WEBVTT 00:00:00.840 --> 00:00:05.299 Hello and welcome to HYBR1D Powered by chinkseyMEDIA. 00:00:05.299 --> 00:00:09.140 Back again for a slightly delayed Mikel 00:00:09.140 --> 00:00:12.750 Arteta's pre -Sunderland press conference. We 00:00:12.750 --> 00:00:15.230 head to Sunderland this weekend in our final 00:00:15.230 --> 00:00:17.550 match before the November international break. 00:00:17.809 --> 00:00:20.609 And Mikel Arteta has been facing the press before 00:00:20.609 --> 00:00:23.109 the trip. It's our first visit to the Stadium 00:00:23.109 --> 00:00:25.469 of Light in just over nine years. And before 00:00:25.469 --> 00:00:28.170 we head north, Mikel has been answering questions 00:00:28.170 --> 00:00:31.890 on our opponents, player availability and much 00:00:31.890 --> 00:00:36.789 more. On any new injuries? No, no news. We remain 00:00:36.789 --> 00:00:40.090 the same and there's nobody new that can join 00:00:40.090 --> 00:00:43.359 the squad. So all the same. OK, so obviously 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:46.579 we go into the game with the same squad as we 00:00:46.579 --> 00:00:49.979 had in previous games, notably the game against 00:00:49.979 --> 00:00:54.640 Slavia Prague. So a relatively strong squad with 00:00:54.640 --> 00:00:58.240 the likes of Nani Madoweke, Martin Odegaard, 00:00:58.280 --> 00:01:01.960 Gabriel Jesus, 8 -0. Still out on Gabriel Jesus 00:01:01.960 --> 00:01:05.109 being back in training. It's about making the 00:01:05.109 --> 00:01:06.989 steps day by day in a different surrounding. 00:01:07.390 --> 00:01:10.230 He's been doing everything on his own. Now he's 00:01:10.230 --> 00:01:13.769 got very competitive players around him. And 00:01:13.769 --> 00:01:16.370 let's see how he copes with that. But he's full 00:01:16.370 --> 00:01:19.030 of energy. I love the reaction of all his teammates 00:01:19.030 --> 00:01:21.689 when he first joined us. And it's great to have 00:01:21.689 --> 00:01:24.750 him back. Yeah, obviously, Gabriel Jesus is an 00:01:24.750 --> 00:01:27.310 infectious character, well -respected among the 00:01:27.310 --> 00:01:31.079 group. He's been out for nine, ten months now, 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:35.840 so obviously he's back in training. He may not 00:01:35.840 --> 00:01:38.819 be ready for full contact training, but obviously 00:01:38.819 --> 00:01:42.620 with the likes of Mosquera, Gabriel, William 00:01:42.620 --> 00:01:45.659 Saliba, to come up against him in training, drills 00:01:45.659 --> 00:01:48.079 and things like that, in matches, it will be 00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:50.180 a good test to see whether or not he's ready 00:01:50.180 --> 00:01:53.519 for proper match action. But I doubt he'll be 00:01:53.519 --> 00:01:55.879 ready for that for another four to five weeks 00:01:55.879 --> 00:01:58.959 at the earliest. on Odegaard, Havertz, Madueke, 00:01:59.219 --> 00:02:03.099 Jokeres and Martinelli not being available. I 00:02:03.099 --> 00:02:06.140 cannot confirm all of that, but you are not far 00:02:06.140 --> 00:02:10.479 off. Hmm. Doesn't want to rule out Jokeres just 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:12.719 to play mind games with Sunderland, but obviously 00:02:12.719 --> 00:02:15.879 Jokeres hasn't been picked for the Sweden squad, 00:02:15.979 --> 00:02:18.259 so I think that's quite telling. With regards 00:02:18.259 --> 00:02:21.460 to Havertz, we won't see him in this game. We 00:02:21.460 --> 00:02:23.039 won't see him before the international break, 00:02:23.180 --> 00:02:26.400 nor will we see Martinelli, Odegaard or Madueke. 00:02:27.629 --> 00:02:30.090 on if they could be free after the international 00:02:30.090 --> 00:02:32.969 break. Some of them, all of them, I don't know. 00:02:33.629 --> 00:02:37.110 Who knows? Only him. There are a lot of things 00:02:37.110 --> 00:02:39.150 that have to happen in the next two weeks and 00:02:39.150 --> 00:02:42.129 everything has to be perfect, but I think we'll 00:02:42.129 --> 00:02:44.250 be very close in most of them to be in a really 00:02:44.250 --> 00:02:46.870 strong position. When he says most of them, I 00:02:46.870 --> 00:02:48.770 think he's referring to Maduweke definitely, 00:02:49.069 --> 00:02:52.389 Martinelli definitely, and probably most likely 00:02:52.389 --> 00:02:56.400 Odegaard as well, with... Sorry, and... Jocker 00:02:56.400 --> 00:02:59.680 is, of course. So I think Havertz is just a case 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:02.740 of, is he ready enough? Is he fit enough for 00:03:02.740 --> 00:03:04.979 the bench? The same with Odegaard, but I think 00:03:04.979 --> 00:03:07.340 Martinelli and Madaweke should be fine. On his 00:03:07.340 --> 00:03:10.039 relationship with Granit Xhaka, I loved every 00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:13.280 minute that we spent together. When I joined, 00:03:13.400 --> 00:03:15.879 he was in a special moment in his life and career. 