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Back again for another Mikel Arteta's
pre -Bayern Munich presser. Mikel Arteta was
back in front of the media for his pre -Bayern
Munich press conference at the Sober Realty Training
Centre today. The Arsenal manager was asked for
his reflections on our North London derby win,
how he's feeling ahead of Wednesday's return
to Champions League football and more. On still
feeling the energy from our 4 -1 win over Tottenham.
Yes, I do. And we have to make sure we carry
that energy back to the stadium tomorrow to each
individual and play with the same dominant aggression
and efficiency against the top side. Okay, I
think that statement is really telling because
that win against Tottenham was so emphatic that
there's going to be a good energy around the
squad. You don't want to... Drop momentum. I
think momentum is key, especially in the title
race that we're in. I think we've got tough games
coming up, none tougher than Bayern Munich. So
if we can get a win, if we can get a positive
result, even a draw is half decent, then... It
stands us in good stead to take on Chelsea, who
haven't beaten us in a few years. I think that's
going to be a real tough game, Chelsea. But incidentally,
they have their own tough game against Barcelona
to negotiate. So we're both in a similar position,
really. But yeah, that statement is really telling
because it makes me think that he's going to
make minimal changes. He wants to keep momentum.
He wants to keep a winning team. So probably
don't be surprised to see two or three changes
tomorrow. on if Martinelli and Madueke are in
contention to start tomorrow and who else could
be involved. They are. And we're going to have
a meeting now to decide on Martin Odegaard. He
was very close for the previous game. So we are
hopeful that tomorrow he is in the squad as well.
Oh, OK, that's big. So, yeah, Madueke got some
minutes. Martinelli was on the bench. It'll be
interesting to see if they start, actually. And
it will be interesting to see if people like
Timber and Saka get a rest, which gives Ben White
and Maduweke Martinelli an opportunity to start.
On how Jokeres and Havertz are progressing in
their rehab. Really good, both of them. In the
next few days, they're going to have a repeat
scan to see how everything is and where we can
push them for the weekend. Ooh, interesting.
Havertz and the weekend, the same statement.
But I personally, I don't think Havertz will
be in the squad this week. That's them to be
corrected. On how to approach this game, we have
the same intention to win it. We've had a really
good preparation again, a really short one, but
we've been very efficient as well. We know the
importance of the match. We are in a really strong
position. We want to maintain that for sure.
And we know that we have a beautiful and very
demanding game ahead of us. You couldn't get
a tougher game, to be fair. I've always rated
Barcelona. I think Barcelona are strong contenders
for the competition. But Bayern Munich have been,
alongside us, the best team in Europe this season.
I think tomorrow's a vanity contest, really.
If we lose, it's not terminal. We should still
qualify anyway. But I just think if we want to
puff our chest out and say, yeah, we are actually
the best team in Europe, we want to win this
competition this season, then we should win,
especially because we're at home. And if he's
looking forward to the challenge of facing Bayern
Munich, for sure, this is the kind of game in
the competition that we want to face. And we've
been very consistent in both competitions. They
have been as well. And tomorrow is a great test
for us to see where we are. Well, it's a great
test for them to see where they are as well.
Vision Company has obviously done a great job,
won the title last season. People like Luis Diaz,
Michael Elise have come in and revamped and replenished
the squad, which was ageing. But luckily for
us, Luis Diaz is out. But I think anyone they
put out there on the wing, whether it's Serge
Gnabry. or whoever it is, I think Timba should
be able to handle that person. But then again,
he may not start. He may go for Ben White tomorrow.
So I'm going to be keeping a close eye on who
he starts right back. On if Sunday's atmosphere
was the best he's experienced at our stadium,
it has to be one of the best for sure. And the
atmosphere, the energy created as well, just
before the game, I think it was excellent. And
it makes such a difference. The players were
talking about it. I hope our supporters realise
what they bring, the joy, the confidence, the
energy to the players. And we have to maintain
and improve that constantly because it's a massive
superpower that we have. Yeah, I mean, the Ashburton
army have obviously added another dimension to
the stadium. I think little things have gone
a long way to kind of making the Emirates a fortress,
making it an intimidating place to go, making
it a horrible place for opponents. And I think
tomorrow is going to be no different to how it
was on Sunday and in games against PSG and Real
Madrid in recent times. On all four goals against
Spurs being from open play. For me, it's the
same value. It doesn't change. Everything is
part of the game. And in relation to the position
we play, how we defend and the options that we
have, we have to be very efficient in all departments.
