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We are back again. Right. Every word from Mikel
Arteta's pre -Fulham presser. Mikel Arteta has
been speaking to the press ahead of our trip
to Fulham in the Premier League tomorrow. Our
boss spoke about facing the cottages, returning
from the international break and much more. at
his press conference at the Sober Royalty Training
Centre. Bow! On Martin Odegaard's fitness, it
will be weeks. No definite date for his return,
but he's evolving well. Very unlucky. What's
happening with him and his injuries this season?
But yeah, I think he'll be back in a few weeks.
Yeah, it's a shame that Martin Odegaard, our
captain, has gone down three times. this season
all in the first half, which is an unwanted record.
However, on the other side of the coin, it gives
opportunities to the likes of Eze, Max Dahlman,
and obviously Ethan Wanyeri, who will be looking
to kind of seize the initiative, seize the opportunity
as there's a space in the team potentially for
one or two of those three to thrive in the coming
weeks. On when he might return to action, it
could be after the next international break,
but we'll have to see how he progresses, how
the knee's healing, how he manages after the
next steps in his rehab. So too early to give
an answer. Well, one thing's for sure, Martin
Odegaard's started his football career really
young, so he's probably nine, ten years into
his career. A shame that he's going down, you
know. I don't know if his body's breaking down
on him. But one thing we don't want to do is
rush him back. One thing we don't need to do
is rush him back. We've got the aforementioned
players that can come and step in in his absence.
So the thing we need to do is make sure he takes
the requisite amount of time out, get his rehab
on point, get him super, super fit. And if it
means taking another one, two, three weeks to
a month off to make sure he's back and raring
to go so he doesn't break down when he does return,
then so be it because we've got enough depth
to cover his absence. That's for sure. On why
Martin Zubimendi didn't train yesterday. Yeah,
all the players come from different countries,
different amounts of games and minutes played.
And we believe that it was the right thing to
do. He played two games again. His load has been
really high recently and he needed an extra day.
He will be available. Okay, that's very telling.
That's interesting. Is that a hint to say that
Martin Zubimendi may not play tomorrow? Sorry,
may not start tomorrow? And obviously he'll come
in for the Atletico game on the Tuesday. A team
who would be... well -versed against. So obviously
he's formerly of Real Sociedad, so he's well
used to playing against Atletico Madrid. So does
that mean now that Declan Rice will play in a
holding role with someone like Marino or Wanyeri
coming in to replace the likes of Odegaard and
Zubimendi? I think that statement from Arteta
is quite telling. So yeah, for me, if I was to
make a predicted line -up based on that statement,
I reckon Declan Rice will drop in and he'll bring
in probably Mourinho, who scored another two
goals for Spain in midweek. On Ben White's fitness,
yes, very similar. We are monitoring all the
players and give a specific menu to each of them
to make sure that they are in the best condition.
Yeah, Ben White's obviously not had the best
18 months to two years. Obviously, Julian Timber's
come in and just hit the ground running after
his return from injury. But Ben White, I think
he's another one that just needs to kind of take
some time out, get himself properly fit. So when
he is back... He is unlikely to go down again.
However, the only thing is, is the match fitness
problem. And now it means that the games he does
come in, he may be rusty because Julian Timbers
played so well in his absence. Where is he going
to get the match fitness? That's the dilemma.
Yeah, he will be training today again with us.
And if everything is right, he will be available
as well. Yeah, I mean, Piero is a player similar
to Riccardo Calafiori, as I mentioned quite a
few times. But the thing is, we've got Myles
Lewis -Skelly waiting in the wings and it would
surprise me if Myles actually started tomorrow
with Riccardo coming in on Tuesday or vice versa.
So with Piero, it'll be interesting to see if
he does come on where he plays because he could
also play centre -back. Yeah, we've got so much,
we're brimming with so much quality. We don't
actually necessarily need Piero for the next
few games, but I think the Brighton game will
be a good opportunity for him to start. On Piero
now getting a chance to play regularly. Yeah.
We really want that. He's that player that is
going to help us a lot. He's going to bring something
different to the team. We need to get him going,
get to the speed that is necessary to compete
at this level and gradually get him to where
we want. Bring something different to the team.
Elaborate, Mikel, because I think he's very similar
to Riccardo Calafiori in the sense that he's
got a lot of pace. He's really robust in the
challenge. He can play left -back, centre -back.
