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Back again for every word from Mikel Arteta's
pre -Chelsea presser. We head to Stamford Bridge
on Sunday, today, to face Chelsea in the Premier
League and Mikel Arteta has been previewing our
opponents in his pre -match. Press Conference.
Speaking at the Sober Realty Training Centre,
Mikel has provided an injury update, looked at
our London rivals and much more. Leandro Trossard's
fitness. There's another test today. We have
to see how he's feeling. It doesn't look much,
so we still have a few hours and we'll have to
see. Well, I mean, I say the same thing every
week. I'm like a broken record, as is Mikel.
There's always a player that's touch and go.
And he'll always use the fact that there's a
remaining training session to cast doubt on whether
the player will be available. Who knows? But
I've got an inkling that he'll start. On if he's
available this weekend, there's a potential chance.
Well, those four words are a whole bunch of nothing.
What does that even mean? There's a potential
chance I could be prime minister tomorrow. What
does that even mean? What's the likelihood? On
the behind closed doors friendly, it did happen.
Gabby, Jesus participated and Ethan Waniere as
well because he wanted some minutes. We took
the opportunity. They wanted a bit of exposure
to competition and providing that. was very positive.
Okay, sounds good. And I'm hearing that Gabby
Jesus is super near returning to the actual matchday
squad. Whoever is in there today will be telling,
but I'm thinking at some point next week, considering
we've got two games, one against Brentford and
one against Aston Villa. which would be December,
which was what I was saying earlier on in the
season, that I think he'll return in December.
But one thing's for sure, he will be back imminently,
weeks away, maximum probably seven to ten days.
In the next seven to ten days, I expect Gabby
Jesus to have actually gotten to the pitch. On
Victor Jocarez and Kai Havertz's availability.
We have another day tomorrow, so let's see how
everybody is tomorrow. Well, there you go. Not
giving much away once again. So it looks like
Jokeres, Havertz, Jesus and Trossard are literally,
you know, back in quotation marks. I expect to
see all of them touch the pitch at some point
in the next 7 to 10 days. All of them get on
the pitch. if not start, on the consistency that
we are showing. Not that they surprised me, but
you have to be able to perform in the manner
that they did individually throughout long periods
of the game against the opponent. And that's
very, very difficult to do. As I said, that's
the way I felt about the players, how I feel
about the players. And now it's about finding
the same consistency on Sunday to go and win
again. So yeah, I mean, if we can raise our game
to beat Tottenham and Bayern Munich in emphatic
fashion like we did, as we did, then we're going
to have to maintain those levels to be able to
get another win against Stamford Bridge, which
I think is up there with the toughest game that
we've had this season, especially because it's
away from home. On Kimmich's comments after the
Bayern Munich match, I think the way both teams
play, The way they played against PSG was very
similar. When everything becomes man -to -man
and the way they are with their full -backs,
the way that we do what we did in terms of rotation,
they create a game that has very long sequences
of passes. So I know what he's saying. So that's
fine. It's part of the game. I think the game
is provoked in the manner that both teams play.
So it's very understandable. Okay, so it's interesting
he didn't want to really get into a war of words
with Kimmich. I think I did see some remarks
about Kimmich's almost trying to say that we're
playing long ball, things like that. Bayern Munich
did have more of the ball. They had more passes
than us, which is unusual because in most games
we have more passes than the opposition. However,
it's about efficiency being clinical and I felt
in the second half it was the better team anyway.
So the main thing is getting the win and that's
what we did. and if we were to meet them again
later on in the competition, I wouldn't be surprised
if it was a similar kind of game and result.
On our record at Stamford Bridge, it's a big
game, it's a big London derby, we're going to
play a really good opponent, and they are in
a really good moment. We know the challenge,
we know the opportunity that we have as well
on Sunday, so we are fully prepared for it. Okay,
so he didn't directly address the fact that,
if I'm not wrong, we haven't lost there in six,
seven years at Stamford Bridge. He didn't want
to directly address it, don't want to antagonise
the opponent, give them something to kind of
rile them up. I mean, they've got enough incentive
to try and win that game. One is to close the
gap. Two is to beat Arsenal for the first time
since, I believe, August 21. when they beat us
at the Emirates with Lukaku and Reece James scoring.
And also just to provide them confidence and
give them a kind of battery in their pack that,
yo, jumpstart their season and be like, yo, we
can be involved in this title race. So there's
so many reasons and there's so much incentive
for Chelsea to be up for this game. So we don't
want to add to that. Right, on Chelsea's title
credentials. I think we are all there and they
are there because they deserve to be there. What
they have done in the last few years, I think
the squad that they have assembled, the numbers
that they have, the amount of quality, the manager
and the coaching staff that they have, it makes
sense that what is happening there is a very,
very positive, that what is happening there is
very, very positive and they deserve to be there.
