WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.280 Yo, yo, yo. Check one, two, one, two. Hello and 00:00:04.280 --> 00:00:07.519 welcome to HYBR1D Powered by chinkseyMEDIA. 00:00:08.220 --> 00:00:13.460 We are back again. Right. Every word from Mikel 00:00:13.460 --> 00:00:17.460 Arteta's pre -Fulham presser. Mikel Arteta has 00:00:17.460 --> 00:00:19.760 been speaking to the press ahead of our trip 00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:23.179 to Fulham in the Premier League tomorrow. Our 00:00:23.179 --> 00:00:25.960 boss spoke about facing the cottages, returning 00:00:25.960 --> 00:00:29.339 from the international break and much more. at 00:00:29.339 --> 00:00:31.679 his press conference at the Sober Royalty Training 00:00:31.679 --> 00:00:37.000 Centre. Bow! On Martin Odegaard's fitness, it 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:40.479 will be weeks. No definite date for his return, 00:00:40.679 --> 00:00:44.320 but he's evolving well. Very unlucky. What's 00:00:44.320 --> 00:00:46.619 happening with him and his injuries this season? 00:00:46.719 --> 00:00:49.659 But yeah, I think he'll be back in a few weeks. 00:00:50.299 --> 00:00:52.700 Yeah, it's a shame that Martin Odegaard, our 00:00:52.700 --> 00:00:57.920 captain, has gone down three times. this season 00:00:57.920 --> 00:01:00.600 all in the first half, which is an unwanted record. 00:01:01.320 --> 00:01:04.599 However, on the other side of the coin, it gives 00:01:04.599 --> 00:01:07.819 opportunities to the likes of Eze, Max Dahlman, 00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:11.359 and obviously Ethan Wanyeri, who will be looking 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:15.620 to kind of seize the initiative, seize the opportunity 00:01:15.620 --> 00:01:19.040 as there's a space in the team potentially for 00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:22.299 one or two of those three to thrive in the coming 00:01:22.299 --> 00:01:26.959 weeks. On when he might return to action, it 00:01:26.959 --> 00:01:29.439 could be after the next international break, 00:01:29.620 --> 00:01:32.459 but we'll have to see how he progresses, how 00:01:32.459 --> 00:01:35.319 the knee's healing, how he manages after the 00:01:35.319 --> 00:01:38.659 next steps in his rehab. So too early to give 00:01:38.659 --> 00:01:41.400 an answer. Well, one thing's for sure, Martin 00:01:41.400 --> 00:01:44.219 Odegaard's started his football career really 00:01:44.219 --> 00:01:46.299 young, so he's probably nine, ten years into 00:01:46.299 --> 00:01:51.000 his career. A shame that he's going down, you 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:52.879 know. I don't know if his body's breaking down 00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:55.120 on him. But one thing we don't want to do is 00:01:55.120 --> 00:01:57.280 rush him back. One thing we don't need to do 00:01:57.280 --> 00:01:59.799 is rush him back. We've got the aforementioned 00:01:59.799 --> 00:02:03.920 players that can come and step in in his absence. 00:02:04.219 --> 00:02:08.120 So the thing we need to do is make sure he takes 00:02:08.120 --> 00:02:12.020 the requisite amount of time out, get his rehab 00:02:12.020 --> 00:02:17.110 on point, get him super, super fit. And if it 00:02:17.110 --> 00:02:19.770 means taking another one, two, three weeks to 00:02:19.770 --> 00:02:24.849 a month off to make sure he's back and raring 00:02:24.849 --> 00:02:27.150 to go so he doesn't break down when he does return, 00:02:27.330 --> 00:02:29.349 then so be it because we've got enough depth 00:02:29.349 --> 00:02:32.689 to cover his absence. That's for sure. On why 00:02:32.689 --> 00:02:36.189 Martin Zubimendi didn't train yesterday. Yeah, 00:02:36.310 --> 00:02:38.409 all the players come from different countries, 00:02:38.590 --> 00:02:40.930 different amounts of games and minutes played. 00:02:41.189 --> 00:02:43.430 And we believe that it was the right thing to 00:02:43.430 --> 00:02:47.800 do. He played two games again. His load has been 00:02:47.800 --> 00:02:51.039 really high recently and he needed an extra day. 00:02:51.180 --> 00:02:54.300 He will be available. Okay, that's very telling. 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:57.500 That's interesting. Is that a hint to say that 00:02:57.500 --> 00:03:01.039 Martin Zubimendi may not play tomorrow? Sorry, 00:03:01.099 --> 00:03:04.939 may not start tomorrow? And obviously he'll come 00:03:04.939 --> 00:03:08.819 in for the Atletico game on the Tuesday. A team 00:03:08.819 --> 00:03:13.229 who would be... well -versed against. So obviously 00:03:13.229 --> 00:03:16.830 he's formerly of Real Sociedad, so he's well 00:03:16.830 --> 00:03:19.289 used to playing against Atletico Madrid. So does 00:03:19.289 --> 00:03:24.129 that mean now that Declan Rice will play in a 00:03:24.129 --> 00:03:29.629 holding role with someone like Marino or Wanyeri 00:03:29.629 --> 00:03:34.330 coming in to replace the likes of Odegaard and 00:03:34.330 --> 00:03:37.159 Zubimendi? I think that statement from Arteta 00:03:37.159 --> 00:03:39.860 is quite telling. So yeah, for me, if I was to 00:03:39.860 --> 00:03:41.960 make a predicted line -up based on that statement, 00:03:42.219 --> 00:03:45.740 I reckon Declan Rice will drop in and he'll bring 00:03:45.740 --> 00:03:48.439 in probably Mourinho, who scored another two 00:03:48.439 --> 00:03:51.500 goals for Spain in midweek. On Ben White's fitness, 00:03:51.860 --> 00:03:55.180 yes, very similar. We are monitoring all the 00:03:55.180 --> 00:03:58.560 players and give a specific menu to each of them 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:01.759 to make sure that they are in the best condition. 00:04:02.199 --> 00:04:04.939 Yeah, Ben White's obviously not had the best 00:04:04.939 --> 00:04:08.080 18 months to two years. Obviously, Julian Timber's 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:10.159 come in and just hit the ground running after 00:04:10.159 --> 00:04:14.639 his return from injury. But Ben White, I think 00:04:14.639 --> 00:04:17.279 he's another one that just needs to kind of take 00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:20.920 some time out, get himself properly fit. So when 00:04:20.920 --> 00:04:24.180 he is back... He is unlikely to go down again. 00:04:24.300 --> 00:04:26.500 However, the only thing is, is the match fitness 00:04:26.500 --> 00:04:31.040 problem. And now it means that the games he does 00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:34.639 come in, he may be rusty because Julian Timbers 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:38.759 played so well in his absence. Where is he going 00:04:38.759 --> 00:04:40.379 to get the match fitness? That's the dilemma. 00:04:42.600 --> 00:04:48.259 Yeah, he will be training today again with us. 00:04:48.300 --> 00:04:50.860 And if everything is right, he will be available 00:04:50.860 --> 00:04:54.600 as well. Yeah, I mean, Piero is a player similar 00:04:54.600 --> 00:04:59.079 to Riccardo Calafiori, as I mentioned quite a 00:04:59.079 --> 00:05:02.779 few times. But the thing is, we've got Myles 00:05:02.779 --> 00:05:05.740 Lewis -Skelly waiting in the wings and it would 00:05:05.740 --> 00:05:07.639 surprise me if Myles actually started tomorrow 00:05:07.639 --> 00:05:11.100 with Riccardo coming in on Tuesday or vice versa. 