He's a goal threat. He's efficient with his passing.
You know, he's a fantastic player. I've seen
him play. In fact, on the channel, there's actually
footage of him scoring an outrageous goal for
Ecuador. So I'm not sure what it means by that,
but I think he is someone that can provide us
additional quality to what we already do have.
On how Noni Madweke is getting on. If you know,
you know. Getting closer as well. He's going
to start very soon to do some running and stuff.
And then again, let's see how that reacts. Okay,
so it doesn't really sound like he's going to
be ready for tomorrow. Although that could just
be mind game. You might see him on the bench.
But one thing's for sure, I don't think Noni's
ready to start. On Kai Havertz's recovery. Again,
very difficult. There's still a lot to do in
his rehab. He's really pushing it. We know Kai
and that's why we love him so much. But we have
to wait and see. I think we are doing a really
good work with him. Again, he wants to break
every timeline, I'm sure. But that's why we have
to protect him and make sure that when he does
come back, he comes back for the long term. Yeah,
just like I alluded to for Odegaard and Ben White,
where we don't want to rush him back. We want
him to come back and he's super fit, raring to
go and just hits the ground running. I've heard
a few theories on the fact that Kai Havertz not
being fit is to Victor Jokeres' detriment. However,
I think the opposite because I believe that Jokeres
is probably struggling with confidence right
now. So however, if he's now taken out the team,
that will hit his confidence even more. whereas
at least now he knows he's going to be starting
every game so the opportunity is there that he
can keep trying to score goals knowing that he'll
still be in the team because I want his confidence
as high as possible because if it drops then
it means he starts to doubt himself and he might
not get to that 20 goal target which most invariably
most Arsenal fans want and expect him to reach.
On being one of the longest serving Premier League
managers. Well, very privileged and grateful
as always. And to be present on the day because
we know that our job is the only thing that requires
it. Yeah, I think he's off the top of my head.
I think he's second or third longest serving.
Probably behind Pep Guardiola. And there's probably
another guy off the top of my head. But yeah,
I mean, for you to... Being a job for three years
plus, in a managerial job for three years plus
these days, means you're doing something right
because it's changed. You know, the climate's
changed in probably the last 10 years or so where
now the pressure is immense. You know, people
like Ansh Postakoglu have been in situ for like
probably about a month and a bit. And they're
already under real pressure. I mean, if I was
to look at the bookies, I wouldn't be surprised
if he was the favourite to be the next manager
to be fired, considering they've got teams like
Chelsea and Manchester United imminently coming
up. So, yeah, it's a crazy industry, the football
managerial one. And for Mikel to have been in
position for six, seven years now, It means he's
doing something right. But I think it's coming
to a head now where this is the season where
it has to click. And I'm sure it will. On getting
a win at Fulham for the first time since 2023.
Yeah, Newcastle is a good example. West Ham as
well. In the last two seasons as well. We lost
against them at home. So that's an opportunity
tomorrow. We know. that it's a really tough place
to go. A very well coached team, and we're going
to have to be at our best tomorrow. He missed
out to win, but that's what he meant. But to
be honest, I mean, a lot of people are trying
to make out that our record against Fulham is
a bit abysmal, but it's not, because if you actually
go beyond those last two years, so what I will
say is, with the exception of the last two years,
our record against Fulham is... Pretty much flawless.
Go back. Go back 10, 12 years and you'll see
what I mean. I'm pretty sure, this is off the
top of my head, but I think we won about 10 straight
games against Fulham without conceding or just
won 10 straight games against Fulham and that's
home and away. So, whereas they did manage to
beat us two years ago, 2 -1, and then we went
on that famous run where we only lost to... Aston
Villa and drew with Man City in our remaining
games. But that still wasn't enough for us to
win the league. And then last season, Fulham,
we played them at Craven Cottage. I remember
this game, it stuck out like a sore thumb to
me. We played them at Craven Cottage. They played
a 5 -4 -1 formation, which shocked me. And they
went 1 -0 up, I think. I'm pretty sure they went
1 -0 up. Then we equalised and we dominated the
whole game. Literally had the boulder and they
were just defending, defending. They low blocked
us. Then Martinelli scored what I thought was
the winner, but it was ruled out for offside.
But honestly, I'm sure we had about 80 % possession.
And this is against a Fulham side who are rated
up until that point as a team that actually take
the game to size. But for them to now change
their normal style of play against us, that's...