Yeah, I mean, Chelsea, you always hear young
squad accompanied with their players, the mechanics
of the squad, you know, being young, being talented,
precocious talents, none more so than Esteval,
Cole Palmer, you know, people like that. They've
got 200 million Palmer fielders playing next
to each other in Enzo Fernandez, a World Cup
winner, and Moises Caicedo. So... There's obviously
a good spine there with people like James, Casedo,
Enzo, Cucurella, Esteval, Cole Palmer, Jao Pedro.
So they're building something there. They've
already shown that if Chelsea are underdogs,
they are at their most dangerous. So underestimate
them at their peril. I learned that myself the
hard way in the summer when I thought PSG were
going to wreck. Chelsea and in the end Chelsea
got their tactics spot on and they in turn wrecked
PSG so they're the world champions so they say
so it should be a tough game obviously last season
we played them around November I believe so about
12 months ago in a really good game Paul Satan
game Ebdon flowed I felt we edged it I felt we
could have won should have won But it ended 1
-1, I think. Or was it 2 -2? So today, I expect
none other than something similar. A raucous
atmosphere at Stamford Bridge. The fans will
be up for it. And yes, it's going to be an amazing
game. And I'm looking forward to it. But hopefully
we can get the win. Although I don't think a
draw is a bad result at this stage. On making
a statement, win at Chelsea. Those are statements
that we are talking about every three days. After
beating Spurs at home, then we have to make a
statement against Bayern Munich. We've done that
and now we have to go to the next one. That's
where we are. We knew the importance of the week.
Not only that, but what is coming after three
days is going to be exactly the same. Nothing
is going to change. But we are super motivated
for the game. I mean, this was a week where people
were saying, Arsenal are going to drop points,
perhaps lose a game or so. Well, we've had two
of those at home against Tottenham and Bayern
Munich. I'm sure people would have expected us
to be... Tottenham probably thought would draw
against Bayern and drop points against Chelsea.
However, we've got those two wins now. We go
into the Chelsea game knowing that Man City have
closed the gap again to back to four points.
So if we are to win, we increase the gap on Chelsea.
to nine points however if we are to draw it remains
six between us and chelsea and if we are to lose
it goes down to three so the permutations of
each result vary and i feel like a draw or a
defeat keeps chelsea in a race i think if we
can beat them it takes them away and it relieves
Only realistically, Man City is our sole challengers.
However, they will be seven points behind us.
On keeping a lid on expectations, we don't talk
about a lid or no lid. We need to understand
basically what we have to do to be better than
the opponent to have the chance to win. If we
are able to accomplish that, we will be able
to do the same in the next game. Nothing is going
to change. Okay, so Arteta is just being really...
focused and just tunnel vision in the fact that
he doesn't want to quell any people you know
he doesn't want to quell expectations he wants
the players to be forthright in their assertions
that yeah we are trying to win the league no
doubt about that but we want to be focused on
the many steps to doing so so winning a game
that is in front of you and once you've done
that focus on the next game. So, for instance,
this tough game at Chelsea, once 90 minutes are
over, we look forward to Brentford, and then
after Brentford, Aston Villa, and so on and so
forth. They both have a really good possibility
to play on Sunday. Piero has played as a left
-back as well, which is another option that we
have in relation to the opponent, the game and
the state that the players are in. Myles Lewis
Skelly as well is obviously a good option that
we have there. Keep using everybody and make
them feel that they are connected with the team.
Okay, I don't think Myles Lewis Skelly is going
to start that game. But I do think he will start
at some point next week and most likely will
be against Brentford. So that leaves now Hinkapie,
Mosquera and Ricardo Calafiori. So in goes Calafiori
at left -back for me. And because Calafiori is
at left -back and Hinkapie is a left -sided centre
-back and played well against Tottenham, Hinkapie
has to go in there alongside Saliba, which means
Mosquera for me. will miss out and be on the
bench. However, against Brentford will be an
interesting one whether he comes in at some point.
On Chelsea playing down their title credentials,
I don't know. That's a question for them, I think.
