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Media. Every word from Mikel Arteta's pre -Atletico
presser. Our third Champions League game of the
season sees us take on Atletico Madrid at the
Emirates Stadium and Mikel Arteta has been speaking
to the press ahead of the clash. We're currently
unbeaten in the league phase, and Mikel previewed
the showdown with the La Liga outfit, answering
questions on his squad, our form, and much more.
On the mentality after beating Fulham, it's very
happy, obviously, and especially after international
breaks when you know that you have to align and
regroup everybody. You could tell that in the
first 10 minutes that we were getting that rhythm
together, but afterwards, watching the game back,
I think that we deserved to win. There are things
to improve, but we take the win and we move on
now for the Champions League match. Yeah, like
I said in the last press conference analysis,
I felt we were quite leggy after the first 20
to 30 minutes as opposed to 10 minutes. But it's
a combination of factors. It's a combination
of factors that Fulham fed on the crowd's energy
and really tried to put it on us. They ran out
of energy. as the game went on, and then we took
hold of the game. Also, our quality kind of shone
through. I mean, we kind of had to earn the right
to play. We gained a foothold in the match halfway
through the first half, and then after that,
you could see the win was inevitable. However,
against better opposition, if you start like
that, they perhaps punish you, or at least give
you more things to think about, let's say. On
Piero Hincapia's availability, he will be available.
I think the Fulham game came a... Bit too early
for him. So he had another two very good sessions
and now he's ready to go. Okay, interesting.
That's an interesting one. Like I mentioned on
the last episode, Myles Lewis Skelly is unfortunate
that the player that's ahead of him, arguably...
our player of the season so far. He's tussling
with Timba. I mean, I'm to -ing and fro -ing
between the two of them, Timba and Calafiori.
Who's been our better? Who's been the better
of the two? They've both been exceptional nines
out of tens for most of the season. For tomorrow,
I expect Miles to come in. I'll be shocked if
he doesn't. So that begs the question, where
does Piero come in? However, it means Calafiori
could have a day off tomorrow and then you could
play... Miles for maybe an hour to 17 minutes.
Piero come on and bring his energy, vivaciousness
and his pace in the second half. On coming up
against Diego Simeone and how highly he rates
him at the highest level. I think what he's done
since he's got to Atletico has been outstanding.
Not only what he has achieved. but the way he's
done it. I think the identity that he has created
for the club, for the team, the spirit, I think
they are very simple and clear to identify. And
that's because the manager is very much... them
that's extremely difficult to achieve for a short
period of time and to do it for 14 years i think
he's been there now he's done something incredible
so it will be a pleasure to meet him i mean yeah
we played them last in 2017 i believe 2017 -18
season and they had a man sent off in the first
10 minutes we went one nil up so you're thinking
okay europa league semi -final we're one nil
up against 10 men Perhaps we'll win 2 -0 and
go to Spain and kind of go from there. However,
we didn't get the second killer goal. They got
a late equaliser and then in Spain, we were up
against it because they were pretty much impregnable
in Spain at the Vifente Calderon Stadium where
they used to play. Now they play at the one,
the Metropolitano Stadium, should I say. Yeah,
it was a tough game. So we know the identity
of the team. It's not really changed much since
then. However, they've got... Julian Alvarez,
who's a great outlet on the break, or should
I say in transition, but I don't think they have
much pace and skill that we should fear. So I
think if we can kind of pin them back, dominate,
I don't think they've got an outlet that they
can reach. So obviously I did mention Alvarez
is their outlet, but I don't feel like they'll
be able to get the ball to him enough for them
to cause us the requisite amount of problems
for them to have enough chances to win the game.
They've obviously got... Alexander Solov as well,
who's another good centre -forward, but I just
don't think they're going to get enough ball
to cause us problems. So that begs the question
now, can we make use of our ball to create enough
chances to score to win the game? That's the
question. On William Saliba watching Atletico
Madrid after our win over Fulham, I'm very pleased
because I didn't encourage it, so it came from
them. That's the most powerful thing. A game
finishes, the job is done, but now what's next?
What's the next challenge? What's the next opportunity?