00:05:11.540 --> 00:05:14.579 So with Piero, it'll be interesting to see if 00:05:14.579 --> 00:05:16.579 he does come on where he plays because he could 00:05:16.579 --> 00:05:19.870 also play centre -back. Yeah, we've got so much, 00:05:19.870 --> 00:05:22.569 we're brimming with so much quality. We don't 00:05:22.569 --> 00:05:25.870 actually necessarily need Piero for the next 00:05:25.870 --> 00:05:28.610 few games, but I think the Brighton game will 00:05:28.610 --> 00:05:33.050 be a good opportunity for him to start. On Piero 00:05:33.050 --> 00:05:36.149 now getting a chance to play regularly. Yeah. 00:05:36.680 --> 00:05:39.620 We really want that. He's that player that is 00:05:39.620 --> 00:05:42.220 going to help us a lot. He's going to bring something 00:05:42.220 --> 00:05:44.800 different to the team. We need to get him going, 00:05:44.920 --> 00:05:47.480 get to the speed that is necessary to compete 00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:49.759 at this level and gradually get him to where 00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:53.360 we want. Bring something different to the team. 00:05:53.939 --> 00:05:56.759 Elaborate, Mikel, because I think he's very similar 00:05:56.759 --> 00:05:59.660 to Riccardo Calafiori in the sense that he's 00:05:59.660 --> 00:06:01.879 got a lot of pace. He's really robust in the 00:06:01.879 --> 00:06:04.860 challenge. He can play left -back, centre -back. 00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:10.040 He's a goal threat. He's efficient with his passing. 00:06:10.079 --> 00:06:12.240 You know, he's a fantastic player. I've seen 00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:15.360 him play. In fact, on the channel, there's actually 00:06:15.360 --> 00:06:17.939 footage of him scoring an outrageous goal for 00:06:17.939 --> 00:06:21.339 Ecuador. So I'm not sure what it means by that, 00:06:21.459 --> 00:06:24.360 but I think he is someone that can provide us 00:06:24.360 --> 00:06:26.600 additional quality to what we already do have. 00:06:28.120 --> 00:06:33.560 On how Noni Madweke is getting on. If you know, 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:36.550 you know. Getting closer as well. He's going 00:06:36.550 --> 00:06:39.569 to start very soon to do some running and stuff. 00:06:39.850 --> 00:06:43.009 And then again, let's see how that reacts. Okay, 00:06:43.050 --> 00:06:44.750 so it doesn't really sound like he's going to 00:06:44.750 --> 00:06:47.050 be ready for tomorrow. Although that could just 00:06:47.050 --> 00:06:48.930 be mind game. You might see him on the bench. 00:06:49.110 --> 00:06:51.170 But one thing's for sure, I don't think Noni's 00:06:51.170 --> 00:06:55.750 ready to start. On Kai Havertz's recovery. Again, 00:06:55.910 --> 00:06:58.970 very difficult. There's still a lot to do in 00:06:58.970 --> 00:07:02.269 his rehab. He's really pushing it. We know Kai 00:07:02.269 --> 00:07:05.930 and that's why we love him so much. But we have 00:07:05.930 --> 00:07:08.769 to wait and see. I think we are doing a really 00:07:08.769 --> 00:07:12.550 good work with him. Again, he wants to break 00:07:12.550 --> 00:07:16.449 every timeline, I'm sure. But that's why we have 00:07:16.449 --> 00:07:19.189 to protect him and make sure that when he does 00:07:19.189 --> 00:07:22.170 come back, he comes back for the long term. Yeah, 00:07:22.209 --> 00:07:25.949 just like I alluded to for Odegaard and Ben White, 00:07:26.050 --> 00:07:28.449 where we don't want to rush him back. We want 00:07:28.449 --> 00:07:31.129 him to come back and he's super fit, raring to 00:07:31.129 --> 00:07:34.850 go and just hits the ground running. I've heard 00:07:34.850 --> 00:07:39.670 a few theories on the fact that Kai Havertz not 00:07:39.670 --> 00:07:44.990 being fit is to Victor Jokeres' detriment. However, 00:07:45.209 --> 00:07:50.230 I think the opposite because I believe that Jokeres 00:07:50.230 --> 00:07:52.769 is probably struggling with confidence right 00:07:52.769 --> 00:07:55.250 now. So however, if he's now taken out the team, 00:07:55.329 --> 00:07:58.490 that will hit his confidence even more. whereas 00:07:58.490 --> 00:08:01.029 at least now he knows he's going to be starting 00:08:01.029 --> 00:08:05.009 every game so the opportunity is there that he 00:08:05.009 --> 00:08:07.889 can keep trying to score goals knowing that he'll 00:08:07.889 --> 00:08:10.310 still be in the team because I want his confidence 00:08:10.310 --> 00:08:13.430 as high as possible because if it drops then 00:08:13.430 --> 00:08:18.129 it means he starts to doubt himself and he might 00:08:18.129 --> 00:08:22.310 not get to that 20 goal target which most invariably 00:08:22.310 --> 00:08:25.589 most Arsenal fans want and expect him to reach. 00:08:27.720 --> 00:08:30.439 On being one of the longest serving Premier League 00:08:30.439 --> 00:08:33.320 managers. Well, very privileged and grateful 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:36.120 as always. And to be present on the day because 00:08:36.120 --> 00:08:39.200 we know that our job is the only thing that requires 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:42.539 it. Yeah, I think he's off the top of my head. 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:44.399 I think he's second or third longest serving. 00:08:44.860 --> 00:08:49.480 Probably behind Pep Guardiola. And there's probably 00:08:49.480 --> 00:08:53.000 another guy off the top of my head. But yeah, 00:08:53.039 --> 00:08:56.470 I mean, for you to... Being a job for three years 00:08:56.470 --> 00:08:59.690 plus, in a managerial job for three years plus 00:08:59.690 --> 00:09:01.870 these days, means you're doing something right 00:09:01.870 --> 00:09:05.429 because it's changed. You know, the climate's 00:09:05.429 --> 00:09:07.889 changed in probably the last 10 years or so where 00:09:07.889 --> 00:09:11.450 now the pressure is immense. You know, people 00:09:11.450 --> 00:09:14.470 like Ansh Postakoglu have been in situ for like 00:09:14.470 --> 00:09:18.009 probably about a month and a bit. And they're 00:09:18.009 --> 00:09:20.850 already under real pressure. I mean, if I was 00:09:20.850 --> 00:09:22.750 to look at the bookies, I wouldn't be surprised 00:09:22.750 --> 00:09:25.470 if he was the favourite to be the next manager 00:09:25.470 --> 00:09:28.110 to be fired, considering they've got teams like 00:09:28.110 --> 00:09:32.330 Chelsea and Manchester United imminently coming 00:09:32.330 --> 00:09:39.769 up. So, yeah, it's a crazy industry, the football 00:09:39.769 --> 00:09:43.690 managerial one. And for Mikel to have been in 00:09:43.690 --> 00:09:47.820 position for six, seven years now, It means he's 00:09:47.820 --> 00:09:50.200 doing something right. But I think it's coming 00:09:50.200 --> 00:09:52.399 to a head now where this is the season where 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:57.700 it has to click. And I'm sure it will. On getting 00:09:57.700 --> 00:10:00.340 a win at Fulham for the first time since 2023. 00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:04.019 Yeah, Newcastle is a good example. West Ham as 00:10:04.019 --> 00:10:06.600 well. In the last two seasons as well. We lost 00:10:06.600 --> 00:10:09.059 against them at home. So that's an opportunity 00:10:09.059 --> 00:10:13.179 tomorrow. We know. that it's a really tough place 00:10:13.179 --> 00:10:15.720 to go. A very well coached team, and we're going 00:10:15.720 --> 00:10:18.440 to have to be at our best tomorrow. He missed 00:10:18.440 --> 00:10:20.840 out to win, but that's what he meant. But to 00:10:20.840 --> 00:10:23.980 be honest, I mean, a lot of people are trying 00:10:23.980 --> 00:10:27.960 to make out that our record against Fulham is 00:10:27.960 --> 00:10:30.899 a bit abysmal, but it's not, because if you actually 00:10:30.899 --> 00:10:33.399 go beyond those last two years, so what I will 00:10:33.399 --> 00:10:36.080 say is, with the exception of the last two years, 00:10:36.460 --> 00:10:39.409 our record against Fulham is... Pretty much flawless. 