00:03:16.039 --> 00:03:18.620 And between all of us, we tried to guide him, 00:03:18.659 --> 00:03:21.080 to give him a different perspective and make 00:03:21.080 --> 00:03:24.199 him feel loved and valued. And he responded in 00:03:24.199 --> 00:03:26.840 an incredible way. He made me a better coach. 00:03:27.080 --> 00:03:29.819 He helped us to develop and improve a lot as 00:03:29.819 --> 00:03:32.719 a football team and as a club. And I will be 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:35.000 eternally grateful because I have great memories 00:03:35.000 --> 00:03:38.740 of him. Yeah, I think it's fair to say that Granit 00:03:38.740 --> 00:03:41.539 Xhaka played his best football. played the best 00:03:41.539 --> 00:03:44.199 football of his career under Mikel Arteta. So 00:03:44.199 --> 00:03:47.020 there's going to be an affinity there, a mutual 00:03:47.020 --> 00:03:50.759 respect. That 22 -23 season, his last season 00:03:50.759 --> 00:03:53.199 with the club, culminated in us coming real close 00:03:53.199 --> 00:03:55.819 to winning the league. But he decided to uproot 00:03:55.819 --> 00:03:57.979 himself and leave and go back to Germany, where 00:03:57.979 --> 00:04:00.500 he spent a considerable chunk of his formative 00:04:00.500 --> 00:04:03.479 years in football. Obviously, he started with 00:04:03.479 --> 00:04:06.280 Basel, if I'm not wrong, and then joined Borussia 00:04:06.280 --> 00:04:10.310 Mönchengladbach, who he captained. up until 2016, 00:04:10.509 --> 00:04:12.449 if I'm not wrong. This is all the top of my head. 00:04:14.330 --> 00:04:16.209 And then obviously it took him a while to get 00:04:16.209 --> 00:04:19.430 going with the club. But when he did, he showed 00:04:19.430 --> 00:04:21.509 what he was. And I think for the last five, six 00:04:21.509 --> 00:04:24.129 years, he's been at a high standard on if he 00:04:24.129 --> 00:04:27.850 wanted Granit to stay in 2023. I already did 00:04:27.850 --> 00:04:30.610 it once and we extended his contract. And when 00:04:30.610 --> 00:04:32.990 he came in and explained the reasons, you have 00:04:32.990 --> 00:04:35.449 to understand the human being. You have to be 00:04:35.449 --> 00:04:38.009 grateful. It was a unique opportunity for him 00:04:38.009 --> 00:04:40.810 to go back to Germany, to his family. And there 00:04:40.810 --> 00:04:42.790 were certain things that he wanted to experience 00:04:42.790 --> 00:04:45.930 as well. I believe it was the right moment. He 00:04:45.930 --> 00:04:48.589 was very honest and straightforward, as he always 00:04:48.589 --> 00:04:52.589 is. And we found a way to find a good solution 00:04:52.589 --> 00:04:55.750 for all of us. Yeah, so as I mentioned already, 00:04:55.930 --> 00:04:58.970 he spent a number of his formative years at Borussia 00:04:58.970 --> 00:05:01.829 Mönchengladbach in Germany. Then he came to us, 00:05:01.910 --> 00:05:04.529 spent probably about seven, eight years with 00:05:04.529 --> 00:05:07.009 us, and then obviously decided to go back to 00:05:07.009 --> 00:05:10.269 Germany. But he was there for two seasons, if 00:05:10.269 --> 00:05:11.750 I'm not wrong. Now he's back in England with 00:05:11.750 --> 00:05:13.569 Sunderland. It'll be good to go up against him. 00:05:13.870 --> 00:05:16.269 Onyf Shaka's move to Sunderland is one of the 00:05:16.269 --> 00:05:18.629 signings of the summer. With the impact he's 00:05:18.629 --> 00:05:21.829 having, one of the best, I would say. I think 00:05:21.829 --> 00:05:24.170 what they've done as a football club as well 00:05:24.170 --> 00:05:27.550 in the last few years is very impressive. The 00:05:27.550 --> 00:05:29.470 management and the decisions that they've taken 00:05:29.470 --> 00:05:32.069 and how stable they look and how they have started 00:05:32.069 --> 00:05:35.009 the season is very impressive. Yeah, obviously, 00:05:35.230 --> 00:05:37.709 Granit Shaka's gone in there and his mentality, 00:05:37.889 --> 00:05:41.959 his leadership. His attitude, professionalism 00:05:41.959 --> 00:05:44.759 will rub off on all the younger players, all 00:05:44.759 --> 00:05:47.060 the rest of the players. He's obviously Premier 00:05:47.060 --> 00:05:50.420 League proven. You know, he's a winner with Arsenal 00:05:50.420 --> 00:05:52.980 by Leverkusen. Obviously, he's an invincible 00:05:52.980 --> 00:05:56.079 with them. And he's obviously now already the 00:05:56.079 --> 00:05:58.779 club captain because of those principles that 00:05:58.779 --> 00:06:02.860 he has. Similar to Jordan Henderson going to 00:06:02.860 --> 00:06:06.180 Brentford, I would say Granit Xhaka going to 00:06:06.180 --> 00:06:08.459 Sunderland is a kind of similar type of thing 00:06:08.459 --> 00:06:11.220 where... Henderson played against Liverpool and 00:06:11.220 --> 00:06:13.639 was successful. Hopefully, Xhaka isn't successful 00:06:13.639 --> 00:06:16.899 later on. On Pep Guardiola managing his 1 ,000th 00:06:16.899 --> 00:06:19.879 game this weekend. What a number. What a career. 