Yep, not trying to get drawn into anything that
can give Chelsea any incentive, any extra incentive
to win. Obviously, Chelsea... playing down their
title credentials mean they can kind of hide
behind Man City and Arsenal, you know, the pressure
that both of us are under. And week by week,
they can kind of, you know, slowly edge their
way towards a race, you know, and if they don't
win it or if they lose or draw, the pressure
is not going to rise because they will just say
they weren't involved in it. However, if they
do win this game today, then no matter what they
say or what they do throughout the season, they're
involved. So it's a very critical game today.
On Esteval's quality, I don't want to talk individually.
When you look at the players that they have,
the squad that they have, the quality that they
have in those forward positions, it's immense.
They've done that really well. They have recruited
over the years top talent, and it's not a coincidence
where they are. Yeah, so similar, the theme of
this whole press conference, he doesn't really
want to give too much plaudits, credit or discredit
anything to do with Chelsea. He's kind of staying
neutral, so he doesn't want to talk up Esteval
when they've got players like Moises Caicedo,
when they've got other players, you know, when
we've got players that are performing well or
that are better than Chelsea players. So there's
no need for him to talk up Chelsea players when
we've got players that... I believe, and he probably
believes, or better, on the young players relishing
the pressure. I think that relies on the individual
and his personality, his character, and his ability
to cope with that context and the pressure that
comes with it. I think it's a really positive
thing. Yeah, I mean, pressure makes diamonds.
If you don't have pressure, something's not right.
On Declan Rice winning the Ballon d 'Or, I hope
so. That would mean that we have won a lot because
normally it is related to that. I think he was
immense the other day. I think he's been immense
since the start of the season. And he's an incredible
and crucial player for us. It's the first I've
heard of it, actually. I've heard it over the
last two, three days. And I'm not against it,
as I always maintain. Declan Rice is my favourite
Arsenal player. And I believe he is the best
midfielder in the world. And if Arsenal are to
win the trophies that... we're favourites for,
that means we're winning everything. And if we
do win everything, you've got to look at the
man at the heart of everything, the engine of
the team, and that would be Declan Rice. However,
I think if we were to win everything, you're
going to have to now look at people like Gabriel,
Timber, Saliba, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka. Any
one of those can win it. But I think, yeah, it
would probably place Rice as the favourite if
we were to win the quadruple. which is interesting.
On Gabriel's fitness, not yet. I think he's evolving
really, really well. We have to wait for that
scan a little bit longer to be more precise in
terms of the timings. But I'm quite confident,
especially the way Gabby takes every injury and
the way he's going to push everybody, that it's
not going to be that long. Okay. But then what
does not long mean? Does it mean... We need to
be more specific whether not long means before
January, December, two weeks, three weeks. It's
not giving us much. On if he'll be back before
the end of 2025. OK, it's almost like the reporter
heard what I said. I don't know. We have to wait
and see. OK, a whole bunch of nothing. On if
Gabriel Jesus is ready for first team action.
We have to see. He's been out 11 months and you
need that progression. You need to see how his
body reacts and what else he needs. The players
that we have available as well, it has to make
sense to have the right balance in the squad.
So it's a good thing he's ready. Very close at
the moment. Yeah, I mean, I've been hearing,
like I said already, I've been hearing Gabriel
Jesus has travelled with the squad. Whether he
makes the match day squad or not, I'll be surprised
if he does. But if he does, I'll be pleasantly
surprised. On Mikel Moreno's evolution as a striker,
we learnt that last season because that's when
we have to play long periods without an iron.
He brings other things to the table, his intelligence,
the way he competes, the way he masters a lot
of things that are crucial for us. In any player,
he's got them and he's a real threat. The other
night he could have scored two goals, he was
involved in many positive actions and his work
rate was unbelievable. It's actually a good point
regarding Mikel Mourinho because I think depending
on Jokeres' fitness, I think we'll determine
how long or if Mourinho does start as a centre
-forward because we do have a few options. We
can go Martinelli or Trossard as a centre -forward.
And there's also Havertz and Jokeres that look
like they're going to be involved today in some
capacity. So it should be interesting, but I
do think Mourinho will start up front. On if
a player's record, Visa Club is a factor in picking
his team. Not necessarily. I think we look at
more of the state of the play in the moment.
What happened six months ago is not that relevant.
There are experiences, there are connections
within the team that, in my opinion, are more
important than that. I'm very happy with what
Gabby Martinelli did the other night. He was
superb. And you know what? I've got an inkling
that Martinelli will start. I know that Noni
is going up against his former club, but obviously
he can come on as a substitute and he's just
come back from injury. Martinelli has been very
good for a long time. He was actually threatening
to get back in the starting line -up just before
the international break, but he got injured.
So I actually do think he will start, especially
with a question mark over Trossard. But it will
be interesting because I think it is a straight...