00:10:39.690 --> 00:10:42.529 Go back. Go back 10, 12 years and you'll see 00:10:42.529 --> 00:10:45.350 what I mean. I'm pretty sure, this is off the 00:10:45.350 --> 00:10:50.269 top of my head, but I think we won about 10 straight 00:10:50.269 --> 00:10:53.149 games against Fulham without conceding or just 00:10:53.149 --> 00:10:55.789 won 10 straight games against Fulham and that's 00:10:55.789 --> 00:10:58.970 home and away. So, whereas they did manage to 00:10:58.970 --> 00:11:01.789 beat us two years ago, 2 -1, and then we went 00:11:01.789 --> 00:11:06.820 on that famous run where we only lost to... Aston 00:11:06.820 --> 00:11:09.139 Villa and drew with Man City in our remaining 00:11:09.139 --> 00:11:11.659 games. But that still wasn't enough for us to 00:11:11.659 --> 00:11:14.559 win the league. And then last season, Fulham, 00:11:14.659 --> 00:11:16.779 we played them at Craven Cottage. I remember 00:11:16.779 --> 00:11:18.700 this game, it stuck out like a sore thumb to 00:11:18.700 --> 00:11:21.379 me. We played them at Craven Cottage. They played 00:11:21.379 --> 00:11:25.559 a 5 -4 -1 formation, which shocked me. And they 00:11:25.559 --> 00:11:28.779 went 1 -0 up, I think. I'm pretty sure they went 00:11:28.779 --> 00:11:32.080 1 -0 up. Then we equalised and we dominated the 00:11:32.080 --> 00:11:35.470 whole game. Literally had the boulder and they 00:11:35.470 --> 00:11:38.769 were just defending, defending. They low blocked 00:11:38.769 --> 00:11:42.929 us. Then Martinelli scored what I thought was 00:11:42.929 --> 00:11:45.470 the winner, but it was ruled out for offside. 00:11:46.190 --> 00:11:49.070 But honestly, I'm sure we had about 80 % possession. 00:11:49.309 --> 00:11:51.710 And this is against a Fulham side who are rated 00:11:51.710 --> 00:11:55.350 up until that point as a team that actually take 00:11:55.350 --> 00:11:57.750 the game to size. But for them to now change 00:11:57.750 --> 00:12:02.509 their normal style of play against us, that's... 00:12:02.840 --> 00:12:05.019 You can argue that's a backhanded compliment. 00:12:05.059 --> 00:12:08.559 However, I expect more of the same tomorrow because 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:10.960 we're an even better side than we were last season. 00:12:12.460 --> 00:12:16.659 OK, on our defensive record, well, that's a platform 00:12:16.659 --> 00:12:18.860 to build performances and results. That's for 00:12:18.860 --> 00:12:21.820 sure. We want to consistently be able to defend 00:12:21.820 --> 00:12:25.610 at that level. In order to do that is how well 00:12:25.610 --> 00:12:28.830 we attack and how committed everybody is to do 00:12:28.830 --> 00:12:31.610 what we have to do. And if we continue to do 00:12:31.610 --> 00:12:34.409 that, it's going to give us a big chance to get 00:12:34.409 --> 00:12:38.210 what we want, which is a win. So yeah, we've 00:12:38.210 --> 00:12:39.929 currently only conceded three Premier League 00:12:39.929 --> 00:12:48.950 goals in addition to two clean sheets in the 00:12:48.950 --> 00:12:50.809 Champions League and I'm pretty sure a clean 00:12:50.809 --> 00:12:54.789 sheet against Port Vale. So the only sides that 00:12:54.789 --> 00:12:59.789 have scored against us this season are, off the 00:12:59.789 --> 00:13:04.950 top of my head, Liverpool, Manchester City, and 00:13:04.950 --> 00:13:10.649 another one. But what I will say is, we've got 00:13:10.649 --> 00:13:14.950 a top defence, people like Timber, William Saliba, 00:13:15.190 --> 00:13:20.250 and Gabriel. And even if you add Calafiori or 00:13:20.250 --> 00:13:23.700 Lewis Skelly, that is a solid defence. So which 00:13:23.700 --> 00:13:26.220 means there should be less emphasis on having 00:13:26.220 --> 00:13:29.879 a defensive -minded midfield. I think there should 00:13:29.879 --> 00:13:32.419 be more emphasis of having a more attacking -minded 00:13:32.419 --> 00:13:35.460 midfield, especially against sides like Fulham, 00:13:35.580 --> 00:13:37.940 who are going to pay us a lot of respect and 00:13:37.940 --> 00:13:42.700 play a low block against us and defend their 00:13:42.700 --> 00:13:45.220 box with probably eight, nine men around their 00:13:45.220 --> 00:13:48.059 box. I expect us to have a lot of the ball tomorrow, 00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:51.539 80 to 90, not 80, but... I expect us to have 00:13:51.539 --> 00:13:54.379 about 60 % to 65 % of the ball tomorrow, but 00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:57.580 it's what we do with it, how we use it, how fast 00:13:57.580 --> 00:14:00.399 we move that ball. And people like Eze, Wanyeri, 00:14:00.740 --> 00:14:04.840 Saka will be very important in that type of game. 00:14:04.980 --> 00:14:07.720 On a confidence, our defensive record gives the 00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:12.139 full team. Yes, for sure. And as well, I think 00:14:12.139 --> 00:14:14.740 it tells about the organisation of the team. 00:14:14.940 --> 00:14:17.200 Yeah, it was bugging me, the other team that 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:19.100 scored against us was Newcastle. So effectively, 00:14:20.200 --> 00:14:22.799 The only sides that have scored against us are 00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:28.279 three of the top five. Under confidence, our 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:30.879 defensive record gives the full team. Yes, for 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:34.120 sure. And as well, I think it tells about the 00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:36.559 organisation of the team and the consistency 00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:39.500 that we are showing in many aspects. And the 00:14:39.500 --> 00:14:42.139 more we do those things in a lot of parameters 00:14:42.139 --> 00:14:44.460 throughout the season and we establish ourselves 00:14:44.460 --> 00:14:47.039 in those categories at the highest level, the 00:14:47.039 --> 00:14:49.519 bigger the chance will be to achieve what we 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:51.799 want for sure. I think it's essentially saying, 00:14:51.940 --> 00:14:56.679 just to summarise that, the less goals we concede, 00:14:56.899 --> 00:15:00.789 the more of a chance we have to win. If we keep 00:15:00.789 --> 00:15:02.990 a clean sheet, we're invariably going to score 00:15:02.990 --> 00:15:05.830 and we're invariably going to win. Let's summarise 00:15:05.830 --> 00:15:09.330 that. On the leadership group within the club, 00:15:09.529 --> 00:15:13.029 well, it makes me proud. Not only here, but with 00:15:13.029 --> 00:15:15.730 the national team. Every time I talk to the national 00:15:15.730 --> 00:15:18.149 team coaches, the way they talk about our players 00:15:18.149 --> 00:15:19.769 and the roles that they have been given in the 00:15:19.769 --> 00:15:22.710 last few years as well, that tells you the leadership, 00:15:22.929 --> 00:15:26.389 the accountability and how much they trust them. 00:15:26.649 --> 00:15:29.289 And yeah, Martin is out, but we have various 00:15:29.289 --> 00:15:33.110 kinds of leaders in the team now that they have. 00:15:33.649 --> 00:15:35.990 They have the ownership and accountability to 00:15:35.990 --> 00:15:38.649 deliver what is required. And Martin will continue 00:15:38.649 --> 00:15:42.110 to have a role, whether he's not playing as well, 00:15:42.149 --> 00:15:45.590 to push and to support and to keep the demands 00:15:45.590 --> 00:15:48.889 high in the team. Yeah, I mean, people like... 00:15:49.389 --> 00:15:52.070 Declan Rice, Gabriel, they're the names that 00:15:52.070 --> 00:15:54.149 always pop up when people say, oh, who should 00:15:54.149 --> 00:15:58.450 be the Arsenal captain? But I think don't underestimate 00:15:58.450 --> 00:16:01.269 Bukayo Saka's role in that team. As I always 00:16:01.269 --> 00:16:05.710 bang on about in these podcasts, Saka is the 00:16:05.710 --> 00:16:08.350 most respected player in that squad. I'll say 00:16:08.350 --> 00:16:11.830 it again. Bukayo Saka is the most respected Arsenal 00:16:11.830 --> 00:16:15.169 player in that squad. So don't let that go amiss. 