00:06:20.269 --> 00:06:23.110 One inspiration, he's been to everybody in football. 00:06:23.329 --> 00:06:25.709 I would say in sport as well, and especially 00:06:25.709 --> 00:06:28.610 for me. It's an incredible achievement. It goes 00:06:28.610 --> 00:06:31.389 down in the history of the very best and the 00:06:31.389 --> 00:06:34.310 few that could only achieve something like that. 00:06:34.430 --> 00:06:36.610 Again, I think it will remain in the history 00:06:36.610 --> 00:06:40.050 of football for years to come. 1 ,000 games in 00:06:40.050 --> 00:06:42.170 football is amazing. Obviously Pep Guardiola 00:06:42.170 --> 00:06:45.069 has changed the landscape of football since around 00:06:45.069 --> 00:06:49.110 2009. I think since 2009 football's changed for 00:06:49.110 --> 00:06:52.269 the better. And obviously it's down to him. He's 00:06:52.269 --> 00:06:55.589 had like a major, major impact in the way football's 00:06:55.589 --> 00:06:57.550 played, the way football's seen with playing 00:06:57.550 --> 00:07:00.829 out from the back, with the tick attacker, with 00:07:00.829 --> 00:07:05.509 inverted fullbacks, with false number nines when 00:07:05.509 --> 00:07:08.990 he started it with Messi in 2009. So his fingerprints 00:07:08.990 --> 00:07:11.410 are all over modern day football for sure. On 00:07:11.410 --> 00:07:14.050 if he will be watching Manchester City v Liverpool. 00:07:14.389 --> 00:07:17.170 I'm just focused on tomorrow's game, today's 00:07:17.170 --> 00:07:20.459 game. How crucial. how difficult and how tough 00:07:20.459 --> 00:07:22.720 it's going to be. And that's the first step we 00:07:22.720 --> 00:07:25.439 have to make. Yeah, I think the main thing is 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:27.920 we need to focus on winning the game later on. 00:07:28.199 --> 00:07:31.220 And if we can do that, then we can now look to 00:07:31.220 --> 00:07:34.199 other fixtures, namely that big fixture tomorrow, 00:07:34.459 --> 00:07:37.459 Manchester City against Liverpool. If we can 00:07:37.459 --> 00:07:42.699 win, that's the main thing. Because now we know 00:07:42.699 --> 00:07:47.579 that for sure, one or both of our... direct opponents 00:07:47.579 --> 00:07:49.980 are going to drop points. And if he's surprised 00:07:49.980 --> 00:07:53.079 by Sunderland's performances this season? Not 00:07:53.079 --> 00:07:55.959 surprised. When you analyse them and see how 00:07:55.959 --> 00:07:58.639 well organised they are, how they adjust things 00:07:58.639 --> 00:08:01.399 and the spirit they have within the team, I'm 00:08:01.399 --> 00:08:03.980 not surprised. They fully deserve the position 00:08:03.980 --> 00:08:06.540 that they have at the moment. We know the type 00:08:06.540 --> 00:08:09.000 of game that we expect to play tomorrow and where 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:11.160 the opportunities are and the things that we 00:08:11.160 --> 00:08:13.980 have to do very well to beat them. And that's 00:08:13.980 --> 00:08:18.569 what we're going to try to do. OK. Yeah, he was 00:08:18.569 --> 00:08:20.269 never going to say that he's surprised, would 00:08:20.269 --> 00:08:21.930 he? Because you don't want to give the opponent 00:08:21.930 --> 00:08:26.250 any kind of determination, any more determination 00:08:26.250 --> 00:08:29.529 than they already have to beat you. I mean, the 00:08:29.529 --> 00:08:32.049 fact that we're top going into that game is enough. 00:08:32.750 --> 00:08:35.210 You know, they've got nothing to lose, Sunderland. 00:08:35.350 --> 00:08:38.389 They're currently fourth, so they're exceeding 00:08:38.389 --> 00:08:40.710 expectations anyway, so they can play with a 00:08:40.710 --> 00:08:44.639 free spirit and they have the fans on side. We 00:08:44.639 --> 00:08:47.039 don't want to really do anything to rile them 00:08:47.039 --> 00:08:50.919 up even more. However, I think if he's being 00:08:50.919 --> 00:08:52.820 honest, you asked him away from the cameras, 00:08:52.860 --> 00:08:56.899 you have to say that even the most ardent Sunderland 00:08:56.899 --> 00:09:00.200 supporter would be surprised with how well they've 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:04.220 done. They're literally halfway towards the points 00:09:04.220 --> 00:09:06.700 tally that would be sufficient enough for them 00:09:06.700 --> 00:09:09.379 to stay in this division, as they've got 18 points, 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:12.539 if I'm not wrong. And I'd say about 35, 36 would 00:09:12.539 --> 00:09:14.639 be enough. for them to secure their survival. 