I think it's a straight shootout between Martinelli.
Well, let's include Trossard in that. I think
it's a straight shootout between Martinelli,
Madaweke and Trossard. But I think of the three,
if Trossard's a little doubt, then I think Martinelli's
the most likely to come in. On Jokeres and Havertz
repeat scans, they are getting closer and closer.
We are very positive with both of them, so let's
see. You know, it would be funny if every press
conference for the next few weeks, Arteta always
says, oh yeah, Jock Rez is getting closer. How
about us getting closer? Then the next press
conference, they're getting closer. And the next
one, they're getting closer. So you can get closer
and closer, but then it's all well and good getting
closer, but if you're not actually ready, then
you will forever be closer. Infinitely closer.
or if Jokeres will come straight into the first
team line -up. Well, the good thing is that now
we have found another option. We have three different
options. That's a really good learning. That's
really good learning for all of us, especially
to me, to understand that with other players,
with other connections, with other ways of doing
things, we can still be very, very efficient.
Yeah, I don't think Jokeres will come straight
into the starting line -up. I think we will start
with Mourinho and Jokeres will come on and feature.
That is my prediction. I don't think Havertz
will necessarily come on and feature, but I also
don't think Arteta will have too many players
that are just back from injury on the bench.
For instance, I don't think Madaweke... Joe Correz,
Havertz and Jesus will all be on the bench. I
think it's probably two from four. On if it leaves
him a point to prove when he returns. I think
it's very positive. We lost a player, two or
three. We lost, at some point, six players in
the front line. And the team continued to win
and be very, very efficient. So I think that's
very positive. And now what we have to prove
is, OK, once we have everybody back, we are going
to still be as good, or hopefully, better. Yeah,
I mean, it'll be interesting to see how he rotates,
especially how he rotates players like Saka,
who invariably plays every minute of every game.
But because Madaweke is a different type of player,
a different type of problem, poses a different
type of problem to the left back, it would be
good to now be able to swap them over because
I don't like Madaweke on the left, but on the
right, he's very, very frightening. He's a threat.
On what Jesus needs to do to be ready. It's what
we see every single day, how he's reacting to
the change that he's had in load. And then he
needs to get into the chemistry of the team,
understanding the things on match time, which
are very different to anything that he tried
to replicate in training. And those gaps, try
to make them as short as possible. Yeah, I think
Jesus has a crucial role to play because he can
play. I think of all the players we have, he
is the one that can... play in literally all
three attacking positions effectively. Most of
them can play in one or two, but not effectively.
So, for instance, Martinelli can play as a centre
-forward and on the left. On the right, he can
do a job. Saka, for me, can play on the right,
obviously, and on the left, I think he can do
a job there, half -decent. Obviously, he can't
play down the middle. And then Havertz, I think,
can play as center forward and slightly deeper
in midfield. So Jesus can play on the right,
on the left and up front. And I don't think there's
a drop off. So that's why I think he has a role
to play for sure. On Gabby Jesus building connections.
Yes, well, it's always been one of Gabby's qualities,
the capacity to relate and connect and make other
players around him better. And he still has that.
And now he needs to find a way to do it with,
as you mentioned, some very new players. Yeah,
I mean, Gabby Jesus is an infectious player.
He's one of those players that can adapt to different
situations. He can kind of adapt to different
types of players, like his link -up player is
one of his best facets. So I'm sure it wouldn't
take him long at all to be able to link up with
people like Jokeres. He's already got a relationship
with Saka, Martinelli. So I'm really looking
forward to him returning. But I just don't think
today is that game for it. unless he was to be
given some minutes towards the end of the game
in preparation for Brentford and Aston Villa
next week, in which I think he can get potentially
20 minutes or more. On the mental boost, a big
win provides. It brings certainty, security and
really positive energy every time you beat top
opponents. When we did it in a derby, it helped
to generate that momentum and that belief for
the next game. We did it against Bayern and now
we have to carry that against Chelsea. But it's
just in the moment for the next day and we have
to use it in the right way. Exactly. And which
is why I felt it was in. that Mikel Arteta didn't
make too many changes against Bayern Munich because
momentum is the key. So the fact that we went
strong against Tottenham, got a emphatic win,
meant that we wanted to build on it against Bayern
Munich and went into that game with confidence.
We've obviously now made minimal changes against
Bayern Munich and now we go into the Chelsea
game with a double dose of confidence. So we
need to, for me, play a similar team to the one
against Tottenham. And if we do, And we're on
song. We'll be happy. Come the end of the game.