We know that it's going to be a really tough
one. So the earlier we start to think about it
and prepare, the better. I love that initiative
from the players and it tells you how much they
want it and how focused they are on. What is
next? I mean, if we're dubbed the favourites
in the Premier League, and for me, we're probably
the favourites for the Champions League right
now. I don't think we will be for the bookies,
but on current form, just the situation of the
team, you know, the kind of confidence we have,
the way we're playing, I think we're going to
be a hard team to stop. And bear in mind, I said
at the start of the season, I placed us as third
or fourth favourites for the Champions League.
Now I'm placing us right at the top. That's not
to say that we're going to win it, but it's to
say that if anyone's going to win it, they're
going to have to beat us. And that was the case
last season. But this is our toughest test yet
for me. They're going to prove a tough nut to
crack like a Brazil nut. But it's one that I
do think we can do. If we can replicate the performance
we had against PSG last October, 12 months on.
then I shouldn't see any reason why we can't
get the three points tomorrow. And I am actually
tipping us to get the three points. On using
Simeone as inspiration for his longevity as Atletico
boss, there is someone that I look up to and
learn from in many situations. What is for me
outstanding is his passion. I think for how long
he's been in the game and in the same club with
the same players and how you still have that
handle and that capacity to transmit such an
energy and willingness to win. It's a very tough
environment that we live in and to keep convincing
players you have to be extraordinary as well.
I don't know him personally but everything that
I have heard about him is that he's good at doing
that. That's one of the reasons why you are able
to sustain. at that level always forget to mention
that Mikel Arteta's favorite word seems to be
to transmit energy and different contexts and
these are the buzzwords he always uses but yeah
we need to transmit the performance that we had
against Newcastle and the likes of Man City where
we played well but didn't really make the most
of our chances but Most notably the Newcastle
game. If we can kind of replicate that into this
game tomorrow, then we should be able to win
the game and transmit the performance into points.
On if he would want to see Simeone in the Premier
League, it's going to get tougher. We have enough
super good managers here, so I don't know. That
will be completely up to him. If one day he wants
to experience that, what I can say is that from
what I've seen and after analysing the team,
how well they are coached. OK, so who are the
super good managers? Because right now, Arnaz
Slot is toiling. Four defeats in a row. Pep Guardiola
has kind of become the dark horse, which is a
bizarre thing to say. But, you know, Man City
are kind of hiding away. In the shadows, no one's
really expecting much of them. Haaland's scoring
goals for fun, and they appear to be our biggest
threat to stop us winning our first league title
in 21 years. But other than that, who are the
super good managers? Because, yeah. On getting
nine points in the last three games in the league,
we have to get as much information as we can
and understand the reasons why we drop certain
points and then try to implement them. He's talking
about last season. To be fair... Sometimes from
a draw to a win, there are details and things
that have to go your way. But it's true that
the team shows a different kind of maturity,
threat and probably conviction at this stage.
But it's still very early. We have to do it now
for another 30 games and that's going to be the
objective. OK. Yeah, I mean, last season we had
a lot of draws and a lot of things that contributed
to those drop points were the red cards, injuries,
missed chances. not having a strong rough squad.
We've obviously alleviated a lot of the issues
with the summer we've had, with the experiences
we've gained and garnered, and with our improved
performances. So obviously, we've come through
a tough start to the season where we had to play
Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool, Newcastle, to name
but a few. And now we're coming in... to a little
batch of games where we're playing mid -table
promoted sides where we should really be expecting
to pick up maximum points. We're currently situated
at the top three points clear and we have two
tough games this week, namely tomorrow against
Atletico Madrid and culminating against Crystal
Palace, which I think is going to be a tough
game and an emotional game for Ebreche Eze, who,
incidentally, I wouldn't be surprised. If he's
on the bench tomorrow, I think he'll go Marino,
centre midfield, alongside Zubimendi and Declan
Rice. And I believe he'll go with Martinelli
on the wing. So I think Eze will be on the bench.
That's just a prediction. On being favourites
for the Premier League title, the only thing
that I embrace is when I see the team, the energy,
the temperature, the commitment and the quality
that they can deliver, that it gives me that
conviction that we can go all the way. But that's
it. That's just a feeling. Then the next day,
you have to prove it. The next training session,
you have to prove it and nothing else. We cannot
be busy thinking about those topics. I mean,
everything is there for us to go and win it.
