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It's been a minute but without any further
ado, here is every word from Mikel Arteta's pre
-Tottenham Hotspur presser. Mikel Arteta has
spoken to the press ahead of our huge North London
derby against Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow. We
return to domestic football following the international
break to take on Spurs. and at the sober reality
training center mikhail faced questions on squad
fitness our opponents and much more on gabrielle's
injury gabby unfortunately picked up an injury
with the brazil national team and he's going
to be out for weeks. We need another scan next
Wednesday and we'll then have the timeline probably
much clearer than it is at the moment. Well,
I mean, obviously, I think Mikel Arteta probably
preempted the fact that we're going to have a
lot of injuries, 60 game season, 65 possibly.
So preparation is key. We had suffered from an
injury crisis last season. So this is why our
recruitment in the summer was vital, pivotal.
And obviously, we've been famed for having depth,
the best squad depth in Europe. So let's prove
it. People like Mosquera, Incapia, Myles Lewis
-Skelly, the three of them, they're going to
have a lot of game time in the coming weeks as
we have two games a week or three games in seven
days for the foreseeable future. the time is
now on how much of a blow it is. It's clearly
a blow because he's our leader in our backline.
And to me, it's never a positive thing. The good
thing is that we have very good options and we
need to stand up now and do the job. So like
I just said, and obviously I didn't include Calafuri
because I believe he'll be playing regardless,
probably mostly fullback, but he can be in rotation
with Lewis Skelly and Hinkapie. So it's a case
of... three from two or four from two so you
can rotate hincapié louis skelly calafiori and
obviously gabrielle's already out on how much
of a blow it is it's certainly a blow because
he's our leader On Riccardo Calafiori's availability,
he wasn't available for the international break.
He's been carrying a few things and he had to
bring him back. He hasn't trained yet. Tomorrow
we have another training session and we'll see
how it is. That old chestnut, I knew he was going
to do this at least once in this interview. So
the old, we've got one more training session,
which is after the press conference. So you wouldn't
know whether he's fit or not. So it's obviously
mind games and credit, kudos. No Mohammed. Kudos
to Mikel Arteta for not showing his hand to Thomas
Frank. So he won't know whether Califuri will
be starting or not. But obviously, I'm of the
presumption, I'm presuming that he will start.
But remains to be seen. On our long -term absentees,
we've put in a lot of energy during the international
break with all of their medical staff as well
to try to bring them... As quickly as possible.
Tomorrow we have another training session. See
how some of them are feeling. Whether it's a
bit too close for this game. Or we feel that
they can contribute to the game. So tomorrow
we can have more clarity. Okay, so the bunch
of players that were injured. So starting with
Gabriel Jesus. I don't think he'll be fit for
this game. Although he is back in full training.
However, I think it will take him another few
weeks. But I stand to be corrected. Noni Madaweke
is an interesting one. I'm going to predict that
he'll be back at some point next week, but I
wouldn't be surprised if he's on the bench tomorrow.
Martin Odegaard is an interesting one as well.
I'm going to say on the bench, if not back next
week. Kai Havertz, I've heard that he's had an
injury setback, so I don't expect to see him
at all next week. Who knows? And obviously, Victor
Jokeres, from what I've heard, he seems to be
ready. Whether he can start or not is an interesting
one, but I'll have him on the bench if fit. On
if some of them could be in the squad. I'm hopeful
that we can make another step tomorrow, but I
certainly cannot say. Ooh, very mysterious. On
what makes the North London derby so unique.
It's just different. It's a big city, but it's
a big rivalry. It's a part of London that we
want to conquer and they want to do the same.
There's been a lot of shifts as well over the
years. We've been more dominant and it's just
beautiful, especially when we play at home in
front of our people. We know what it means to
them and the energy that they're going to bring.
The energy that the team is going to bring in
every single action. And it's just a privilege
to play those kind of games. We cannot wait to
get to Sunday. Yeah, I mean, we've dominated
Tottenham generally at home. I believe we've
won four or five of the last six with one draw
coming under Ange Postakoglu in a two -all draw.