00:16:15.230 --> 00:16:18.250 For a captain... To have the respect of the whole 00:16:18.250 --> 00:16:20.309 squad, that's the most important thing. I do 00:16:20.309 --> 00:16:23.149 think Odegaard's a great captain in his own way. 00:16:23.210 --> 00:16:25.830 He's got great experiences. He's got a great 00:16:25.830 --> 00:16:29.210 way about him. And then also, if you couple with 00:16:29.210 --> 00:16:34.549 Gabriel's kind of leader of men, his relentless 00:16:34.549 --> 00:16:39.210 and willing, unwavering attitude. You know, he's 00:16:39.210 --> 00:16:41.250 desperate to win. He's going to put his head 00:16:41.250 --> 00:16:43.600 where it... where it hurts, where no one else 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:46.559 will. It reminds me of a cross between Nemanja 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:50.720 Vidic and John Terry. And then you've got, obviously, 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:54.899 Declan Rice, who is an unbelievable player, my 00:16:54.899 --> 00:16:57.759 favourite Arsenal player, may I add. Natural 00:16:57.759 --> 00:17:01.200 leader, you know, led West Ham to their first 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:05.039 piece of silverware in a generation, 40 -odd 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:09.420 years. So we have four unbelievable leaders, 00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:11.339 and there's many more. There aren't many more. 00:17:11.380 --> 00:17:13.400 I believe that Myles Lewis Skelly is another 00:17:13.400 --> 00:17:17.440 one coming up as well. And then you've got people 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:19.599 like David Raya, who's growing in prominence 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:23.319 as well. People like Julian Timber. So, yeah, 00:17:23.420 --> 00:17:27.460 that squad has a lot of leaders in it. On his 00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:30.960 relationship with LA Rams head coach Sean McVay. 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:34.559 I do, and Sean is someone that I admire a lot. 00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:36.980 Not only for what he's achieved as well, but 00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:39.579 the way he is as a coach, as a person, the way 00:17:39.579 --> 00:17:41.960 he presents himself. And I learn a lot of things 00:17:41.960 --> 00:17:44.980 from him. So, yeah, we'll be connected. It's 00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:46.920 going to be a really tight schedule for both 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:49.779 teams because we have the Champions League after 00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:52.700 coming up on Tuesday. But it's great to have 00:17:52.700 --> 00:17:55.119 them. It's great to have Stan and Josh here as 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:57.539 well with us. I think it's a good opportunity 00:17:57.539 --> 00:18:02.119 as well to connect everybody. I don't know too 00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:04.619 much about the LA Rams. I don't even know if 00:18:04.619 --> 00:18:08.440 it's baseball or hockey or basketball or whatnot. 00:18:08.579 --> 00:18:11.359 So I'm just going to swerve. On if he prefers 00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:14.279 being top or chasing the leaders in the Premier 00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:17.900 League. I prefer to win every game. The only 00:18:17.900 --> 00:18:20.460 thing that we can do is perform really well on 00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:23.259 Saturday and win the game. As you said, it's 00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:25.740 super early. It's not the moment to start looking 00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:28.150 at that. It's more the moment now to look at 00:18:28.150 --> 00:18:31.329 performances, to look at ways that we can sustain 00:18:31.329 --> 00:18:34.269 certain things that we're doing and improve others. 00:18:34.509 --> 00:18:37.529 And that's the only way. And that increases the 00:18:37.529 --> 00:18:40.009 chances when it matters, when it comes to March 00:18:40.009 --> 00:18:42.250 and April, to be in the best possible position. 00:18:42.970 --> 00:18:46.509 And then when you ask me that question, I will 00:18:46.509 --> 00:18:49.890 tell you for sure, I want to be at the top. Well, 00:18:50.049 --> 00:18:53.009 I mean, in previous years, or you could say traditionally, 00:18:53.130 --> 00:18:57.490 in quotation marks, Arsenal, don't really fare 00:18:57.490 --> 00:19:00.190 well when they're at the top. They don't really 00:19:00.190 --> 00:19:02.710 fare well when the pressure moments come. We've 00:19:02.710 --> 00:19:05.650 had a few pressure moments this season, namely 00:19:05.650 --> 00:19:07.789 the Newcastle game where we really had to win 00:19:07.789 --> 00:19:11.049 that game. And we took that opportunity. So right 00:19:11.049 --> 00:19:15.869 now we're at the top by a point or two, but we 00:19:15.869 --> 00:19:18.410 have an opportunity to actually extend that lead. 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:23.720 Give or take what Tottenham, Man City and Liverpool 00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:25.900 do over this weekend, it will be interesting 00:19:25.900 --> 00:19:31.799 to see to what extent we are ahead or to what 00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:35.059 extent we are situated in the top positions. 00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:41.680 On the biggest positives from the first 10 games, 00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:46.069 a lot of things. There have been two very different 00:19:46.069 --> 00:19:48.450 blocks. In the second block, because of some 00:19:48.450 --> 00:19:51.569 issues that we have, we had to increase our availability 00:19:51.569 --> 00:19:55.210 in the squad. That was one of the main things 00:19:55.210 --> 00:19:57.970 to do. The impact that anybody could have in 00:19:57.970 --> 00:20:00.049 the game, whether he was playing or finishing, 00:20:00.369 --> 00:20:04.509 he wasn't even in the squad. I think we did that 00:20:04.509 --> 00:20:07.210 really, really well. And then we had a few things 00:20:07.210 --> 00:20:09.890 that we wanted to be more unpredictable, to threaten 00:20:09.890 --> 00:20:13.069 opposition more, to be super consistent in all 00:20:13.069 --> 00:20:16.210 the defensive aspects of the game as well. And 00:20:16.210 --> 00:20:18.829 we've gone to a different level. And after that, 00:20:18.849 --> 00:20:21.769 in the next block, can we sustain a lot of things 00:20:21.769 --> 00:20:24.450 and increase others? That's the objective. Well, 00:20:24.670 --> 00:20:27.869 we've had a lot of tough games, that's for sure. 00:20:29.490 --> 00:20:32.460 We've won pretty much. All of them, with the 00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:36.500 exception of Man City and Liverpool, who were 00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:42.160 the top three with us last season. However, now 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:45.319 we enter a little phase where we've got teams 00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:49.680 like Crystal Palace, Fulham, who have taken points 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:54.599 off us in recent years, and then promoted Burnley 00:20:54.599 --> 00:20:57.940 and Sunderland. So now, if we can get those two 00:20:57.940 --> 00:21:01.150 wins against Crystal Palace and Fulham, you know, 00:21:01.170 --> 00:21:05.029 tricky games against mid -table sides, then that 00:21:05.029 --> 00:21:08.890 will propel us to think we can expect to get 00:21:08.890 --> 00:21:11.529 maximum points against those two promoted sides, 00:21:11.710 --> 00:21:13.150 especially against Sunderland, who've actually 00:21:13.150 --> 00:21:15.490 started the season well. But I personally feel 00:21:15.490 --> 00:21:16.950 like they're going to run out of steam going 00:21:16.950 --> 00:21:19.769 forward. On Gabriel Martinelli's form for club 00:21:19.769 --> 00:21:23.069 and country, he's doing what we expect from everybody 00:21:23.069 --> 00:21:25.829 to do. When he's got the minutes, the opportunity 00:21:25.829 --> 00:21:28.170 to deliver and to impact the game and especially 00:21:28.170 --> 00:21:32.029 the results. And then his attitude overall, his 00:21:32.029 --> 00:21:34.690 behaviour, the way he trains, the way he carries 00:21:34.690 --> 00:21:37.029 himself, his willingness to learn constantly. 