:22.570 --> 00:15:25.460 the atmosphere. As a club, we have always had 00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:27.639 the ambition to generate the best atmosphere 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:30.740 in the world at the Emirates Stadium. We have 00:15:30.740 --> 00:15:33.240 the best supporters in the world and now we have 00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:36.159 to facilitate everything. The team has to give 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:38.419 the right feelings to our supporters every time 00:15:38.419 --> 00:15:40.779 we play in front of them. We need to facilitate 00:15:40.779 --> 00:15:43.600 the stadium in the manner that we want and we 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:46.299 need to ignite the will that we have to play 00:15:46.299 --> 00:15:50.559 every single goal with us because it makes such 00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:53.120 a difference. We want to play and win the things 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:56.039 that we want to win. That's a non -negotiable. 00:15:56.320 --> 00:16:00.039 You need to have a stadium that is able to create 00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:04.700 those moments for sure. I haven't seen Arteta 00:16:04.700 --> 00:16:08.879 mention non -negotiable and contexts for a while. 00:16:09.460 --> 00:16:15.340 But yeah, to remove the tunnel was a remarkable 00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:18.970 decision because what it means is... You're not 00:16:18.970 --> 00:16:20.929 kind of hidden away. You're not blocked from 00:16:20.929 --> 00:16:22.909 the raucous atmosphere that the Emirates can 00:16:22.909 --> 00:16:25.330 generate. It hits you straight away. There's 00:16:25.330 --> 00:16:28.330 no hiding. Just like when we saw Eze, the fans 00:16:28.330 --> 00:16:31.330 could see him for longer. Whereas with the tunnel 00:16:31.330 --> 00:16:34.970 removed, the opponents are going to just be hit 00:16:34.970 --> 00:16:37.850 with a cauldron. You know, the cauldron is just 00:16:37.850 --> 00:16:41.090 going to hit them like a ton of bricks. And Olympiacos, 00:16:41.149 --> 00:16:44.169 yeah, their stadium is also kind of intimidating. 00:16:44.850 --> 00:16:46.740 But they're going to... They're going to be hit 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:48.360 with one tomorrow and I can't wait. I'm going 00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:50.940 to be there too. On when he was first aware of 00:16:50.940 --> 00:16:54.799 the talent Max Dahlman has, the first conversation 00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:58.059 was probably with Per Mertesacker. We were talking 00:16:58.059 --> 00:17:00.820 about the talent and what he could see and feel 00:17:00.820 --> 00:17:03.080 that he could reach the level that we needed 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:07.140 straight away. His name came up and then we started 00:17:07.140 --> 00:17:09.660 to look at him and the way he's developed himself 00:17:09.660 --> 00:17:12.819 and the steps that he's taken and the speed he's 00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:15.859 taken them. It's probably unheard of. He's fully 00:17:15.859 --> 00:17:18.500 with us. He's part of us. He trains with us and 00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:21.200 he's got the same chances as anybody else. That 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:25.180 last sentence is unbelievable. Max Darman, 15, 00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:29.660 has got the same chances as anybody else. And 00:17:29.660 --> 00:17:32.599 you know, I'm all for it. If you're good enough, 00:17:32.819 --> 00:17:35.240 you're old enough. It's just the only thing is 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:38.660 I'm not worried, but I'm wary of his welfare. 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:41.539 But other than that, yeah, if you feel he's ready, 00:17:41.619 --> 00:17:43.859 put him in. Let him play tomorrow. Let him play. 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:46.799 You know? Top player. What I've noticed, though, 00:17:46.859 --> 00:17:49.859 is I've noticed, I mentioned it, I alluded to 00:17:49.859 --> 00:17:55.059 it in the last edition podcast, that Myles Lewis 00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:57.279 Skelly has seemed to have taken him under his 00:17:57.279 --> 00:18:00.059 wing. You know, kind of big brother. They talk 00:18:00.059 --> 00:18:03.079 a lot. They kind of chill together. Myles and 00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:05.500 Ethan and then Declan Rice, big brother kind 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:08.299 of mode. And I like that, you know, kind of assimilating 00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:10.319 him into the group, making him feel comfortable, 00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:13.539 making him feel confident to kind of... you know, 00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:15.279 do what he does best, which is dribble with the 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:18.299 ball, twist people up. I'm all for it, man. Big 00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:21.140 up Max Darman. On when that conversation with 00:18:21.140 --> 00:18:24.599 Per was, I would say a year and a half, two years 00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:27.460 ago. Damn, two years ago. He would have been 00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:30.960 about 13 then. On how Victor Jokeres stood up 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:34.460 to the challenge at Newcastle. I loved it. I 00:18:34.460 --> 00:18:37.740 absolutely loved how he took it. He went on board, 00:18:37.819 --> 00:18:40.380 not a single moment when he was showing frustration. 