So yeah, in general, we usually win the home
game. The away game tends to be a mixed bag of
results, whether it's a draw, whether it's an
Arsenal win, whether it's a Tottenham win. However,
in recent years, we've had a very good record
against Tottenham. We're unbeaten in a few seasons
against them. So let's hope that continues tomorrow.
On the challenge of focusing on just winning
the game in a derby context, it's about bringing
everything to the table. That's the context of
the game and that's the superpower. When you
have everybody playing with that passion and
with the emotion within the team in every single
ball, it makes a difference and we're very privileged.
The way that the supporters have been with us
at the Emirates Stadium and especially against
our rivals. and on Sunday, I'm sure that the
team is going to behave and make them very proud.
Yeah, once again, it's important and essential
that every player that joins Arsenal understands
the magnitude of a fixture like this, that it's
a must -win fixture for many contexts. Firstly,
because we're fighting for the title. We drew
our last game prior to the international break.
That feels a long time ago now. Two, three weeks.
And also Man City play before us. So at the time
of recording, we don't know whether Man City
are going to win, lose or draw. And it's a tough
game. So regardless of whether they win, lose
or draw, we need to win anyway. So if they lose,
we have a chance to extend our lead to more points
than it is. However, if they win, they go one
point behind us with us yet to play. So either
way, whatever way you want to look at it, the
pressure is on us to win and get back to winning
ways after a disappointing draw. against Sunderland
before the break and why we've been so good against
Spurs in recent seasons yes that emotion requires
something else and you cannot be too high but
at the same time that game demands that in every
ball in every action you have to be at it a bit
more than at any other game we have found a really
good balance we played well some days we have
won some days we have been a bit lucky as well
which is fair to say So on Sunday, we need a
really good performance to beat them. Yeah, we're
definitely lucky. Probably I'd say last season
when we went to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
and we ground out a 1 -0 win. I believe it was
in September. And we've been lucky in a few games
over the last eight or nine fixtures, but generally
we've deserved to win and been the better team
anyway. So hopefully that continues tomorrow.
Wayne Rooney saying Victor Jokeres is one of
his top three players so far this season. I'm
really glad that it's come from someone like
Wayne. His experience and the kind of player
that he was. It's not just related to the goals
that he has scored, but the contribution to the
team. What a number nine can do. And I think
you can see the impact that Victor has on our
team. His work rate and the way he opens the
spaces for other people. The time that he generates
for us. and then the level of threat that he's
brought to the team, which is magnificent. So
I'm really happy to hear that. Yeah, he mentioned
that, Wayne Rooney mentioned that he was impressed
with Antoine Semenyo, Victor Jokeres, and Brian
Imbrema. So, obviously, Jokeres got injured and
has missed a few games in recent weeks. However,
just as his performances were starting to improve,
he went down. So hopefully he's back in the squad
tomorrow. Whether he's starting or on the bench,
I don't think he'll have enough match fitness
to start. But that remains to be seen. But what
I do think is he will be involved in some capacity
tomorrow. And hopefully he can continue where
he left off. On how different the challenge is
facing Spurs this season compared to last season.
Well, I think every game is very different. And
in the same season as well, depending on the
momentum of each team, the games are very, very
different. I think Thomas has brought something
very different to what they had before as well.
And you just have to see at his record and how
remarkable a job he did in his previous club.
And he's given a very clear identity to the team.
how they want to play, how they want to compete,
and it will be very tough. Well, on that subject,
we had a taste of what to expect from him in
the summer, where they played a counter -attacking
style, defensively rigid, solid, regimented,
and caught us on the break. They beat us 1 -0,
but however, that was in pre -season, but it
at least gives us an idea of what to expect.
I think we're going to get a similar game tomorrow,
where I think we're going to have most of the
ball. We're going to be taking the game to them
and they're going to be resolute and try to catch
us on the break with players like Kudos. However,
I think it's just a game for patience, a game
for perseverance, like I say, most weeks. And
I think if we can remain patient. Keep our heads.