You can argue that's a backhanded compliment.
However, I expect more of the same tomorrow because
we're an even better side than we were last season.
OK, on our defensive record, well, that's a platform
to build performances and results. That's for
sure. We want to consistently be able to defend
at that level. In order to do that is how well
we attack and how committed everybody is to do
what we have to do. And if we continue to do
that, it's going to give us a big chance to get
what we want, which is a win. So yeah, we've
currently only conceded three Premier League
goals in addition to two clean sheets in the
Champions League and I'm pretty sure a clean
sheet against Port Vale. So the only sides that
have scored against us this season are, off the
top of my head, Liverpool, Manchester City, and
another one. But what I will say is, we've got
a top defence, people like Timber, William Saliba,
and Gabriel. And even if you add Calafiori or
Lewis Skelly, that is a solid defence. So which
means there should be less emphasis on having
a defensive -minded midfield. I think there should
be more emphasis of having a more attacking -minded
midfield, especially against sides like Fulham,
who are going to pay us a lot of respect and
play a low block against us and defend their
box with probably eight, nine men around their
box. I expect us to have a lot of the ball tomorrow,
80 to 90, not 80, but... I expect us to have
about 60 % to 65 % of the ball tomorrow, but
it's what we do with it, how we use it, how fast
we move that ball. And people like Eze, Wanyeri,
Saka will be very important in that type of game.
On a confidence, our defensive record gives the
full team. Yes, for sure. And as well, I think
it tells about the organisation of the team.
Yeah, it was bugging me, the other team that
scored against us was Newcastle. So effectively,
The only sides that have scored against us are
three of the top five. Under confidence, our
defensive record gives the full team. Yes, for
sure. And as well, I think it tells about the
organisation of the team and the consistency
that we are showing in many aspects. And the
more we do those things in a lot of parameters
throughout the season and we establish ourselves
in those categories at the highest level, the
bigger the chance will be to achieve what we
want for sure. I think it's essentially saying,
just to summarise that, the less goals we concede,
the more of a chance we have to win. If we keep
a clean sheet, we're invariably going to score
and we're invariably going to win. Let's summarise
that. On the leadership group within the club,
well, it makes me proud. Not only here, but with
the national team. Every time I talk to the national
team coaches, the way they talk about our players
and the roles that they have been given in the
last few years as well, that tells you the leadership,
the accountability and how much they trust them.
And yeah, Martin is out, but we have various
kinds of leaders in the team now that they have.
They have the ownership and accountability to
deliver what is required. And Martin will continue
to have a role, whether he's not playing as well,
to push and to support and to keep the demands
high in the team. Yeah, I mean, people like...
Declan Rice, Gabriel, they're the names that
always pop up when people say, oh, who should
be the Arsenal captain? But I think don't underestimate
Bukayo Saka's role in that team. As I always
bang on about in these podcasts, Saka is the
most respected player in that squad. I'll say
it again. Bukayo Saka is the most respected Arsenal
player in that squad. So don't let that go amiss.
For a captain... To have the respect of the whole
squad, that's the most important thing. I do
think Odegaard's a great captain in his own way.
He's got great experiences. He's got a great
way about him. And then also, if you couple with
Gabriel's kind of leader of men, his relentless
and willing, unwavering attitude. You know, he's
desperate to win. He's going to put his head
where it... where it hurts, where no one else
will. It reminds me of a cross between Nemanja
Vidic and John Terry. And then you've got, obviously,
Declan Rice, who is an unbelievable player, my
favourite Arsenal player, may I add. Natural
leader, you know, led West Ham to their first
piece of silverware in a generation, 40 -odd
years. So we have four unbelievable leaders,
and there's many more. There aren't many more.
I believe that Myles Lewis Skelly is another
one coming up as well. And then you've got people
like David Raya, who's growing in prominence
as well. People like Julian Timber. So, yeah,
that squad has a lot of leaders in it. On his
relationship with LA Rams head coach Sean McVay.
I do, and Sean is someone that I admire a lot.
Not only for what he's achieved as well, but
the way he is as a coach, as a person, the way
he presents himself. And I learn a lot of things
from him. So, yeah, we'll be connected. It's
going to be a really tight schedule for both
teams because we have the Champions League after
coming up on Tuesday. But it's great to have
them. It's great to have Stan and Josh here as
well with us. I think it's a good opportunity
as well to connect everybody. I don't know too
much about the LA Rams. I don't even know if
it's baseball or hockey or basketball or whatnot.