00:18:41.150 --> 00:18:43.769 I told him that you're going to get some decisions. 00:18:44.609 --> 00:18:48.710 Some, others not. Stand up. You're going to have 00:18:48.710 --> 00:18:51.109 two or three players around you in many moments. 00:18:51.190 --> 00:18:54.210 The ball is in the air and a lot is going to 00:18:54.210 --> 00:18:57.329 happen. But I loved his reaction. I loved the 00:18:57.329 --> 00:19:00.150 way he handled the situation emotionally. And 00:19:00.150 --> 00:19:02.769 also because he was involved in a lot of dangerous 00:19:02.769 --> 00:19:06.470 moments that he created. He was very much involved 00:19:06.470 --> 00:19:09.269 in them. it's a pity that he didn't score a goal 00:19:09.269 --> 00:19:12.150 at the end because in my opinion he fully deserved 00:19:12.150 --> 00:19:14.970 it yeah i mean in terms of victor joker as his 00:19:14.970 --> 00:19:17.390 all -round game he did all right his link -up 00:19:17.390 --> 00:19:19.450 play was good his hold -up play was good i felt 00:19:19.450 --> 00:19:22.029 like he linked up slightly too much for my liking 00:19:22.029 --> 00:19:24.329 there were moments where he could have shot albeit 00:19:24.329 --> 00:19:26.390 from tighter angles but that's exactly what i 00:19:26.390 --> 00:19:28.849 want from him I wanted to be single -minded, 00:19:28.930 --> 00:19:32.390 greedy to an extent where if you feel you can 00:19:32.390 --> 00:19:34.529 get a shot off, get one off. But he was kind 00:19:34.529 --> 00:19:36.970 of passing when he could have potentially shot. 00:19:37.089 --> 00:19:39.150 Usually his single -minded self would have done 00:19:39.150 --> 00:19:41.150 so. At Sporting, I'm sure he would definitely 00:19:41.150 --> 00:19:43.170 have done so. He would have had licence and, 00:19:43.250 --> 00:19:45.069 you know, he would have been instructed to do 00:19:45.069 --> 00:19:48.029 so, shoot on sight policy. But all in all, yeah, 00:19:48.130 --> 00:19:50.630 he got himself about. He's looking fitter by 00:19:50.630 --> 00:19:52.730 the game. I think every game he's playing, he's 00:19:52.730 --> 00:19:56.819 looking more and more fit. With obviously, there's 00:19:56.819 --> 00:19:59.680 more of an emphasis on him because Kai's out. 00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:02.220 So if he was to go down, we'd have to shuffle 00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:04.200 things around. But we've got options there. We've 00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:06.640 got people like Marino, Trossard and Martinelli 00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:09.039 that can play there. But ideally, you want a 00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:10.960 victor to score a few more goals. Now, I think 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:14.019 he's currently on three and six, three and eight 00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:16.380 overall. But hopefully, if he can get a few more 00:20:16.380 --> 00:20:19.380 goals over the coming games, he can get to fours 00:20:19.380 --> 00:20:22.109 and fives and sixes. Going into the international 00:20:22.109 --> 00:20:25.369 break. On how he's handling the role with Kai 00:20:25.369 --> 00:20:28.829 out injured. In a really natural organic way 00:20:28.829 --> 00:20:32.769 I would say. He's a really confident boy. His 00:20:32.769 --> 00:20:35.609 work ethic is incredible. The demands that he 00:20:35.609 --> 00:20:38.450 puts on himself every single day. It's a joy 00:20:38.450 --> 00:20:41.289 to work with him. He gives so much to the team. 00:20:41.450 --> 00:20:44.670 And the ceiling is very very far. But he can 00:20:44.670 --> 00:20:47.109 still give to the team. So I'm very happy with 00:20:47.109 --> 00:20:49.410 him. Yeah, so I've already alluded to a lot of 00:20:49.410 --> 00:20:52.970 the things with Victor. He's doing well, I think, 00:20:52.970 --> 00:20:56.210 in the game against Newcastle. He was in the 00:20:56.210 --> 00:21:02.029 wars with Malik Chiao and the likes of Dan Byrne 00:21:02.029 --> 00:21:04.789 as well. He got himself about, moved around, 00:21:05.029 --> 00:21:07.069 played the others into play. I'd like to see 00:21:07.069 --> 00:21:08.890 him link up with Eze. I think that's going to 00:21:08.890 --> 00:21:13.339 be a key partnership going forward. Yeah, also 00:21:13.339 --> 00:21:15.700 I didn't actually mention that all three of his 00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:17.819 goals in the two games he scored them in have 00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:20.420 been at the Emirates. So our next two fixtures 00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:23.119 in the next four days are at the Emirates. Hopefully 00:21:23.119 --> 00:21:24.940 you can add to that, but after the international 00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:27.460 break, I would like to see him score away from 00:21:27.460 --> 00:21:30.619 home, albeit those games will be in London because 00:21:30.619 --> 00:21:33.740 we're playing teams like Fulham, Crystal Palace, 00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:38.259 et al. in the month of October, starting tomorrow. 