Stay compact and resolute ourselves. Snuff out
their counter -attacks. We should be firm. Only
if the table has flattered them based on how
they've played. I think when you start to be
a part of the season that we are in, you have
to really enjoy what you are. And I think they've
done a lot of very good things. They've set out
to win. They've won in some tough places as well.
Their record away from home has been very impressive
as well. So you need to merit that. Nobody gives
you anything easy in this league. Okay, so he's
obviously alluding to the fact that they've won
at Manchester City, the Etihad. Very impressive
win. So we need to be aware that they're capable
of doing those type of things. That was a big
result for them. Although they generally do have
the Indian sign on Manchester City. That being
said, they haven't beaten us for 15 years. And
I believe they've only beaten us twice in the
Premier League. Away from home, that is. All
things encompassing, I think if we can play to
our abilities, I don't think the results should
be in question at all. On it being a very big
opportunity for whoever plays instead of Gabriel.
Yes, for sure. And that's what we're looking
at. That's what we're looking for. And the good
thing is that we have to take our players in
different positions over a very... heavy season
and whoever plays is going to be ready to do
that yeah so obviously there's a number of different
permutations in terms of how we can line up in
the back four but I generally know that Mikel
doesn't like to disrupt his relationships on
the pitch therefore we know we're going to get
Raya, Julian Timber, William Saliba and depending
on Calafiori's fitness I think he will be fit
I think Calafiori will play left back and it
It appears it will be a straight shootout between
Hinkapie and Mosquera. However, because William
Saliba usually plays left fullback, usually plays
on the right. next to timba at right center back
it means that he's likely to go for hincape however
on the contrary mosquera has played a number
of games period for arsenal so far and has done
really well so i'm inclined to go saliba left
center back mosquera right center back because
don't forget saliba does play left center back
for france interesting one that is on how to
prepare for three big games coming up in a short
space of time well we knew the preparation and
an international break we knew that this was
coming it was again very intense but beautiful
as well we had a very tough start to the season
as well we're ready for that and now have everybody
healthy or the most of them healthy which is
a key thing obviously and then again get in the
rhythm start to generate momentum again. We're
in a really good moment and we need to continue
to do that game by game because the games are
going to be very thick and fast and we need to
be ready. Everybody has to be at it. So yeah,
I think it's how Mikel rotates the squad in the
next seven, eight days where we have three big
games starting with Tottenham, then going to
Bayern Munich at home, obviously, and then Chelsea.
Don't forget Chelsea have a big game of their
own, a must -win clash against Barcelona. So
they're going to have to tinker with things as
well as they play Burnley this afternoon. So
what we need to do, we need to focus on game
by game. I think he can make subtle rotations
which won't weaken the squad. For instance, Lewis
Skelly, for me, I believe he'll come in on Wednesday.
Therefore, it's a question of whether Hincapié
starts this game. So it's just going to be a
rotation between Hincapié, Luis Skelly and Calafiori
in the next week. And then obviously you make
subtle rotations with Madueke coming in, giving
Saka a rest and people like Trossard. Whether
Martinelli's fit is another good question as
well. So there's a lot of permutations to kind
of shuffle through. So it'll be interesting to
see how Mikel deals with that. And if so many
injuries are taken away from the quality of the
game. Injuries are part of football. Obviously
the demands that those players have in the way
that the schedule is. There's more demands than
ever. And hopefully and probably that's going
to bring more injuries. We will try to avoid
that as much as possible. But you can see that
in many clubs even in different countries as
well. So we're going to have to live with that.
Yeah I think how we deal with the injuries and
the squad. And the so -called squad depth will
be key to determine how successful we are this
season. So we've obviously prepared ourselves
for this situation in the summer with the transfers
we made. So there's no real excuses because we
had that excuse last season, but we catered for
it in the summer. So I think we're well equipped
to deal with it. And hopefully we can. On how
Gabriel Jesus is getting on in his rehabilitation.