00:21:37.269 --> 00:21:39.970 There are many examples throughout the team. 00:21:40.089 --> 00:21:42.910 But very pleased to see Gabby going to the national 00:21:42.910 --> 00:21:45.869 team again and scoring and performing well. That's 00:21:45.869 --> 00:21:48.690 all good signs because when they come back, their 00:21:48.690 --> 00:21:51.190 spirit is good. Their confidence is good. So 00:21:51.190 --> 00:21:54.849 everything is easier. Yeah, I feel like Martinelli's 00:21:54.849 --> 00:21:57.170 actually played himself to a bit of form now. 00:21:57.349 --> 00:21:59.970 He's one of our top scorers, if not our top scorer, 00:22:00.049 --> 00:22:04.390 three or four goals already this season. But 00:22:04.390 --> 00:22:06.250 he just needs to keep his head down, keep going. 00:22:06.470 --> 00:22:09.549 I think the fans respect the fact that he was 00:22:09.549 --> 00:22:14.670 toiling in recent months, but he's got his head 00:22:14.670 --> 00:22:17.970 down, not giving up, not soaked. Came on when 00:22:17.970 --> 00:22:20.690 he needed to, scored the goals, started, scored 00:22:20.690 --> 00:22:23.859 the goals, scored important goals. You know, 00:22:23.880 --> 00:22:27.799 against Bilbao, against Man City. So for me, 00:22:27.900 --> 00:22:30.539 he's probably played himself into the team for 00:22:30.539 --> 00:22:34.539 tomorrow. But in recent games, he's shocked me 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:37.200 and gone with Trossard. So now that I'm expecting 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:39.400 him to go with Trossard, he'll probably shock 00:22:39.400 --> 00:22:42.039 me again and go with Martinelli tomorrow. But 00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:44.559 we'll see. On Declan Rice's performances this 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:47.220 season, yeah, I think he's adapting to the qualities 00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:49.940 that we have and as well certain chemistry, a 00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:52.400 certain relationship that you notice. And with 00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:54.460 eight new players in the squad, different things 00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:57.259 emerge. Okay, so that's a lot of waffling from 00:22:57.259 --> 00:23:00.359 Arteta. So basically, let me just tell you what 00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:03.660 he means. Okay, Declan Rice hasn't really been 00:23:03.660 --> 00:23:07.039 at his best, but he's adapting to people like 00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:12.579 Zubin Mendy. But as they play more and more together, 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:15.119 I feel he's going to improve. Just like last 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:17.059 season, he didn't start the first half of the 00:23:17.059 --> 00:23:21.039 season too well. But come the second half of 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:24.180 the season, he was unbelievable, unreal. And 00:23:24.180 --> 00:23:26.980 I think it's going to be a bit similar this season. 00:23:28.750 --> 00:23:31.789 on what Victor Jokeres gives to the team. He 00:23:31.789 --> 00:23:34.130 brings so much to the team and watching the games 00:23:34.130 --> 00:23:37.190 back, I'm very pleased with what he's given to 00:23:37.190 --> 00:23:39.589 the team. I told him before the first meeting, 00:23:39.809 --> 00:23:44.769 I said that nine that I won is a nine that when 00:23:44.769 --> 00:23:47.250 he doesn't score for six or eight games, he can 00:23:47.250 --> 00:23:50.390 handle that. If not... You have to go somewhere 00:23:50.390 --> 00:23:52.809 else because the pressure is gone. The expectation 00:23:52.809 --> 00:23:56.369 is going to be there. So if you put a number 00:23:56.369 --> 00:23:59.089 nine shirt on for Arsenal, you have to be able 00:23:59.089 --> 00:24:02.630 to say, OK, six games, don't score. I'm a different 00:24:02.630 --> 00:24:05.009 player. I start to act in a different way. I 00:24:05.009 --> 00:24:07.329 want much more of the same of what he's doing. 00:24:07.750 --> 00:24:10.190 Once we have those opportunities, put them in. 00:24:10.410 --> 00:24:13.089 And I'm sure that's going to happen. Well, I 00:24:13.089 --> 00:24:16.769 mean, it's been interesting because Victor Jokeres 00:24:16.769 --> 00:24:21.680 started the season. With a few goals, but you 00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:23.799 could argue he didn't really play well in those 00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:26.980 games. Now it's been the polar opposite where 00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:30.319 he's played well, but not put the ball in the 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:32.720 back of the net. But what you want is probably 00:24:32.720 --> 00:24:36.180 something in between. Ideally you want goals, 00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:39.319 but if you're not going to get goals like that, 00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:41.359 then you probably want something in between. 00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:45.119 I think Jokeres just needs to keep being in positions 00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:49.569 to miss those chances. Keep taking chances. Keep 00:24:49.569 --> 00:24:52.450 taking shots. And Law of Averages will determine 00:24:52.450 --> 00:24:56.329 that he will score. In those four games you have 00:24:56.329 --> 00:24:58.650 coming up, you probably want about two or three 00:24:58.650 --> 00:25:03.269 goals from those. Surely one at least. But ideally 00:25:03.269 --> 00:25:05.890 you want two or three goals from those block 00:25:05.890 --> 00:25:08.410 of Premier League games coming up. So what would 00:25:08.410 --> 00:25:11.470 be nice for him is to start off with a goal, 00:25:11.549 --> 00:25:14.170 especially away from home at Craven Cottage. 00:25:15.789 --> 00:25:18.369 On the left -footed players versus right -footed 00:25:18.369 --> 00:25:21.430 players in the squad, it's good. It's a really 00:25:21.430 --> 00:25:24.130 good balance. It's a very rare thing that we 00:25:24.130 --> 00:25:27.430 have, and we have thought about it a lot, but 00:25:27.430 --> 00:25:29.349 it's a coincidence. Certain things, because, 00:25:29.430 --> 00:25:32.569 for example, our three academy graduates, three 00:25:32.569 --> 00:25:35.390 of them are left -footed. Yeah, Max Dahlman, 00:25:36.289 --> 00:25:38.670 Ethan Wanieri, and Myles Lewis -Skelly. Interesting. 00:25:39.589 --> 00:25:42.450 That's quite rare. I have three sons, two of 00:25:42.450 --> 00:25:45.109 them are left -footed. Quite rare as well. But 00:25:45.109 --> 00:25:48.029 yeah, they are beautiful to watch, that's certain. 00:25:48.589 --> 00:25:50.569 And they give you something different. Yeah, 00:25:50.589 --> 00:25:52.309 it's interesting. We probably have, off the top 00:25:52.309 --> 00:25:53.930 of my head, we've probably got 10 to 12 left 00:25:53.930 --> 00:25:57.910 -footed players, you know. That's a very interesting 00:25:57.910 --> 00:26:02.029 dynamic, you know. Let me try and name them, 00:26:02.049 --> 00:26:04.690 or try and name quite a few. So we've obviously 00:26:04.690 --> 00:26:13.130 got Gabriel, Ricardo Calafiori, Piero Hincapié. 