The experience we've had, the games that we have
coming up, the games that we've already come
through, the games our competitors have to play.
So, for instance, Liverpool have to play Man
City. Liverpool got tough games coming up. Liverpool
have lost the last four. We're in a good moment
now, as they say. We're confident. We've got
a strong squad. We're winning games. We're playing
well. We look impregnable. We're not giving away
chances. Teams ain't having shots against us,
but it's early. So we want to be where we are
come February, March, April. If we are in a similar
situation, then we're talking. We've been here
in a similar situation two years ago where we
started the season really well. but obviously
came up short. So hopefully we can use that experience
and that heartache to really get us over the
line because the best is yet to come, for sure.
On whether he has been inspired by Simeone's
culture at Atletico, no, I think I've got that
done more through my experiences and my beliefs.
and especially my understanding of Arsenal and
this football club and my experience here. I
think to put a different context to this one
is extremely difficult, and at the end, I think
you have to be authentic to your beliefs, your
way of dealing with people, especially which
is the most important thing when you talk about
culture. Slowly, you have an idea, and after
that, sometimes you change the trajectory a little
bit to understand what is best for the club.
Yeah, obviously he doesn't need to replicate
what they're doing at Atletico. Arsenal and Atletico
have different ideals, different ideologies,
different culture. We're more of a club of class
for the people. The football we're supposed to
play is supposed to be, you know, aesthetically
pleasing. Whereas Atletico is more grit, hard
work from Simeone, which obviously is a reflection
of how he was as a player. A hard working, tough,
hard -tackling defensive midfielder. So, yeah,
obviously you want to take certain elements from
Diego Simeone, like, for instance, the defensive
rigidity and defensive structure are well -organised
and dogmatic, in a way, sense of play that we
do have. But obviously you want to add that to
what Arsenal Football Club represents, which
is what I mentioned already, the good football,
the aesthetically pleasing football that Arsene
Wenger has. obviously become synonymous with.
On what Gabriel Hense has brought to our defence,
I think that's something very collective with
all the coaches, with the players, with their
commitments as well and Gabriel added something
different, that willingness to win. We've seen
that through his career, that experience to win
and to elevate somebody's level, ambition and
drive to the highest limit. And he's extraordinary
at that. Yeah, I mean, Gabriel Hentze is a Man
United boy, unfortunately, but he's coming and
obviously we're looking actually better than
we've ever been defensively. I don't think I've
ever seen a defensive unit at Arsenal this rigid,
this solid, this good. Well, certainly since
the Invincible days, but obviously now we're
looking proper. Teams aren't even having shots
against us. The stat from the other day where
we've gone two consecutive games without conceding
a shot for the first time since 2003 was alarming.
That's an unbelievable stat and as long may that
continue. If that continues tomorrow, then I'm
sure we win the game because I feel like we're
going to score at least. Well, he's never going
to say yes, but I'll say it for him. Yes, definitely.
I mean, Liverpool dropping further points is
great news for us because, you know, we know
now we... can really stick the knife in them
and start to build a lead. We've got a three
-point buffer up there and we know that if we
keep winning, especially up until the point where
Liverpool play Man City... then we know that
we have a very good opportunity to extend that
lead to more than three points. On whether it's
harder to prepare for a game against a long -serving
manager. On this one, I think the hardest thing
is the time that you have. It's basically a day
when you can't really do much to prepare. So
it's understanding the time that we have to spend
to analyse and understand that. They have evolved
as a team from where they were probably a year
ago to now. and how they can change in relation
to the context of the match, which is something
very specific for this team. In order to prepare
in the best way, you have to give the players
everything, but to be able to simplify the information
and make it as concrete and as clear as possible
for us being in the best position to implement
what we want to do tomorrow. Yeah, it's true.