I'm upset that we didn't score on a set piece.
I want to score on a set piece as well. I'm upset
that we conceded a goal. So it's being at our
best in everything that we do. That's the aim.
Ever the perfectionist. Well, I'm sure Nicholas
Jova is probably upset as well that we didn't
score a set piece. He's probably on some kind
of incentive bonus. on if this is the biggest
challenge of the season so far well every opponent
brings different challenges they are in a great
moment the level of consistency they show it
in resource performance in every metric that
they have it's very very impressive we know that
but it's a massive opportunity as well for us
to show what we are capable of okay so we danced
around that question not trying to antagonize
pep guardiola on a slot but um You have to say,
given the form that they're in, it's a resounding
yes. And if he always thought Vincent Kompany
would make a good manager, my feeling was that
Vinny was going to be excellent at whatever he
chose to do. And I'm very happy that it went
so well for him because he has such a presence,
intelligence, love for the game, work rate. So
I knew whatever he was going to touch, he was
going to make it really good. So I'm not surprised
at all. Okay, so essentially he didn't really
think or know that he was going to become a manager,
but he knew that Vince and company's mentality
meant that whatever he chose to do, he would
have a good chance of doing well, which is fair.
On the challenge of reintegrating injured players
when the levels are so high. especially because
they've been out for a long period of time, six,
seven, eight weeks, and that's quite a long time.
But to be fair, when I see them training today
as well and how willing they are, all of them
to play a part to start, ideally, in the camp,
it's great. So they seem to be in a good place.
We have to manage that because we have a very
demanding week and opponents, but they will manage
to bring it in, which is great to see. And the
rest are great. You know, to be honest with you,
I think Mikel is going to go probably 90 to 95
% of the same team that was so impressive against
Tottenham. You probably see a few changes, maybe
in the fullback positions. Be interested to see
if Ben White starts, because I think tomorrow,
He's the one that needs to start more than most,
as does Wanieri. But I think Lewis Skelly will
come in. I think Martinelli will come in. And
it will be interesting to see if Ben White also
comes in. On how to keep players calm who are
eager to get back on the pitch. Well, we have
to look at the individuals, obviously, and make
sure that they are ready to start a game like
this. And the second one as well is for how long
they can play. We need to be very mindful about
how many of those players we put on the pitch
because most of them might not be available to
finish 90 minutes. So we need to be conscious
about the subs that we need to use, how we're
going to use it, the windows that we have in
order to be very efficient with our decision
-making throughout the game. And we'll plan in.
regards to that so that makes me think that of
the injured players he probably would start one
or two max so you might see a Martinelli start
and then obviously Odegaard probably come on
for Martinelli and then someone shuffles around
so someone changes position something like that
along those lines so what I don't think we'll
see is a Madaweke and Martinelli starting but
what I have an inkling I've got a feeling Maduweke
will get on the pitch because he's going to need
to build up some match fitness ahead of a trip
back to his former club on Sunday, in which I
think he's going to play some kind of role. On
having to decide between such high quality players
like Eze and Odegaard, I do because the priority
is for the team to be as efficient as possible
and to win football matches as a priority, number
one. And they're going to have to deal with those
situations. Players are going to have to merit
to play. And the higher the standard each individual
puts in, the higher the level of the team is
going to be. So we're going to have to live with
that in a really positive way because it's something
extraordinary. Exactly. I think tomorrow, as
it starts, because the form is in, the momentum
is in, You know, he's in a good moment. Obviously,
he's taking his England form back into Arsenal
in the Premier League. Scored a hat -trick. He's
buzzing in the form of his life. So he needs
to start tomorrow. I think Odegaard will be on
the bench and he'll probably come on for Eze
maybe. Or maybe come on for someone like a Martinelli
who will probably play for about an hour. That's
my prediction. on if every position in this team
should be competed for. It is and it has to be.
I'm thankful that we have improved the depth
of the squad and the quality compared to previous
years as well because it's going to be more needed
than ever. Football this season compared to last
season is already different. Three seasons ago
it was a different league and I wanted to be
conscious of that. The other teams and the other
squads in the league are built in the same way.