So I'm just going to swerve. On if he prefers
being top or chasing the leaders in the Premier
League. I prefer to win every game. The only
thing that we can do is perform really well on
Saturday and win the game. As you said, it's
super early. It's not the moment to start looking
at that. It's more the moment now to look at
performances, to look at ways that we can sustain
certain things that we're doing and improve others.
And that's the only way. And that increases the
chances when it matters, when it comes to March
and April, to be in the best possible position.
And then when you ask me that question, I will
tell you for sure, I want to be at the top. Well,
I mean, in previous years, or you could say traditionally,
in quotation marks, Arsenal, don't really fare
well when they're at the top. They don't really
fare well when the pressure moments come. We've
had a few pressure moments this season, namely
the Newcastle game where we really had to win
that game. And we took that opportunity. So right
now we're at the top by a point or two, but we
have an opportunity to actually extend that lead.
Give or take what Tottenham, Man City and Liverpool
do over this weekend, it will be interesting
to see to what extent we are ahead or to what
extent we are situated in the top positions.
On the biggest positives from the first 10 games,
a lot of things. There have been two very different
blocks. In the second block, because of some
issues that we have, we had to increase our availability
in the squad. That was one of the main things
to do. The impact that anybody could have in
the game, whether he was playing or finishing,
he wasn't even in the squad. I think we did that
really, really well. And then we had a few things
that we wanted to be more unpredictable, to threaten
opposition more, to be super consistent in all
the defensive aspects of the game as well. And
we've gone to a different level. And after that,
in the next block, can we sustain a lot of things
and increase others? That's the objective. Well,
we've had a lot of tough games, that's for sure.
We've won pretty much. All of them, with the
exception of Man City and Liverpool, who were
the top three with us last season. However, now
we enter a little phase where we've got teams
like Crystal Palace, Fulham, who have taken points
off us in recent years, and then promoted Burnley
and Sunderland. So now, if we can get those two
wins against Crystal Palace and Fulham, you know,
tricky games against mid -table sides, then that
will propel us to think we can expect to get
maximum points against those two promoted sides,
especially against Sunderland, who've actually
started the season well. But I personally feel
like they're going to run out of steam going
forward. On Gabriel Martinelli's form for club
and country, he's doing what we expect from everybody
to do. When he's got the minutes, the opportunity
to deliver and to impact the game and especially
the results. And then his attitude overall, his
behaviour, the way he trains, the way he carries
himself, his willingness to learn constantly.
There are many examples throughout the team.
But very pleased to see Gabby going to the national
team again and scoring and performing well. That's
all good signs because when they come back, their
spirit is good. Their confidence is good. So
everything is easier. Yeah, I feel like Martinelli's
actually played himself to a bit of form now.
He's one of our top scorers, if not our top scorer,
three or four goals already this season. But
he just needs to keep his head down, keep going.
I think the fans respect the fact that he was
toiling in recent months, but he's got his head
down, not giving up, not soaked. Came on when
he needed to, scored the goals, started, scored
the goals, scored important goals. You know,
against Bilbao, against Man City. So for me,
he's probably played himself into the team for
tomorrow. But in recent games, he's shocked me
and gone with Trossard. So now that I'm expecting
him to go with Trossard, he'll probably shock
me again and go with Martinelli tomorrow. But
we'll see. On Declan Rice's performances this
season, yeah, I think he's adapting to the qualities
that we have and as well certain chemistry, a
certain relationship that you notice. And with
eight new players in the squad, different things
emerge. Okay, so that's a lot of waffling from
Arteta. So basically, let me just tell you what
he means. Okay, Declan Rice hasn't really been
at his best, but he's adapting to people like
Zubin Mendy. But as they play more and more together,
I feel he's going to improve. Just like last
season, he didn't start the first half of the
season too well. But come the second half of
the season, he was unbelievable, unreal. And
I think it's going to be a bit similar this season.
on what Victor Jokeres gives to the team. He
brings so much to the team and watching the games
back, I'm very pleased with what he's given to
the team. I told him before the first meeting,
I said that nine that I won is a nine that when
he doesn't score for six or eight games, he can
handle that. If not... You have to go somewhere
else because the pressure is gone. The expectation
is going to be there. So if you put a number
nine shirt on for Arsenal, you have to be able
to say, OK, six games, don't score. I'm a different
player. I start to act in a different way. I
want much more of the same of what he's doing.