00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:17.079 Myles Lewis Skelly, Ethan Wanieri, Bukayo Saka, 00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:21.160 Noni Madweke, Kai Havertz. And yeah, probably 00:26:21.160 --> 00:26:24.599 a few more. So that's just, it's insane the amount 00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:26.059 of left footed players. I've never seen anything 00:26:26.059 --> 00:26:28.319 like it. I'm never playing home games abroad. 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:31.759 I don't decide that. So for me to say never. 00:26:32.250 --> 00:26:34.349 I don't want to use that word. Let's see if there 00:26:34.349 --> 00:26:37.109 are other people who have to decide that. If 00:26:37.109 --> 00:26:39.049 you tell me what you prefer with the schedule 00:26:39.049 --> 00:26:41.789 that we have, let's play as many games as possible 00:26:41.789 --> 00:26:44.390 in London, please. Well, you'll be happy to know, 00:26:44.430 --> 00:26:47.609 guys, that effectively all our games this month, 00:26:47.670 --> 00:26:50.650 if not all of them, will be in London. Although 00:26:50.650 --> 00:26:53.720 we play Slavia Prague away, but yeah. On the 00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:56.059 scouting of Victor Jocarez and the qualities 00:26:56.059 --> 00:26:58.759 he brings, going back in his history as well 00:26:58.759 --> 00:27:01.680 with Victor, it's a very different one. The beginning, 00:27:01.880 --> 00:27:04.200 when he wasn't even playing much, and then how 00:27:04.200 --> 00:27:06.779 he evolved his career. Then in the last year, 00:27:06.819 --> 00:27:09.079 it was very difficult to find a gap like that 00:27:09.079 --> 00:27:11.400 because I think he scored in every single match 00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:15.420 almost. But just preparing something, the context 00:27:15.420 --> 00:27:17.940 is going to change. It's part of football. You 00:27:17.940 --> 00:27:20.140 see the history of the number nines, you're going 00:27:20.140 --> 00:27:22.430 to have moments like that. Hopefully it's through 00:27:22.430 --> 00:27:27.470 playing. Not that you're injured. So his robustness 00:27:27.470 --> 00:27:30.430 is something that's really good. I'm really happy 00:27:30.430 --> 00:27:32.470 with him. Full confidence. And when you look 00:27:32.470 --> 00:27:35.009 at him every single day, how much he wants it, 00:27:35.049 --> 00:27:37.809 that's exactly what you expect. Okay, I mean, 00:27:37.930 --> 00:27:40.369 should Sakharov have given him that penalty so 00:27:40.369 --> 00:27:44.349 he can, you know, end that goal draw? Dunno. 00:27:44.430 --> 00:27:48.710 You tell me. But I think Victor's a player that 00:27:48.710 --> 00:27:53.779 he... He hates not scoring, you can see it. He 00:27:53.779 --> 00:27:55.640 puts pressure on himself first and foremost, 00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:59.099 so the pressure coming from outside is not going 00:27:59.099 --> 00:28:02.920 to topple the pressure he puts on himself. However, 00:28:03.140 --> 00:28:05.380 I fear for him though, if he doesn't score tomorrow, 00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:07.839 it's just going to build tenfold because it's 00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:11.519 like we're going to be up against a rigid, robust 00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:15.599 defence in Atletico Madrid. So if you're not 00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:18.480 scoring against Fulham, it's going to be 10 times 00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:23.460 tougher against Atletico de Madrid. On how he 00:28:23.460 --> 00:28:26.700 judges Victor's all -round game. Well, the first 00:28:26.700 --> 00:28:29.160 thing is that that's going to give you something 00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:32.299 extra. Victor has so many things that are probably 00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:36.880 not that noticeable. Okay. But he also creates 00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:39.759 an environment and space and solutions for a 00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:42.400 lot of the players around him. And with that 00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:45.039 talent that we have in the team, I'm sure that 00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:47.319 everybody, including him, will benefit from that. 00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:50.279 Yeah, that's true. I mean, I feel like people 00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:53.660 like Martinelli and Bakayo Saka, Noni Maduweke, 00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:57.900 Trossard, will benefit from the fact that Victor 00:28:57.900 --> 00:29:00.579 will probably occupy two or three defenders, 00:29:00.839 --> 00:29:03.680 which means that you cannot double up on necessarily 00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:11.269 Saka or Eze. who will just absolutely thrive 00:29:11.269 --> 00:29:16.130 on the space that they now have because people 00:29:16.130 --> 00:29:19.170 like Jokeres are occupying defenders. So it's 00:29:19.170 --> 00:29:22.450 just a case of if we move the ball fast, then 00:29:22.450 --> 00:29:26.250 if you double up on a certain player, for instance, 00:29:26.690 --> 00:29:30.650 Bukayo Saka, we can now give the ball to Eze 00:29:30.650 --> 00:29:32.970 and he has more space. And if you now double 00:29:32.970 --> 00:29:36.849 up on Eze, then obviously there's a spare man. 00:29:37.470 --> 00:29:39.890 Someone like a Trossard, Martinelli or Jokeres 00:29:39.890 --> 00:29:46.390 who has less obstructions to go. So the better 00:29:46.390 --> 00:29:50.670 players you have across the side, the harder 00:29:50.670 --> 00:29:53.710 it is to kind of neutralise their qualities because 00:29:53.710 --> 00:29:56.130 you can't double up on them because there'll 00:29:56.130 --> 00:30:00.759 be a spare man elsewhere in the team. On switching 00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:02.779 players to different positions during matches, 00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:05.759 I think having that unpredictability and that 00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:08.759 flexibility can add a lot of value. It's true 00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:10.900 that you need certain consistencies as well in 00:30:10.900 --> 00:30:13.440 certain positions, and not all the players are 00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:15.799 that naturally confident or comfortable to adapt 00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:18.779 to a different position. But some of them did, 00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:22.480 and they did really well. But it's just finding... 00:30:22.759 --> 00:30:25.259 when it is the right moment and the right time 00:30:25.259 --> 00:30:27.980 in the game to make those changes, and then it 00:30:27.980 --> 00:30:31.160 has to work. Yeah, I mean, pretty much all the 00:30:31.160 --> 00:30:35.160 players that we have. And before the Olympiacos 00:30:35.160 --> 00:30:36.940 game, I would have said, with the exception of 00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:38.859 Saka, who I think can only really play on the 00:30:38.859 --> 00:30:43.440 right, can play one or two positions. I think 00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:46.480 Trossard can play as a false nine and on the 00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:51.400 left. Martinelli could play as a centre -forward. 