00:21:40.110 --> 00:21:43.289 On what Eze brings to a central position compared 00:21:43.289 --> 00:21:46.170 to Odegaard, I think he's got this different 00:21:46.170 --> 00:21:49.470 quality that he does things that in the book 00:21:49.470 --> 00:21:52.309 they're unexpected. When you think he's going 00:21:52.309 --> 00:21:55.569 to turn right, he goes left. When he thinks that 00:21:55.569 --> 00:21:58.069 he's going to take another touch, he releases 00:21:58.069 --> 00:22:01.150 the ball. In his vision, he's a player that can 00:22:01.150 --> 00:22:04.049 create those magic moments and at some point 00:22:04.049 --> 00:22:06.410 he can steal the ball in a way that not many 00:22:06.410 --> 00:22:09.599 players can do. lucky that we have a few of those 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:12.319 but the more we put him in central positions 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:15.559 in those conditions especially when there's threat 00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:18.559 around him we're playing to his strengths it's 00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:21.119 okay so that's arteta's admission that abareche 00:22:21.119 --> 00:22:25.180 is at his best in the center of the pitch between 00:22:25.180 --> 00:22:28.380 the lines you know just behind joker as i think 00:22:28.380 --> 00:22:31.160 that's the way forward for us but then obviously 00:22:31.160 --> 00:22:33.460 martin odegaard's now there so i like the way 00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:35.940 they linked up on sunday i would like to see 00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:39.099 more of that Tomorrow, potentially. But it'll 00:22:39.099 --> 00:22:41.759 be interesting to see if actually Eze and Odegaard 00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:44.660 both start in central positions or he goes Odegaard 00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:47.180 and Eze out wide, despite the statement he's 00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:49.900 just made. On how he's adapted to life at Arsenal. 00:22:50.119 --> 00:22:53.140 Very good. Personally, it's a very special character. 00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:56.680 Someone really easy to get on with. Super intelligent. 00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:59.839 I've been very impressed by how quickly he picks 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:03.059 things up. The questions he asks and how smart 00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:06.279 he is. Just to navigate through a different environment. 00:23:06.829 --> 00:23:08.930 The chemistry he's generated with his teammates, 00:23:09.089 --> 00:23:12.009 the way he's impacting games for the short period 00:23:12.009 --> 00:23:15.289 he's been with us, I think really positive. Yeah, 00:23:15.309 --> 00:23:16.970 actually, funnily enough, I didn't mention that 00:23:16.970 --> 00:23:20.210 I noticed he and Gabriel have developed a strong 00:23:20.210 --> 00:23:23.309 bond already. And obviously he knows people like 00:23:23.309 --> 00:23:26.130 Nonny, who he seems to get on really well with. 00:23:26.690 --> 00:23:28.789 Bukayo, who he seems to get on really well with. 00:23:29.430 --> 00:23:31.970 Declan Rice as well. And then you've got the 00:23:31.970 --> 00:23:37.440 young boys in Ethan and Mouse. So, yeah, he's 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:39.519 already known a lot of the players through the 00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:42.380 years, through playing against Arsenal. But he's 00:23:42.380 --> 00:23:45.099 really just bedded in really nicely. And I think 00:23:45.099 --> 00:23:47.559 a lot to do with that is the fact that he's been 00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:50.359 here before. This is his habitat. He's back home. 00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:52.559 The players adore him. And I think personally, 00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:54.180 I think he's one of the leaders in the team. 00:23:54.299 --> 00:23:56.460 So I just want him to get more and more games, 00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:59.079 more and more experience in European football, 00:23:59.140 --> 00:24:01.119 understanding the pace of European football, 00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:03.700 the differences in what he's used to. And I'm 00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:05.640 sure after a few games, we're going to see the 00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:08.180 best of Ebreche Eze for sure. And how to learn 00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:10.960 from our previous encounters with Olympiacos? 00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:13.460 Yes, because they have a really good side and 00:24:13.460 --> 00:24:15.859 they have a really, really good manager, which 00:24:15.859 --> 00:24:18.720 I've known since I was 13 because he was my coach 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:22.079 at that period. And I know how he works. I know 00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:24.880 how efficient he is in what he does. That's why 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:27.180 I'm saying that tomorrow is going to be really 00:24:27.180 --> 00:24:31.640 tough. Yeah, Olympiacos are a good side. They're 00:24:31.640 --> 00:24:35.359 used to winning week on week. As I already mentioned, 00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:38.259 they won 3 -2 on Saturday. They're used to being 00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:40.339 on the front foot, but tomorrow that's not going 00:24:40.339 --> 00:24:42.579 to be the case. They're going to have to be pragmatic 00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:46.839 and obviously seize their moments on the break. 