Hmm. In what sense, though? Because I don't think
other squads come close to ours. I mean, Man
City have got a good squad, but it's just a bit
patchy and blotchy. And I think they're lacking
in certain positions. However, ours is... The
standards between the first choice and second
choice is very close. Other teams can't really
say that. On what Gabriel Ence... brings to the
coaching staff. His experience, he's a winner.
He's won in many clubs he's been at. He's had
a very different education as well. We've known
each other for 23 years. I'm very close to that.
That brings something extra. That level of passion
Gabriel shows in a way, but others show it in
a different way. Molina or Nico or Iñaki and
everybody that is around. It's great because
at the end... What I'm really happy is that we
complement each other really well and everybody
brings a different insight, a different character,
a different personality to the table that makes
us a much better team. It makes me a much better
coach as well, which is the intention to have
the best resources to give to the players. Yeah,
I think I mentioned a few podcasts ago that Henze
coming in has definitely made an impact in terms
of... Calafuri, who's come on leaps and bounds
and been our most improved player this season.
I've noticed he's taken a liking into Lewis Skelly
and he's even improved as well. Although he hasn't
had much game time to show it, but I do expect
him to start tomorrow and he'll have a tough
task in trying to shackle Olise, but I believe
he's capable of doing so. On when Gabriel Jesus
could be... part of the squad yeah he's quite
close to be fair and it's earlier than we expected
in the next few days he's going to have another
step to make with a game that we're going to
organize for him and after that he's going to
be knocking on the door because he's gabriel
a winner and that's how it's happened okay he
did mention this behind closed door friendly
last week so obviously clearly it's probably
gonna be on thursday friday or saturday which
puts him out of contention for Chelsea. And I
don't think he'll be in contention for Brentford,
but after that, he should be interested. Hopefully
he can get a couple of games ahead of the League
Cup's quarter -final against Crystal Palace,
which I hope he can start in, because in the
last year's one, I'm pretty sure he got a hat
-trick or at least a brace. On how Hincapie performed
on his debut in place of Gabriel. Yeah, well,
big credit to Piero because that's a massive
challenge to have your Premier League debut starting
against your biggest rivals in a really special
day against top players up front to replace Gabi.
It's not easy at all. He did it in a really convincing
way. That's his personality. As I said before,
he's a warrior. He's someone that faces any challenge.
And he certainly did that on Sunday. Yeah, he
played really well. I mean, I was a bit surprised,
pleasantly surprised, that he was the one to
take over Gabriel. I thought Mosquera was going
to play and Saliba go to left centre -back. Either
one would have been a more than able and apt
replacement for Gabriel. It'll be interesting
to see if he starts tomorrow. To be honest, I
do expect him to start tomorrow. I think the
team that will start will be Raya, Timba, Saliba,
Hinkapie, Luis Skelly, Zubimendi. Rice, Eze,
Saka, Marino, Martinelli. So I think two or three
changes really to the team that started on Sunday.
And if we are one of the elite European teams,
or if we need to beat a team like Bayern to become
one, I don't know. If we talk about performances
and consistency, hopefully, yes. But to consider
that in terms of the trophies at that level,
I mean, we have never won a Champions League
in our history. And Bayern Munich won six. We
are nothing compared to Real Madrid. They're
in a different universe. So we're going to get
there. Yeah, it was almost a trick question to
get a headline out of Arteta because how do you
quantify being an elite team? Because people
will always hit us with a stick saying we haven't
won it, but we are an elite team. But are you
only an elite team if you win Champions League?
Because on that premise, no. But we are an elite
team in every other metric. On how much beating
Bayern would give us the belief that we can challenge
on all fronts. Yeah, we had the same question
before Sunday and great, we won it. Then we go
and then you finish the game and they won it.
It's Bayern Munich and we're going to try to
beat them for sure. And then it's going to be
Chelsea. And this is how ruthless at the moment
the schedule is. It's demanding, but at the same
time, how privileged we are to be involved in
three incredible games in six days. Yeah. And
you know what? I fancy us. If Marteta puts out
the right team, a strong team, I fancy us to
win 2 -1 tomorrow and inflict Bayern Munich's
first defeat of the season.