Very good. So he's doing everything with the
team at the moment for the last almost two weeks.
We're going to give him some exposure as well
internally with some games so he gets that fitness.
But he looks really good in training and he's
going to be a big... addition to the team okay
so it looks like he's gonna get some friendly
indoor friendlies where a team usually we usually
play like Watford and things like that so unofficial
friendlies get his match fitness up see how he
is when he goes into challenges and see how he
lasts the game and I think if he can come through
that then we're looking at probably the next
two three four weeks for him to be properly integrated
into the starting, well, into the squad, matchday
squad that is. On advice to give Ebereche Eze
ahead of his first North London derby, nothing
special, nothing different to any player, nothing
different to any other player. I'm very happy
that he is with us. Over the years, he's had
many options to go to different places. In the
end, he was allowed to leave and he chose to
come here. which I'm very happy and proud of.
It's going to be a game that I can't wait for
him to experience because it's very special.
Well, Ebereche growing up as an Arsenal fan,
a huge Arsenal fan, being in a youth team from
very young and having a family that are huge
Arsenal fans, I don't think you need to explain
to him the magnitude, the importance of this
game. He would understand it. He gets it. Another
dimension to this game is the fact that he almost
went to Tottenham. So only he would be able to
kind of exhibit how he feels internally. And
I'm sure he's going to do it on a pitch. We already
got a pivotal goal from him against his former
side. So I think and I'm expecting him to do
something special tomorrow as well. And if I
was Mikel. I would start him for those reasons.
Well what I'm very aware of is that he wants
to continue with us. He's very happy that he's
in a place that he wants to continue to be and
achieve everything that we want to achieve together.
When that happens and how it happens, I'll leave
that to him and the club. Yeah, I mean, I think
it's done as far as I'm aware. It's just a matter
of when the contract extension will be announced.
Obviously, the club will probably look for the
right time to announce it. These next seven days
are quite hectic, so I anticipate and envisage
that it will probably be within the next two
weeks or so. I'm going until March with no more
international breaks. We have a lot of work to
do until that point. Again, go game by game,
put the focus in the present, the things that
we can do and we can control. try to improve
every single day, try to be a better team. We'll
have different videos playing different kinds
of oppositions. We'll have different resources
available as well in the team. We'll try to be
as competitive as we can and win as many games
as we can. So yeah, as Pep Guardiola said, this
is where the real season starts. So incidentally,
he said once all the international breaks are
out of the way. The games come freaking fast.
Injuries happen. Christmas break happens. You
play three games in seven, eight days. So he's
classing it as this is the proper start of the
season. And also we're one third into the season
now. So I make him right on that one. Yeah, probably
it's just a case of consistency, momentum, you
know, winning games, ticking games off the calendar.
And obviously it's just going to be a hectic
run of fixtures going into the home straight.
Once we get to March, towards the latter end
of the season, the last 10, 15 games of the season,
so you want to stand yourself in as good a stead
as possible going into that segment in March.
On what it was like during the time that we were
trying to sign Eze, I don't know. At the end
of the day, there were three different parties.
My feeling when I spoke to him was that he wanted
to join. It's all about timing as well in football,
which is something very different. which is something
very difficult to predict and maybe it doesn't
work. But I'm very glad that it did work. It
worked in a great way. I'm very happy with what
he's doing, what he can do for the club and the
team. And it's just the start of the journey.
So, yeah, I don't think it's much of a secret
that he was on the brink of joining Tottenham.