Once we have those opportunities, put them in.
And I'm sure that's going to happen. Well, I
mean, it's been interesting because Victor Jokeres
started the season. With a few goals, but you
could argue he didn't really play well in those
games. Now it's been the polar opposite where
he's played well, but not put the ball in the
back of the net. But what you want is probably
something in between. Ideally you want goals,
but if you're not going to get goals like that,
then you probably want something in between.
I think Jokeres just needs to keep being in positions
to miss those chances. Keep taking chances. Keep
taking shots. And Law of Averages will determine
that he will score. In those four games you have
coming up, you probably want about two or three
goals from those. Surely one at least. But ideally
you want two or three goals from those block
of Premier League games coming up. So what would
be nice for him is to start off with a goal,
especially away from home at Craven Cottage.
On the left -footed players versus right -footed
players in the squad, it's good. It's a really
good balance. It's a very rare thing that we
have, and we have thought about it a lot, but
it's a coincidence. Certain things, because,
for example, our three academy graduates, three
of them are left -footed. Yeah, Max Dahlman,
Ethan Wanieri, and Myles Lewis -Skelly. Interesting.
That's quite rare. I have three sons, two of
them are left -footed. Quite rare as well. But
yeah, they are beautiful to watch, that's certain.
And they give you something different. Yeah,
it's interesting. We probably have, off the top
of my head, we've probably got 10 to 12 left
-footed players, you know. That's a very interesting
dynamic, you know. Let me try and name them,
or try and name quite a few. So we've obviously
got Gabriel, Ricardo Calafiori, Piero Hincapié.
Myles Lewis Skelly, Ethan Wanieri, Bukayo Saka,
Noni Madweke, Kai Havertz. And yeah, probably
a few more. So that's just, it's insane the amount
of left footed players. I've never seen anything
like it. I'm never playing home games abroad.
I don't decide that. So for me to say never.
I don't want to use that word. Let's see if there
are other people who have to decide that. If
you tell me what you prefer with the schedule
that we have, let's play as many games as possible
in London, please. Well, you'll be happy to know,
guys, that effectively all our games this month,
if not all of them, will be in London. Although
we play Slavia Prague away, but yeah. On the
scouting of Victor Jocarez and the qualities
he brings, going back in his history as well
with Victor, it's a very different one. The beginning,
when he wasn't even playing much, and then how
he evolved his career. Then in the last year,
it was very difficult to find a gap like that
because I think he scored in every single match
almost. But just preparing something, the context
is going to change. It's part of football. You
see the history of the number nines, you're going
to have moments like that. Hopefully it's through
playing. Not that you're injured. So his robustness
is something that's really good. I'm really happy
with him. Full confidence. And when you look
at him every single day, how much he wants it,
that's exactly what you expect. Okay, I mean,
should Sakharov have given him that penalty so
he can, you know, end that goal draw? Dunno.
You tell me. But I think Victor's a player that
he... He hates not scoring, you can see it. He
puts pressure on himself first and foremost,
so the pressure coming from outside is not going
to topple the pressure he puts on himself. However,
I fear for him though, if he doesn't score tomorrow,
it's just going to build tenfold because it's
like we're going to be up against a rigid, robust
defence in Atletico Madrid. So if you're not
scoring against Fulham, it's going to be 10 times
tougher against Atletico de Madrid. On how he
judges Victor's all -round game. Well, the first
thing is that that's going to give you something
extra. Victor has so many things that are probably
not that noticeable. Okay. But he also creates
an environment and space and solutions for a
lot of the players around him. And with that
talent that we have in the team, I'm sure that
everybody, including him, will benefit from that.
Yeah, that's true. I mean, I feel like people
like Martinelli and Bakayo Saka, Noni Maduweke,
Trossard, will benefit from the fact that Victor
will probably occupy two or three defenders,
which means that you cannot double up on necessarily
Saka or Eze. who will just absolutely thrive
on the space that they now have because people
like Jokeres are occupying defenders. So it's
just a case of if we move the ball fast, then
if you double up on a certain player, for instance,
Bukayo Saka, we can now give the ball to Eze
and he has more space. And if you now double
up on Eze, then obviously there's a spare man.