00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:48.859 If they want to have any chance of winning, they're 00:24:48.859 --> 00:24:50.599 going to have to hang in there. Their goalkeeper 00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:52.759 is going to have to have a 10 out of 10 performance 00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:54.500 if they want to get anything out of the game. 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:59.180 But for me... I think it's a case of just being 00:24:59.180 --> 00:25:04.180 confident, not complacent and carrying out the 00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:07.539 tasks in what Arteta has kind of trained for. 00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:10.720 So if Arteta puts out a strong side, which I 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:13.579 fully expect him to do, then there's no reason 00:25:13.579 --> 00:25:15.720 why we shouldn't and wouldn't pick up three points. 00:25:16.099 --> 00:25:19.900 On what makes our back four so good? Well, one 00:25:19.900 --> 00:25:22.299 is chemistry. I think there is something about, 00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:24.839 especially when we talk about centre -back units, 00:25:24.900 --> 00:25:27.900 that... It has to exist, that it has to be a 00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:30.500 will, a feeling to play for each other and basically 00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:33.220 to hide each other's weaknesses and promote each 00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:35.880 other's strengths. And that's an ability that 00:25:35.880 --> 00:25:38.099 they have between them and they have developed. 00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:41.299 They like to play with each other. They love 00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:44.240 each other. And that's a massive thing when you're 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:46.279 asking your backline to produce what they are 00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:49.359 producing at the moment. Well, he's obviously 00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:53.059 referring to William Saliba and Gabriel. He's 00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:55.339 mentioned hide each other's weaknesses and promote 00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:57.680 each other's strengths. Okay, let me try and 00:25:57.680 --> 00:26:01.119 extrapolate what he means by that. So, I mean, 00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:03.079 put it this way, when I mention the weaknesses, 00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:05.339 which I think he's inferring, I'm clutching at 00:26:05.339 --> 00:26:07.720 straws, but with Gabriel's probably, you know, 00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:10.960 he's technically not the greatest in the world, 00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:14.920 but you don't require a centre -back to be technically 00:26:14.920 --> 00:26:18.200 efficient. Whereas Saliba is technically very 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:20.900 good, but the aggression... isn't there as much, 00:26:20.900 --> 00:26:23.079 but you get the aggression from Gabriel. So it's 00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:25.859 like, that's where the compliment lies. Also 00:26:25.859 --> 00:26:28.900 with Saliba, you might get one or two lapses 00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:32.059 in concentration now and again, but usually he 00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:34.579 makes up for them anyway. Or usually Gabriel 00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:36.599 will make up for it or Timba will come across. 00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:39.299 So that's me clutching that straws because I 00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:41.240 don't think there's many weaknesses. And then 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:44.240 when you add in Riccardo Calafiori, who is great 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:46.440 going forward, but I think this season he's improved 00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:49.440 immensely defensively. And I think that's the 00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:51.200 main reason why he's been in the team because 00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:54.079 he's a threat going forward. There was a point 00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:56.960 where he actually had the most shots of any player 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:59.819 in the Arsenal squad. So yeah, he had an exceptional 00:26:59.819 --> 00:27:02.640 start to the season and I think he probably has 00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:05.440 done enough to keep his place in the team. However, 00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:08.240 it would surprise me if he kind of gets a breather 00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:10.319 with Miles getting an opportunity to come in. 00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:13.200 But other than that, I think it will be a largely 00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:16.220 unchanged squad for the game tomorrow evening. 00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:17.460 Peace.