And also that kind of aligned with the fact that
Kai Havertz got injured. the day before so i
think that's why mikhail mentioned timing because
had havers not got injured or had havers got
injured a week later as they probably would have
been on the opposing side so that's how things
aligned and the fact that andrea burr is also
at the club now and operating in the way he is
everything just aligned on if there's more to
come from him a lot Because those relations you
have to build and a creative player needs to
understand that. It's all about connections and
timing and about being in flow. He's playing
in a different position. The more he's settled
in one of the positions and has had to interact
with players a bit more freely, which he's doing
at the moment, his natural talent will come out
and he will have an even bigger impact on the
team. Yeah, for sure. We've seen glimpses of
what he's capable of. He's obviously a very athletic
player. He's scored some amazing goals for Arsenal
and England in recent months. So we've seen glimpses,
but I think he's just kind of sitting in and
into the side. You know, it's been a big move
for him. He's adapting to our tactics. He's adapting
to the differences in pace, especially in European
football in the Champions League, which he's
never played before. So I think the more games
he does play, the more he plays with his teammates,
the better it will be for him. But the quality
is never in question because the goals that he
scored, only he's capable of them in our team.
You know, the kind of acrobatic volleys that
he's been scoring for fun out of this world.
On Alex Oxlade -Chamberlain training with us
recently. It's great to have him around. Very
proud to have him because, first of all, he wanted
to be back. So when that happened, he's a player
that has been out, he wanted to come, that he
felt loved here, respected, and he believes it's
the right environment for him to start, to build
something new in his career. We all know Alex,
how magnificent a person he is. He can be a great
example for the players as well. A great experience,
even for me. So good to have him around. Well,
he's clearly a good friend of Mikel Arteta, a
former teammate. However, I haven't fully forgiven
him for leaving and joining Liverpool and then
claiming he was a Liverpool fan. But it is what
it is, I guess. And if the current team has an
edge and that nastiness, yes, I do feel that
we have everything that it takes to win. Well,
having an edge and winning is the most important
thing. If you don't have an edge, but you win.
Then I'll take that too. On who the nastiest
players are. It's not about that. I don't know
if that's the best word. It's at the end. You
need to have everything that is required to win.
And then you have to deliver and do it. I really
believe in my team. So obviously the report I
wanted. Mikel Arteta to call out people like
Ben White. Call out people like Timber for time
wasting on throw -ins. Lewis Skelly, Gabriel.
There you go. I named them for him. on managing
Calafiori's loading. He's been dealing with a
little issue and he played. Then we rested him
and took that load because of that. And when
he got into the last game and had to travel with
the national team, they were very understanding
of that issue and that's when they have allowed
him to come back. Okay, I think he's making it
seem that he's got an injury that puts him into
doubt for tomorrow, but I personally think he's
fine. But we'll see. And if he'd like to see
more of Odegaard roaming around attacking positions.
Yeah, we have new players and new players create
new connections, create new ways of attacking
especially. And we need to let that flourish.
We are learning a lot from them and where they
feel comfortable, how they can do that in the
most efficient way. And when he's back in the
team, I'm sure that we'll be able to do other
things as well. Yeah, when he says the new players,
he definitely means people like Jokeres kind
of occupying the two centre -backs, peeling off
to the left sometimes. So there's more movement.
It pushes the defenders back. It also means that
you're more unlikely to double up on Saka or
more unlikely to double up on people like Saka,
freely knowing that if you do... He can spray
the ball on the other side and people like Odegaard,
Eze, Jokers have more space to punish you in.
So the more good players you have in the team,
the harder it is to subdue them because if you
put two players on them, it means someone's going
to be free on the opposite side. And if he's
optimistic about our players who are recovering
from injuries, I am. But it's the final stage.
And now is when there's contact around them.
When they have to be pushing to do very unpredictable
things that they haven't done. I think they're
going to be with us soon. I don't know if Sunday
is going to be too soon. Well, like I mentioned
already, I think we're going to have one or two,
maybe even three back tomorrow. But I think the
other ones will come over the next few games,
whether it's Bayern Munich, Chelsea. or the following
game, which I believe is Brentford, I think they'll
be back within the next week or so, all of them.