Someone like a Trossard, Martinelli or Jokeres
who has less obstructions to go. So the better
players you have across the side, the harder
it is to kind of neutralise their qualities because
you can't double up on them because there'll
be a spare man elsewhere in the team. On switching
players to different positions during matches,
I think having that unpredictability and that
flexibility can add a lot of value. It's true
that you need certain consistencies as well in
certain positions, and not all the players are
that naturally confident or comfortable to adapt
to a different position. But some of them did,
and they did really well. But it's just finding...
when it is the right moment and the right time
in the game to make those changes, and then it
has to work. Yeah, I mean, pretty much all the
players that we have. And before the Olympiacos
game, I would have said, with the exception of
Saka, who I think can only really play on the
right, can play one or two positions. I think
Trossard can play as a false nine and on the
left. Martinelli could play as a centre -forward.
And on the left. He could do a job on the right,
but I don't like him there. Eze surprised me
because it looks like he kind of played on the
right of a free, as well as on the left of a
free, as well as on the left wing. But we all
know that his best position is behind the centre
forward. And then obviously Saka's played on
the left for that little period against Olympiakos
and looked all right there. So it's good to see
that we're now flexible and changing things up.
because over the last two, three years, we did
become a little bit predictable. On if that's
something he wanted to do for a while, you have
to feel that now they are ready to do it because
different positions have different requirements
physically, emotionally, in relation to the game
plan. You change a player two or three times
in the position in the game, which means that
he needs to fulfil three roles in all aspects
of the game. That's a lot of information to process
for a player. And some players are more confident
and more comfortable than others to do that.
Yeah, I mean, I think the classic example of
that is Noni Madweke, where when you play him
on the left, he's a bit, he's a bit of a, you
know, it's a bit so -so. Does his best, but you
can tell it neutralises his strengths. Whereas
on the right wing now, it's a completely different
proposition. You know, probably the best at beating
a fullback. It's just now, when you do do that,
it's about getting that delivery perfect for
people like Jokeres or even getting a shot off
as well. Maybe be more unpredictable when they're
expecting you to cut in on your left foot. Maybe
take it down the right, cross it with your right,
something that Saka does. But it's good to have
that flexibility and players ideally being able
to play in different positions. On if he spoke
to Jabby Alonso about Piero before signing him.
Yes, for sure. I had to. I mean, someone like
him that I know so well, trust him and had him
for a few years. It's a very, very valuable information
to have. He was super complimentary of him for
many different reasons. And it was good to confirm
what I saw. And some of the things that you obviously
learn from that conversation that you probably
weren't very aware of. OK, interesting. Yeah,
I mean, Piero Hincapia is a very young player,
actually. Plays for an Ecuador team that are
doing really well and there's got something going
on there with that Ecuador team. People like
Carcedo and Hincapia, just to name a few, tells
you that, OK, that's a team that's pretty decent.
On preparations for Fulham after not winning
there on the past two visits. Well, you always
learn from that. It's true that at the end, they
will have certain new players, the state of the
teams and where we are. It is different to last
season as well. And then the game, the context
of the game changes, especially last year. Immediately
when we are in total control of the game and
at one moment we concede the goal. and then it's
a very different game to be played. But we learn
from it. Obviously, we want to make it different,
especially the results that we have had in the
last few years, and do our best to achieve it.
Yeah, I would say the game was probably exactly
the same as the Newcastle game that we had a
few weeks ago, except we didn't win it, or we
thought we did. But yeah, like Mikel said, we
dominated the game. They scored out of nothing,
with their literally only first attack of the
game through... Raul Jimenez, and then they retreat
into a 5 -4 -1 solid block. We were struggling,
struggling, struggling. We do equalise, and then
we just could not break them down. And when we
thought we did, it was ruled out for offside.
So I think the key to that is don't concede first,
because that makes the job a lot harder. On the
development of Mikel Moreno's goal -scoring abilities,
I think the credit is with him because we had
those qualities, because he had those qualities.