00:09:15.100 --> 00:09:20.639 And it would take the worst fall off for them 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:22.759 to not stay in this division. But I think they'll 00:09:22.759 --> 00:09:27.379 be fine. On if we get enough credit for our clean 00:09:27.379 --> 00:09:30.279 sheet run. It's not about credit. It's about 00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:32.720 doing it. And once you've done it, do it again. 00:09:33.240 --> 00:09:36.139 And that's what we have to do. Today, we train 00:09:36.139 --> 00:09:39.049 at our best. try to improve, try to give a lot 00:09:39.049 --> 00:09:41.129 of clarity to the players and understanding of 00:09:41.129 --> 00:09:45.289 the game that we have to play and execute it 00:09:45.289 --> 00:09:50.429 again and again. Yeah, obviously, it's pretty 00:09:50.429 --> 00:09:52.169 simple. If you keep clean sheets, you're not 00:09:52.169 --> 00:09:55.169 going to lose football matches. We've only conceded 00:09:55.169 --> 00:09:57.850 in three different games this season out of around 00:09:57.850 --> 00:10:00.929 15. So, in essence, we've only lost one game. 00:10:01.649 --> 00:10:04.669 to a phenomenal free kick, unstoppable free kick 00:10:04.669 --> 00:10:07.370 from Dominic Schoppersleier. And I don't think 00:10:07.370 --> 00:10:09.870 we deserve to lose that game anyway. So obviously 00:10:09.870 --> 00:10:12.490 we're giving ourselves a good basis to go and 00:10:12.490 --> 00:10:15.509 pick up results, namely wins, because the only 00:10:15.509 --> 00:10:18.429 two games we haven't won were against Man City 00:10:18.429 --> 00:10:20.429 and Liverpool in two games where we should have 00:10:20.429 --> 00:10:22.850 picked up more than we actually did. So that 00:10:22.850 --> 00:10:24.889 bodes well for the future if we can continue 00:10:24.889 --> 00:10:29.220 in this way on how we continue to improve. Everything. 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:32.539 Because you learn from your team, from your players 00:10:32.539 --> 00:10:35.299 every single day, from the opponents that you 00:10:35.299 --> 00:10:39.440 have to play every single time. And that's information 00:10:39.440 --> 00:10:43.799 that is so valuable to us. It's going to be a 00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:46.320 very different game to Tuesday. A very different 00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:50.100 game to Tuesday and to the week before. We need 00:10:50.100 --> 00:10:52.559 to read it. We need to understand very early 00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:55.200 what the game requires, what we have to do to 00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:57.940 be better than them and hopefully to beat them. 00:10:58.859 --> 00:11:01.480 Yeah, I think today is going to be a tough assignment. 00:11:02.779 --> 00:11:04.820 It's going to be different to Tuesday. I think 00:11:04.820 --> 00:11:08.840 it's going to be tougher. Although we had a kind 00:11:08.840 --> 00:11:13.019 of hostile atmosphere, but we weathered the storm 00:11:13.019 --> 00:11:15.179 after the first 20 minutes and we took the game 00:11:15.179 --> 00:11:17.419 away from them. I think in this game, it's going 00:11:17.419 --> 00:11:19.860 to be about patience and perseverance. Just like 00:11:19.860 --> 00:11:22.860 I said last week against Burnley. And even if 00:11:22.860 --> 00:11:25.840 we're level or struggling after 50, 60 minutes, 00:11:25.960 --> 00:11:28.799 we've just got to keep probing. And eventually, 00:11:28.820 --> 00:11:31.960 I think we will find a way to prise them open 00:11:31.960 --> 00:11:36.190 one way or another. On if he aspires to reach 00:11:36.190 --> 00:11:39.750 1 ,000 matches as a manager, I would be extremely 00:11:39.750 --> 00:11:43.549 happy and proud if one day I am able to do what 00:11:43.549 --> 00:11:45.870 Pep Guardiola has done in his career because, 00:11:46.049 --> 00:11:48.370 as you all know, he's probably been the most 00:11:48.370 --> 00:11:51.250 important person in my football career. I'm incredibly 00:11:51.250 --> 00:11:54.909 proud of him and what he's done. Well, what can 00:11:54.909 --> 00:12:00.929 I say? Friends, on if Xhaka was underappreciated 00:12:00.929 --> 00:12:04.259 by supporters, I don't know. Certainly, internally, 00:12:04.659 --> 00:12:07.539 he had a lot of appreciation. I'm laughing because 00:12:07.539 --> 00:12:10.059 I just visualized Granit, and it makes me laugh 00:12:10.059 --> 00:12:13.059 because he was such a character, a huge personality, 00:12:13.379 --> 00:12:16.559 very funny, super professional, and one of those 00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:19.000 guys that can change the dressing room and the 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:22.259 spirit of a team. That's a superpower to have. 