On if one player can replace Gabriel and his
partnership with Saliba, no, because every player
brings specific qualities, and Gabi's is his
leadership, his presence, and that love that
he has to defend, and to transmit as well, his
body language to the other players. We have to
do it, and we have to spread that. People will
step up. We've done it in the past many, many
times. Unfortunately, we played last year the
biggest and most prominent part of the season
without him as well. And the team was able to
cope with that. Well, last season, we had Jakub
Kivior come in when Gabriel got injured and he
did a good job. But however, we've brought in
players that I believe are a level above him
in Piero Nkapieh and Christian Mosquera. Now,
Gabriel's out for the foreseeable future. It's
a chance for those players to get more game time.
It was essential that Hinkapie was up to match
fitness. So that game against Slavia probably
turned out to be a blessing in disguise because
it means that now, coupled with the Ecuador fixtures
he played in, he's had more games and more rhythm
and more match fitness. So I think he will be
fit. And in contention to battle out with Mosquera
for a place alongside Saliba tomorrow. On how
high he rates Zubi Mendy amongst the best midfielders
in the world. While my players are the best,
to compare him with other players I don't think
is fair. I think each player has his own qualities.
I think the impact of Zubi on the team is unquestionable.
I think what he's doing and doing it so early
in his career here. It's very, very impressive.
And that's what we need. Players at that level
playing that consistently and helping the team
is going to be very positive for the team and
the results of the team. Yeah, Zubin Mendy is
right at the hub of our team. Clearly revolutionized
the team, the way he's kind of dictating the
play, dictating the pace of the game. Of course,
he's one of the best midfielders in the world.
That goes without saying. And like he said, His
players are the best players in the world. So
other players should be comparing their players
to ours. On if he should be in the Spain team
at the World Cup next summer. That's for the
manager to decide. Hopefully he'll do so well
here that he'll have a great chance and a big
headache for the manager. Yeah, that was almost
a trick question because you would like to think
that it will be a tussle between Rodri and Zubimendi
to see who starts. Because they've got people
like Pedri and Mikel Moreno. and Gavi tussling
for spots, starting berths in that Spain team.
So it was a clever way of avoiding antagonising
his former colleague, Rodri, at Man City. On
managing Ben White's minutes, we had that period.
After now, I think he's in a much better period.
We now have to pick players in relation to the
opponent and the game and the best combination
that we think. He needs to continue to train
very hard and wait for his opportunity because
it's going to happen. Interesting. Another interesting
question will be, will he actually start a game
in the next seven days? Will Mikel say, come
Wednesday, Jury and Timber have a little rest,
have a breather. Ben White come in, Lewis Skelly
come in. And do you know what? I think that's
what he's going to do. I think he will, because
that's what... That's what Mikel tends to be
doing, especially in Champions League games.
He'll start Ben White and Luis Skelly, and then
obviously, depending on the game state, he'll
bring on Timba to see the game out. He'll bring
on Saliba to see the game out. However, those
sides that he did it against weren't of the calibre
of Bayern Munich, so it'll be interesting to
see if he does that. But if he was to ask me
at this point, I think he probably would, on
if he still has the trust in his ability. to
handle so many games. Yeah, but now he needs
to do it when he plays and prove that like any
other player. And that's the test. That's the
level. Julian has been incredible as well this
season. We know the level of Ben and how incredible
he can be for the team. So that's it. Everybody
will have options. Yeah, but the thing is, I
feel like Julian Timber is simply irreplaceable.
I think alongside... Declan Rice, Julian Timber,
if both of those were out for whatever reason,
I feel like that's the biggest drop -off in the
team. So, not that Ben White isn't a good player,
but if Timber was to go down for whatever reason
and Ben White came in, there is definitely a
difference in quality. The same with if Declan
Rice was to go out, probably you'd have to bring
in someone like Marino in midfield. There's a
drop off there. On his reaction to Kieran Tierney's
recent goal for Scotland. Well, very happy for
him and very happy for the Scottish people as
well. Because I lived there for two years and
had an amazing experience. And I fell in love
with their passion and how they treat people.
So I'm very happy for the country. What a goal
from Kieran Tierney. That was a belter. And congratulations
for Scotland to get into the World Cup.