00:30:51.930 --> 00:30:54.450 And on the left. He could do a job on the right, 00:30:54.470 --> 00:30:58.690 but I don't like him there. Eze surprised me 00:30:58.690 --> 00:31:01.529 because it looks like he kind of played on the 00:31:01.529 --> 00:31:04.529 right of a free, as well as on the left of a 00:31:04.529 --> 00:31:06.789 free, as well as on the left wing. But we all 00:31:06.789 --> 00:31:08.710 know that his best position is behind the centre 00:31:08.710 --> 00:31:13.069 forward. And then obviously Saka's played on 00:31:13.069 --> 00:31:15.869 the left for that little period against Olympiakos 00:31:15.869 --> 00:31:18.809 and looked all right there. So it's good to see 00:31:18.809 --> 00:31:21.130 that we're now flexible and changing things up. 00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:23.599 because over the last two, three years, we did 00:31:23.599 --> 00:31:28.759 become a little bit predictable. On if that's 00:31:28.759 --> 00:31:31.599 something he wanted to do for a while, you have 00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:34.420 to feel that now they are ready to do it because 00:31:34.420 --> 00:31:36.519 different positions have different requirements 00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:39.500 physically, emotionally, in relation to the game 00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:42.039 plan. You change a player two or three times 00:31:42.039 --> 00:31:44.259 in the position in the game, which means that 00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:46.599 he needs to fulfil three roles in all aspects 00:31:46.599 --> 00:31:49.420 of the game. That's a lot of information to process 00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:52.960 for a player. And some players are more confident 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:55.740 and more comfortable than others to do that. 00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:59.359 Yeah, I mean, I think the classic example of 00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:02.380 that is Noni Madweke, where when you play him 00:32:02.380 --> 00:32:05.759 on the left, he's a bit, he's a bit of a, you 00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:09.380 know, it's a bit so -so. Does his best, but you 00:32:09.380 --> 00:32:12.640 can tell it neutralises his strengths. Whereas 00:32:12.640 --> 00:32:15.579 on the right wing now, it's a completely different 00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:19.180 proposition. You know, probably the best at beating 00:32:19.180 --> 00:32:24.630 a fullback. It's just now, when you do do that, 00:32:24.750 --> 00:32:27.170 it's about getting that delivery perfect for 00:32:27.170 --> 00:32:29.829 people like Jokeres or even getting a shot off 00:32:29.829 --> 00:32:33.349 as well. Maybe be more unpredictable when they're 00:32:33.349 --> 00:32:36.009 expecting you to cut in on your left foot. Maybe 00:32:36.009 --> 00:32:39.529 take it down the right, cross it with your right, 00:32:39.650 --> 00:32:43.390 something that Saka does. But it's good to have 00:32:43.390 --> 00:32:48.369 that flexibility and players ideally being able 00:32:48.369 --> 00:32:52.279 to play in different positions. On if he spoke 00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:55.400 to Jabby Alonso about Piero before signing him. 00:32:55.619 --> 00:32:58.779 Yes, for sure. I had to. I mean, someone like 00:32:58.779 --> 00:33:01.839 him that I know so well, trust him and had him 00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:04.799 for a few years. It's a very, very valuable information 00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:09.099 to have. He was super complimentary of him for 00:33:09.099 --> 00:33:11.599 many different reasons. And it was good to confirm 00:33:11.599 --> 00:33:14.420 what I saw. And some of the things that you obviously 00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:17.019 learn from that conversation that you probably 00:33:17.019 --> 00:33:20.819 weren't very aware of. OK, interesting. Yeah, 00:33:20.859 --> 00:33:24.160 I mean, Piero Hincapia is a very young player, 00:33:24.220 --> 00:33:28.119 actually. Plays for an Ecuador team that are 00:33:28.119 --> 00:33:31.000 doing really well and there's got something going 00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:32.720 on there with that Ecuador team. People like 00:33:32.720 --> 00:33:36.559 Carcedo and Hincapia, just to name a few, tells 00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:39.539 you that, OK, that's a team that's pretty decent. 00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:44.200 On preparations for Fulham after not winning 00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:49.289 there on the past two visits. Well, you always 00:33:49.289 --> 00:33:51.769 learn from that. It's true that at the end, they 00:33:51.769 --> 00:33:54.069 will have certain new players, the state of the 00:33:54.069 --> 00:33:57.589 teams and where we are. It is different to last 00:33:57.589 --> 00:34:00.130 season as well. And then the game, the context 00:34:00.130 --> 00:34:03.490 of the game changes, especially last year. Immediately 00:34:03.490 --> 00:34:06.029 when we are in total control of the game and 00:34:06.029 --> 00:34:08.920 at one moment we concede the goal. and then it's 00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:11.500 a very different game to be played. But we learn 00:34:11.500 --> 00:34:13.760 from it. Obviously, we want to make it different, 00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:15.960 especially the results that we have had in the 00:34:15.960 --> 00:34:18.699 last few years, and do our best to achieve it. 00:34:18.840 --> 00:34:21.440 Yeah, I would say the game was probably exactly 00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:24.960 the same as the Newcastle game that we had a 00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:27.500 few weeks ago, except we didn't win it, or we 00:34:27.500 --> 00:34:30.739 thought we did. But yeah, like Mikel said, we 00:34:30.739 --> 00:34:33.440 dominated the game. They scored out of nothing, 00:34:33.619 --> 00:34:36.199 with their literally only first attack of the 00:34:36.199 --> 00:34:40.210 game through... Raul Jimenez, and then they retreat 00:34:40.210 --> 00:34:44.190 into a 5 -4 -1 solid block. We were struggling, 00:34:44.250 --> 00:34:47.010 struggling, struggling. We do equalise, and then 00:34:47.010 --> 00:34:50.190 we just could not break them down. And when we 00:34:50.190 --> 00:34:52.869 thought we did, it was ruled out for offside. 00:34:53.150 --> 00:34:57.769 So I think the key to that is don't concede first, 00:34:57.989 --> 00:35:04.250 because that makes the job a lot harder. On the 00:35:04.250 --> 00:35:07.050 development of Mikel Moreno's goal -scoring abilities, 00:35:07.349 --> 00:35:09.929 I think the credit is with him because we had 00:35:09.929 --> 00:35:12.670 those qualities, because he had those qualities. 00:35:12.710 --> 00:35:16.210 I think, obviously, positioning players and insisting 00:35:16.210 --> 00:35:18.929 on certain qualities can really impact and maximise 00:35:18.929 --> 00:35:21.789 the resources of the team. It's something that 00:35:21.789 --> 00:35:25.010 we made him aware of, basically. And then, as 00:35:25.010 --> 00:35:27.030 well, his mindset. I mean, he's a player who 00:35:27.030 --> 00:35:29.769 is right -attacking and left -attacking in different 00:35:29.769 --> 00:35:33.460 roles as well. And then there's a nine. Denny 00:35:33.460 --> 00:35:36.519 has that. He always had that intuition, that 00:35:36.519 --> 00:35:39.579 quality to finish actions, especially one touch 00:35:39.579 --> 00:35:42.480 inside the box. And now he's doing it very regularly 00:35:42.480 --> 00:35:45.539 and I think he's enjoying it. And I think Mikel 00:35:45.539 --> 00:35:48.460 Moreno is going to start tomorrow. Do you know 00:35:48.460 --> 00:35:52.400 what? He may even start up front. He might start 00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:56.159 in place of Victor Jokeres. Don't be surprised 00:35:56.159 --> 00:36:00.340 if he does. On learning what other... coaches 00:36:00.340 --> 00:36:03.059 in other sports, in learning from other coaches 00:36:03.059 --> 00:36:06.480 in other sports. Yes, a lot of things, from handball, 00:36:06.579 --> 00:36:09.480 from rugby, from tennis, from ice hockey, it's 00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:12.500 