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:24.700 And I've already mentioned Granit. He's like 00:12:24.700 --> 00:12:27.279 a leader. He's obviously gone into Sunderland, 00:12:27.460 --> 00:12:30.259 captained them. He captained Switzerland for 00:12:30.259 --> 00:12:34.429 around 10 years. He's captained Borussia Mönchengladbach. 00:12:34.570 --> 00:12:39.009 He captained Arsenal. So one thing is in common. 00:12:39.169 --> 00:12:40.990 He's been captain at all the clubs he's been 00:12:40.990 --> 00:12:44.110 at pretty much. So that tells you he's got leadership 00:12:44.110 --> 00:12:47.909 qualities that rub off on his colleagues. And 00:12:47.909 --> 00:12:49.990 if we are the only team that can stop ourselves 00:12:49.990 --> 00:12:53.850 winning a league, no, I don't agree. Sorry, because 00:12:53.850 --> 00:12:56.950 any team has the capacity and I'm sure the belief 00:12:56.950 --> 00:12:59.789 as well that they can do it. We are fully aware 00:12:59.789 --> 00:13:02.470 of that. We know our strength. We know the things 00:13:02.470 --> 00:13:04.909 that we have to improve as well. And we just 00:13:04.909 --> 00:13:08.149 focus on that. Well, he's not going to say yes, 00:13:08.190 --> 00:13:11.169 is he? I mean, let's be real. But the league's 00:13:11.169 --> 00:13:14.370 not over. Man City are not too far away and neither 00:13:14.370 --> 00:13:18.629 are Liverpool. You know, we come up against tough 00:13:18.629 --> 00:13:21.570 opponents. Sturdy opponents in Sunderland, but 00:13:21.570 --> 00:13:23.210 after the international break, that's when it 00:13:23.210 --> 00:13:25.769 gets even tougher, where we go straight into 00:13:25.769 --> 00:13:28.730 a North London derby at home to Tottenham. Then 00:13:28.730 --> 00:13:33.250 we have Bayern Munich alongside us, the top side 00:13:33.250 --> 00:13:36.350 in Europe. And then we have a tough assignment 00:13:36.350 --> 00:13:39.370 at Chelsea, who will be, you know, they'll be 00:13:39.370 --> 00:13:41.909 riled up to beat us for the first time in around 00:13:41.909 --> 00:13:45.169 four years. So obviously we need to just take 00:13:45.169 --> 00:13:47.860 things step by step. On if he wants our game 00:13:47.860 --> 00:13:51.019 against Everton to be moved, I remain super optimistic 00:13:51.019 --> 00:13:53.299 that this is not going to be the case because 00:13:53.299 --> 00:13:55.860 from every angle, from the Premier League, from 00:13:55.860 --> 00:13:59.340 the EFL, from UEFA, all the time, the only thing 00:13:59.340 --> 00:14:01.620 that we talk about is the welfare of the players 00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:04.490 and the supporters. If we want to maintain that 00:14:04.490 --> 00:14:07.090 principle, we cannot play Sunday and Tuesday. 00:14:07.389 --> 00:14:09.929 We have been very positive in talks with the 00:14:09.929 --> 00:14:12.570 clubs and the Premier League and hopefully we'll 00:14:12.570 --> 00:14:15.330 find a way to help as much as possible. Sometimes 00:14:15.330 --> 00:14:18.730 you cannot help 200 people that have an issue. 00:14:20.090 --> 00:14:23.789 But for that reason, if I can say that I can 00:14:23.789 --> 00:14:26.669 help 100 people, I'm not going to do it because 00:14:26.669 --> 00:14:30.519 what about the other 100? No, no, no. Help the 00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:33.720 100 if you can and the other 100. Next time you 00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:36.620 have the opportunity, do it as well. I think 00:14:36.620 --> 00:14:39.200 we need to be very thorough and we cannot allow 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:43.779 ourselves to be put in that situation. Well, 00:14:43.899 --> 00:14:47.240 that was a lot of waffle and fries with that. 00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:50.919 But I think it's fair to say he's not happy with 00:14:50.919 --> 00:14:54.169 the scheduling. I think as we get closer to the 00:14:54.169 --> 00:14:57.129 time, common sense will prevail and the dates 00:14:57.129 --> 00:14:59.590 will be changed anyway. So I don't think we have 00:14:59.590 --> 00:15:01.590 to worry too much about that. On what Gabriel 00:15:01.590 --> 00:15:04.490 Jesus brings to our team, a player who's very 00:15:04.490 --> 00:15:07.370 unpredictable, full of energy and super competitive, 00:15:07.549 --> 00:15:10.129 a player who comes from a context of difficulty 00:15:10.129 --> 00:15:13.399 in the last few seasons. due to various nasty 00:15:13.399 --> 00:15:15.980 injuries. So the level of hunger and desire that 00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:18.360 he's going to bring to the team is going to be 00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:21.179 amazing. So I'm thrilled to have him. I think 00:15:21.179 --> 00:15:23.379 he's going to add something extra to the team 00:15:23.379 --> 00:15:26.700 that we don't have. And make sure that very soon 00:15:26.700 --> 00:15:28.960 we see him on the pitch making an impact for 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:31.929 the team. I've mentioned Gabriel Jesus already 00:15:31.929 --> 00:15:34.009 earlier on, but I don't think we should expect 00:15:34.009 --> 00:15:37.029 to see him until December at the very earliest, 00:15:37.210 --> 00:15:39.809 and if not January, because obviously he's been 00:15:39.809 --> 00:15:42.309 out for nine, ten months. He's back on the training 00:15:42.309 --> 00:15:44.649 pitch, but obviously match fitness is completely 00:15:44.649 --> 00:15:47.330 different, so he needs to have a good month of 00:15:47.330 --> 00:15:51.049 contact training for us to be able to consider 00:15:51.049 --> 00:15:53.590 having him on the bench and trying to build his 00:15:53.590 --> 00:15:57.269 fitness from there. And if he sees Jesus staying 00:15:57.269 --> 00:16:00.149 for the long term, yes, because we haven't had 00:16:00.149 --> 00:16:03.149 our forwards and now we don't have Victor and 00:16:03.149 --> 00:16:05.850 we haven't had Kai again for three months or 00:16:05.850 --> 00:16:08.590 many other forwards. Unfortunately, that's becoming 00:16:08.590 --> 00:16:11.509 something that consistently happens. So we need 00:16:11.509 --> 00:16:14.309 these options. What an option to have with Gabby. 00:16:14.649 --> 00:16:17.090 I think he's deliberately answered a completely 00:16:17.090 --> 00:16:20.330 different question. But I think the question 00:16:20.330 --> 00:16:23.970 was, do you think Gabriel Jesus will stay beyond 00:16:23.970 --> 00:16:27.789 this summer? And Arteta's deliberately not answered 00:16:27.789 --> 00:16:30.570 it on the use of AI in football. I don't know 00:16:30.570 --> 00:16:32.830 enough to make a decision, but I think it is 00:16:32.830 --> 00:16:35.870 a tool that is super powerful if you use it in 00:16:35.870 --> 00:16:38.809 the right way. And if you ask the right questions, 00:16:38.889 --> 00:16:41.570 it's in use already for many things and many 00:16:41.570 --> 00:16:44.809 processes that can help not just a team, but 00:16:44.809 --> 00:16:48.129 an organization as well. I think it will improve 00:16:48.129 --> 00:16:50.629 and it will give us good insights of things, 00:16:50.710 --> 00:16:53.610 at least. It's assisted football in a sense with 00:16:53.610 --> 00:16:56.169 goal line technology and things like that. But 00:16:56.169 --> 00:16:58.470 obviously in terms of training, it'll probably 00:16:58.470 --> 00:17:01.690 help in terms of statistics, you know, things 00:17:01.690 --> 00:17:05.130 like that, where the tech savvy geeks would know 00:17:05.130 --> 00:17:08.890 more about people like myself. And if we use 00:17:08.890 --> 00:17:12.259 AI at the club. I'm not the most expert on that 00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:14.799 to comment, but it's a valuable tool. We have 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:16.940 developed certain things that, in our opinion, 00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:21.559 can help, especially to understand ourselves 00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:25.000 better and what we do and evaluate what we do 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:27.599 and what we can improve. Then I think it will 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:30.880 extend to many other areas of the club. Well, 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:35.180 as Arteta said, he's not an expert and I certainly 00:17:35.180 --> 00:17:38.460 aren't either. or managing Xhaka's absence from 00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:40.759 the club. It wasn't an easy decision because 00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:42.779 I knew the impact that he could still have at 00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:45.000 the club and on the team. But then when you have 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:47.599 one of those leaders as well, you need to have 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:49.980 them in the right frame of mind and fully committed 00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:52.819 and have him feeling that this is the best place 00:17:52.819 --> 00:17:55.579 for him. Granit, when he expressed his idea, 