Atletico have actually lost a number of players
that have been with the club for a number of
years. People like Rodrigo de Paul have left,
Witzel, Thomas Lemar, Angel Correra, to name
but a few, have all left. So obviously, there's
kind of an evolution of how the team is. I've
looked at the kind of... team squad starting
lineup. They don't really have much pace. They
usually play a narrow 4 -2 formation with Solov
and Alvarez up there. They've got Antoine Griezmann,
who's Asian, but obviously still capable of many
things. Scored his 200th goal for Atletico recently.
So there's a squad with amazing players, top
quality players, Asian squad, not much pace,
but it's... It's a good team. I just expect us
to win the game. It's not going to be easy. It's
probably going to be a bruising encounter. I
would say Atletico Madrid are probably Newcastle
on steroids in a way. on why Simeone's team is
so difficult to play against. First of all, the
willingness to win. You can sense that in every
single ball, in every single yard, the way they
play. So it's about how they compete and then
after how they play. I think there are two very
different things. And in order to have to analyse
what they are, the level of organisation is really
high. The level of discipline is really high.
And then they have acquired a lot of talent throughout
the years that they are very specific for the
needs and the way they want to play. And they
are very good at exploiting those opportunities.
Yeah, don't forget, I think what he's referring
to is people like Conor Gallagher. Yeah, he may
not start every game, but... His kind of pugnacious,
dogmatic approach to the game where he just has
legs for days, energy, energetic, you know, runs
his heart out, plays his heart out. That's the
kind of attitude that Diego Simeone sought, seeks
from a player. I expect his players to be well
up for it, obviously. It's a game they probably
need to get something from, considering they
lost to Liverpool in the first game, especially
if they want to qualify from the league phase.
And if Simeone could be successful in the Premier
League, if he works in the Champions League,
which is the highest competition in Europe, he
can do it anywhere. I don't know. You have to
come here and try it and feel it. But I'm very
sure that his know -how is unbelievable and his
character and willingness will take him anywhere.
OK, he's kind of swerved the question, but I
think he's essentially saying if he can do it
in the Champions League, which he has, then why
can't he do it in the Premier League? And that's
a good question. on why we're so effective at
set pieces. We keep evolving and keep improving.
It's a system that when you put it in place,
the system has to learn every single day, every
single game to become better. That's in relation
to the players that we have and what we learn
from ourselves and as well what we learn from
the opposition and try to be as consistent as
possible. In order to do that, you have to give
importance to certain topics to become really
important and we try to do that in a way that
we share the time, and the focus in game preparation.
And then it's the delivery. Yeah, I mean, two
factors. We've got exceptional crosses of the
ball in Bakayo Saka and Declan Rice. Unbelievable
A1 quality crosses of the ball. And then we've
got unbelievable headers of the ball. None other
than Gabriel Magales, who's probably the best
header of the ball. especially from dead ball
situation in world football. So when you couple
those two together, it causes carnage in the
box. And obviously it's been a route for us to
get ahead in games and as a consequence, pick
up three points. On how Gabriel Ence's one -on
-one sessions help the players. That experience,
if somebody tells you, if you do that, you're
going to be successful and you know that he's
done it and he's been successful. That's a lot
of credibility there. Yeah, I mean, Gabriel Hentze
had a very, very successful career at both Manchester
United and Real Madrid. And he won things there.
So when he talks, you listen. I've noticed he's
done a lot of work with Myles Lewis Skelly. Obviously,
Hentze was a left -back -come -centre -back,
and we've got a few of those. We've got, obviously,
Lewis Skelly is kind of a left -back -come -centre
-midfielder, but we've got Riccardo Calafiori,
who's been unbelievable this season, and then
we've got Piero Hincapié, who I'm hoping will
get some minutes tomorrow. So, obviously, now,
if you've got someone that used to play that
exact position, you can only learn from him.
on how the players have reacted to Ence's arrival.
It's a question for me. My feeling is that they
really love him, which is normal, but the rest
of the coaches are the same. They are all very
different characters, but the relationship and
the bond that we have with the players, I think
it's unique and I think that's something very
powerful in a team. Yeah, it's just a shame that
I used to play for Manchester United, but obviously
the team defensively is looking really good and
just hopefully we can kind of continue the way
we've been going this season, have a solid, rigid
structure, but improve in the attacking sense
of things. Just take it up a notch. and I'm sure
we'll be successful in the game tomorrow.