a lot. And not only from the sport, but the sport 00:36:12.500 --> 00:36:15.059 played in different countries. So it's not the 00:36:15.059 --> 00:36:19.400 same rugby here as rugby in Australia. And it's 00:36:19.400 --> 00:36:22.280 something that fascinates me. It's not only about 00:36:22.280 --> 00:36:24.840 the sport, it's about the culture, about managing, 00:36:25.019 --> 00:36:28.369 about managing. They've been in the job for one 00:36:28.369 --> 00:36:32.429 season or 13 seasons. It's a completely different 00:36:32.429 --> 00:36:35.730 job. So it's always that willingness to learn, 00:36:35.849 --> 00:36:41.510 that curiosity to learn. All right. On the importance 00:36:41.510 --> 00:36:44.690 of his relationship with the owners, it's very 00:36:44.690 --> 00:36:47.210 important because at the end, we have to share 00:36:47.210 --> 00:36:50.369 the vision and especially their ambition. And 00:36:50.369 --> 00:36:53.269 the ambition is very clear. We are here to win 00:36:53.269 --> 00:36:57.449 and to win major trophies. And every sign that 00:36:57.449 --> 00:36:59.789 they are giving us, every conversation, that's 00:36:59.789 --> 00:37:02.389 the main topic. And they are an incredibly experienced 00:37:02.389 --> 00:37:05.469 sport. They've won almost everything. And what 00:37:05.469 --> 00:37:11.869 we want to do is be here now. Okay. On Martin 00:37:11.869 --> 00:37:14.699 Odegaard's mental strength. I think he's in a 00:37:14.699 --> 00:37:17.039 really good place. Obviously disappointed how 00:37:17.039 --> 00:37:20.119 it happened. The good thing is that he does everything 00:37:20.119 --> 00:37:22.920 that he possibly can to prevent injuries. The 00:37:22.920 --> 00:37:25.539 injuries that he had are very, very difficult 00:37:25.539 --> 00:37:28.480 to prevent. So that's something that you have 00:37:28.480 --> 00:37:30.940 to take the weight off yourself and that's it. 00:37:31.559 --> 00:37:37.119 Then he cannot afford to be in a different mindset. 00:37:37.320 --> 00:37:39.760 He's the captain. He needs to drive the standards. 00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:42.909 He needs to be the example. When you don't have 00:37:42.909 --> 00:37:46.769 an option, you are a dad. You have to look after 00:37:46.769 --> 00:37:49.010 your kids. You have to be there. You are good. 00:37:49.170 --> 00:37:51.550 You are tired. You have to be there. That's his 00:37:51.550 --> 00:37:54.329 responsibility in a team. Yeah, I mean, I did 00:37:54.329 --> 00:37:56.489 see him with the Norway squad video on a channel. 00:37:57.750 --> 00:38:00.550 Obviously, Norway have all but confirmed their 00:38:00.550 --> 00:38:03.030 spot in the World Cup. I think they just need 00:38:03.030 --> 00:38:07.079 to avoid defeat against Italy to do so. But he 00:38:07.079 --> 00:38:09.519 was injured, but he was actually with the squad. 00:38:09.619 --> 00:38:12.079 People at Haaland are close with him. Norway 00:38:12.079 --> 00:38:14.500 have got a good team. So I think he's going to 00:38:14.500 --> 00:38:17.119 have that similar kind of effect on this squad 00:38:17.119 --> 00:38:19.739 here where, yeah, we know he's out for the next 00:38:19.739 --> 00:38:22.199 month or two, but he'll be in and around the 00:38:22.199 --> 00:38:25.320 squad in the training room, in the stadium with 00:38:25.320 --> 00:38:28.460 the team, showing his support, giving his experience 00:38:28.460 --> 00:38:30.719 out, talking to the young players. So he's got 00:38:30.719 --> 00:38:34.929 a role, just not playing one for now. On having 00:38:34.929 --> 00:38:38.070 the squad to deal with injuries. Yes, for sure. 00:38:38.210 --> 00:38:40.670 But that doesn't mean that Martin isn't a key 00:38:40.670 --> 00:38:43.210 player for us. He's a very, very important player. 00:38:43.369 --> 00:38:46.010 We haven't had it almost since the start of the 00:38:46.010 --> 00:38:48.889 season, like other players, unfortunately. But 00:38:48.889 --> 00:38:50.769 we are coping because we have strength in the 00:38:50.769 --> 00:38:53.349 squad, because we have played with other qualities 00:38:53.349 --> 00:38:57.309 that they are still performing really well. And 00:38:57.309 --> 00:38:59.809 that's what we have to do. But make sure that 00:38:59.809 --> 00:39:02.110 we have him back because we will be a better 00:39:02.110 --> 00:39:06.289 team. Yeah, I mean, like I said earlier, just 00:39:06.289 --> 00:39:09.489 to hit home on that, Ethan Wanyeri now has a 00:39:09.489 --> 00:39:15.110 great opening to now show he's ready to take 00:39:15.110 --> 00:39:18.130 a spot in this starting line -up. He may not 00:39:18.130 --> 00:39:20.510 start tomorrow, but there are opportunities in 00:39:20.510 --> 00:39:23.309 the coming weeks. He needs to take his opportunity. 00:39:25.900 --> 00:39:28.199 For me, tomorrow, I do think he will go with 00:39:28.199 --> 00:39:30.340 Mourinho just because of his goal -scoring form, 00:39:30.380 --> 00:39:33.480 his ability to kind of crash the box, join the 00:39:33.480 --> 00:39:35.920 centre -forward. Or he may start in the centre 00:39:35.920 --> 00:39:38.480 -forward berth and Djokovic will be given a breather. 00:39:39.019 --> 00:39:43.739 But I feel like, based on what he said, it sounds 00:39:43.739 --> 00:39:45.579 like Zubi Mendy is going to be given a rest, 00:39:45.860 --> 00:39:49.820 Declan Rice is going to be in the team, and then 00:39:49.820 --> 00:39:53.619 he'll have Mourinho and Eberretti as either side 00:39:53.619 --> 00:39:59.489 of him. Or he may go with... He may start him 00:39:59.489 --> 00:40:02.110 up front, like I mentioned. But one thing's for 00:40:02.110 --> 00:40:05.829 sure, Martin Odegaard gives an opportunity for 00:40:05.829 --> 00:40:09.409 others, such as Wanyeri. On being labelled as 00:40:09.409 --> 00:40:12.269 favourites, I don't know. Then we have to ask 00:40:12.269 --> 00:40:14.949 how accurate it was, the one four weeks ago or 00:40:14.949 --> 00:40:18.130 eight weeks ago. So we don't know. I'm sure a 00:40:18.130 --> 00:40:20.889 result will change that in an even better percentage 00:40:20.889 --> 00:40:25.010 for us. Or worse. depending on what happens. 00:40:25.170 --> 00:40:28.150 Let's focus on what we can control. Yeah, so 00:40:28.150 --> 00:40:30.349 he's alluding to the fact that if we beat Fulham 00:40:30.349 --> 00:40:34.329 and Liverpool lose to, let's say, Manchester 00:40:34.329 --> 00:40:38.309 United on Sunday or Man City drop points at home 00:40:38.309 --> 00:40:40.809 to Everton, it will change and our favourites 00:40:40.809 --> 00:40:44.050 will be even more favourable to lift the title. 00:40:44.130 --> 00:40:46.289 But I think it's on the premise that we've had 00:40:46.289 --> 00:40:48.869 the toughest start to the season, Liverpool's 00:40:48.869 --> 00:40:53.269 poor form, Liverpool's upcoming fixtures. And 00:40:53.269 --> 00:40:57.710 the way we fared against those sides, all combined, 00:40:57.829 --> 00:41:00.610 has led us to be favourites. And I think we're 00:41:00.610 --> 00:41:05.869 quite favourable favourites. There's quite a 00:41:05.869 --> 00:41:08.750 gap between us and Liverpool. And I always felt 00:41:08.750 --> 00:41:11.070 we were favourites from the start of the season. 00:41:11.130 --> 00:41:14.050 I believe that our team is better than Liverpool's. 00:41:14.090 --> 00:41:16.030 I believe we are a better side than Liverpool. 00:41:16.210 --> 00:41:19.699 There's not much in it. But I do really believe 00:41:19.699 --> 00:41:24.280 that we can go all the way this season. On if 00:41:24.280 --> 00:41:26.239 it's possible to stay at the top of the league 00:41:26.239 --> 00:41:28.940 until the end of the season, as if he's going 00:41:28.940 --> 00:41:32.239 to answer that. It is possible. If we continue 00:41:32.239 --> 00:41:34.699 to win a lot of football matches, I'm sure we 00:41:34.699 --> 00:41:36.719 will be there. Put it this way, Mikel, if we 00:41:36.719 --> 00:41:39.199 win the rest of our games, we win the league.