00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:58.319 the reasons why he believed he was better now 00:17:58.319 --> 00:18:00.839 or the right timing after everything we went 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:03.099 through together to take on another challenge 00:18:03.099 --> 00:18:06.250 and to take that journey somewhere else. It really 00:18:06.250 --> 00:18:08.250 made me think whether it was the right thing 00:18:08.250 --> 00:18:11.589 again to try to persuade him to stay and if he 00:18:11.589 --> 00:18:16.069 was having a deep feeling about moving. So, yeah, 00:18:16.130 --> 00:18:19.150 I mean, Granit has left, but I think Declan Rice 00:18:19.150 --> 00:18:21.970 was effectively brought in to replace him. And 00:18:21.970 --> 00:18:24.950 I think, if I'm being honest, as good as Granit 00:18:24.950 --> 00:18:28.109 Xhaka was, top player, I think Declan Rice is 00:18:28.109 --> 00:18:32.490 a better, younger version of him. And obviously, 00:18:32.609 --> 00:18:36.539 he's, you know, 20... 26, mid -20s, he's not 00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:39.259 even in the prime of his career. However, having 00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:40.960 both of them, I'm not sure how that would have 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:45.640 worked, but Granit Xhaka is now 33 years old, 00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:48.640 Declan Rice is 26, already at a higher level 00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:53.960 now, and he's in the engine of our team, and 00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:58.460 effectively our key player, or one of about three 00:18:58.460 --> 00:19:01.420 or four, on players stepping up since Xhaka left. 00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:04.680 When you have such a character there, other players 00:19:04.680 --> 00:19:07.339 are taking different roles and when that person 00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:09.700 is not there or that role is not there, some 00:19:09.700 --> 00:19:12.000 other people have to step in. Whether players 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:14.500 are already there or players that we identify 00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:17.599 that we want to recruit as well that could provide 00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:19.500 something different because it's always going 00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:22.319 to be different. It was a good exercise to do. 00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:26.279 Yeah, I think in terms of leaders, we've had 00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:30.200 other people come. you know, step up since Shaka's 00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:32.220 left. People like Gabriel Magales, definitely. 00:19:32.920 --> 00:19:36.079 And as I've mentioned already, Declan Rice, Bakayo 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:38.519 Saka as well, taking more of a leadership role. 00:19:38.660 --> 00:19:42.880 So, you know, as people leave, other people step 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:46.039 in and take different roles and adapt and develop 00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:49.299 as a consequence on the importance of our match 00:19:49.299 --> 00:19:52.549 against Sunderland. Every weekend is crucial. 00:19:52.829 --> 00:19:55.130 There are weekends for other possible results 00:19:55.130 --> 00:19:57.849 or for other games. Maybe they are a little bit 00:19:57.849 --> 00:20:00.589 more important. But at the end, you just need 00:20:00.589 --> 00:20:03.029 to conquer a certain amount of points if you 00:20:03.029 --> 00:20:05.390 want to achieve our goals. And three points against 00:20:05.390 --> 00:20:07.630 Sunderland tomorrow is going to be really tough 00:20:07.630 --> 00:20:09.509 and we're going to have to really earn them. 00:20:09.930 --> 00:20:12.069 Well, yeah, it's pretty clear that this is a 00:20:12.069 --> 00:20:13.869 crucial week in the Premier League, the most 00:20:13.869 --> 00:20:16.710 crucial so far. If Arsenal can win and extend 00:20:16.710 --> 00:20:19.150 their lead, it puts pressure on both sides tomorrow. 