I think, obviously, positioning players and insisting
on certain qualities can really impact and maximise
the resources of the team. It's something that
we made him aware of, basically. And then, as
well, his mindset. I mean, he's a player who
is right -attacking and left -attacking in different
roles as well. And then there's a nine. Denny
has that. He always had that intuition, that
quality to finish actions, especially one touch
inside the box. And now he's doing it very regularly
and I think he's enjoying it. And I think Mikel
Moreno is going to start tomorrow. Do you know
what? He may even start up front. He might start
in place of Victor Jokeres. Don't be surprised
if he does. On learning what other... coaches
in other sports, in learning from other coaches
in other sports. Yes, a lot of things, from handball,
from rugby, from tennis, from ice hockey, it's
a lot. And not only from the sport, but the sport
played in different countries. So it's not the
same rugby here as rugby in Australia. And it's
something that fascinates me. It's not only about
the sport, it's about the culture, about managing,
about managing. They've been in the job for one
season or 13 seasons. It's a completely different
job. So it's always that willingness to learn,
that curiosity to learn. All right. On the importance
of his relationship with the owners, it's very
important because at the end, we have to share
the vision and especially their ambition. And
the ambition is very clear. We are here to win
and to win major trophies. And every sign that
they are giving us, every conversation, that's
the main topic. And they are an incredibly experienced
sport. They've won almost everything. And what
we want to do is be here now. Okay. On Martin
Odegaard's mental strength. I think he's in a
really good place. Obviously disappointed how
it happened. The good thing is that he does everything
that he possibly can to prevent injuries. The
injuries that he had are very, very difficult
to prevent. So that's something that you have
to take the weight off yourself and that's it.
Then he cannot afford to be in a different mindset.
He's the captain. He needs to drive the standards.
He needs to be the example. When you don't have
an option, you are a dad. You have to look after
your kids. You have to be there. You are good.
You are tired. You have to be there. That's his
responsibility in a team. Yeah, I mean, I did
see him with the Norway squad video on a channel.
Obviously, Norway have all but confirmed their
spot in the World Cup. I think they just need
to avoid defeat against Italy to do so. But he
was injured, but he was actually with the squad.
People at Haaland are close with him. Norway
have got a good team. So I think he's going to
have that similar kind of effect on this squad
here where, yeah, we know he's out for the next
month or two, but he'll be in and around the
squad in the training room, in the stadium with
the team, showing his support, giving his experience
out, talking to the young players. So he's got
a role, just not playing one for now. On having
the squad to deal with injuries. Yes, for sure.
But that doesn't mean that Martin isn't a key
player for us. He's a very, very important player.
We haven't had it almost since the start of the
season, like other players, unfortunately. But
we are coping because we have strength in the
squad, because we have played with other qualities
that they are still performing really well. And
that's what we have to do. But make sure that
we have him back because we will be a better
team. Yeah, I mean, like I said earlier, just
to hit home on that, Ethan Wanyeri now has a
great opening to now show he's ready to take
a spot in this starting line -up. He may not
start tomorrow, but there are opportunities in
the coming weeks. He needs to take his opportunity.
For me, tomorrow, I do think he will go with
Mourinho just because of his goal -scoring form,
his ability to kind of crash the box, join the
centre -forward. Or he may start in the centre
-forward berth and Djokovic will be given a breather.
But I feel like, based on what he said, it sounds
like Zubi Mendy is going to be given a rest,
Declan Rice is going to be in the team, and then
he'll have Mourinho and Eberretti as either side
of him. Or he may go with... He may start him
up front, like I mentioned. But one thing's for
sure, Martin Odegaard gives an opportunity for
others, such as Wanyeri. On being labelled as
favourites, I don't know. Then we have to ask
how accurate it was, the one four weeks ago or
eight weeks ago. So we don't know. I'm sure a
result will change that in an even better percentage
for us. Or worse. depending on what happens.
Let's focus on what we can control. Yeah, so
he's alluding to the fact that if we beat Fulham
and Liverpool lose to, let's say, Manchester
United on Sunday or Man City drop points at home
to Everton, it will change and our favourites
will be even more favourable to lift the title.
But I think it's on the premise that we've had
the toughest start to the season, Liverpool's
poor form, Liverpool's upcoming fixtures. And
the way we fared against those sides, all combined,
has led us to be favourites. And I think we're
quite favourable favourites. There's quite a
gap between us and Liverpool. And I always felt
we were favourites from the start of the season.
I believe that our team is better than Liverpool's.
I believe we are a better side than Liverpool.
There's not much in it. But I do really believe
that we can go all the way this season. On if
it's possible to stay at the top of the league
until the end of the season, as if he's going
to answer that. It is possible. If we continue
to win a lot of football matches, I'm sure we
will be there. Put it this way, Mikel, if we
win the rest of our games, we win the league.