00:20:20.009 --> 00:20:22.230 especially Liverpool, who are away to Man City, 00:20:22.390 --> 00:20:26.009 who are in a good run of form right now, especially 00:20:26.009 --> 00:20:31.130 with Haaland. So if we can win and get our noses 00:20:31.130 --> 00:20:35.049 further ahead, then effectively whoever loses 00:20:35.049 --> 00:20:38.250 tomorrow is in trouble. in a precarious position 00:20:38.250 --> 00:20:40.450 in terms of the league challenge. What if Xhaka 00:20:40.450 --> 00:20:44.089 has been used in the wrong position before Arteta's 00:20:44.089 --> 00:20:46.630 arrival? No, because when we signed him, it was 00:20:46.630 --> 00:20:48.789 for the right reason, because he was playing 00:20:48.789 --> 00:20:51.869 in a different role, but he was excellent. When 00:20:51.869 --> 00:20:53.609 you see him playing for the national team and 00:20:53.609 --> 00:20:56.269 with Leverkusen in a deeper role, he did very 00:20:56.269 --> 00:20:59.420 well, as well as the necessity of the team. or 00:20:59.420 --> 00:21:01.519 the understanding of the manager or the coach 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:04.480 about a player or the chemistry that he can create 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:06.960 around other players as well. And we believe 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:09.640 that Granit's position had to be modified. It 00:21:09.640 --> 00:21:11.759 brought him a challenge as well. But I think 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:14.339 that was quite positive for him to say, I'm going 00:21:14.339 --> 00:21:16.660 to show everyone that I can do it. And Granit 00:21:16.660 --> 00:21:20.039 needs that as well in his personality. OK, interesting. 00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:23.339 Well, I mean, Arteta had used Xhaka in various 00:21:23.339 --> 00:21:25.920 positions. Remember, he actually used Xhaka as 00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:28.059 an inverted full -back, as a left -back that 00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:30.400 goes into midfield. And you wouldn't have seen 00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:32.940 that as a natural position for him. But to be 00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:35.299 fair, he did well in the rare occasions he played 00:21:35.299 --> 00:21:39.140 there. But I think he found Granit's best position 00:21:39.140 --> 00:21:41.279 as a box -to -box number eight, the position 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:45.519 that Declan Rice currently plays in. But obviously 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:48.700 I've seen him play deeper for Switzerland and 00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:51.619 Leverkusen, just as he's mentioned as well. So 00:21:51.619 --> 00:21:55.640 it just shows that he's very adaptable and versatile 00:21:55.640 --> 00:21:58.109 because I remember when... Arsene Wenger first 00:21:58.109 --> 00:22:00.329 brought him in he was used deeper and he struggled 00:22:00.329 --> 00:22:03.470 he has exhibited his versatility over the years 00:22:03.470 --> 00:22:06.529 for sure on Declan Rice's form he's been super 00:22:06.529 --> 00:22:09.289 consistent and playing at such a high level and 00:22:09.289 --> 00:22:11.670 now we see him impacting the games in various 00:22:11.670 --> 00:22:14.450 ways in different areas of the pitch in different 00:22:14.450 --> 00:22:17.130 phases of the game and this is exactly what we 00:22:17.130 --> 00:22:19.549 want I think his role is growing at the club 00:22:19.549 --> 00:22:22.599 in the team naturally as well, in a really organic 00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:25.480 way. And he needs to maintain that because he's 00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:28.420 been exceptional. Yeah, I think with Declan Rice, 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:30.480 I think he started the season slow because maybe 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:34.980 he was tired from pre -season, from last season. 00:22:35.079 --> 00:22:37.259 But similar to last season, he started the first 00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:40.640 half of the season, when I say slow, I mean good. 00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:43.500 But then obviously the second half of the season, 00:22:43.579 --> 00:22:46.039 he was outstanding. And I think he's starting 00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:49.769 to grow. into his new role because his role slightly 00:22:49.769 --> 00:22:52.890 changed with Zubamendi coming into the team, 00:22:52.950 --> 00:22:55.650 with Eze coming into the team. So he's kind of 00:22:55.650 --> 00:22:58.670 learning to mesh together with them to assimilate 00:22:58.670 --> 00:23:02.970 with those new players and kind of know how to 00:23:02.970 --> 00:23:07.470 adapt to those players as a consequence of them 00:23:07.470 --> 00:23:09.369 coming into the team. Because last season we 00:23:09.369 --> 00:23:12.609 had people like Partey and Odegaard that played 00:23:12.609 --> 00:23:14.769 with him. So he's a completely different person 00:23:14.769 --> 00:23:14.990 now.