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We're back again for every word from Mikel
Arteta's post -Chelsea presser. We had to settle
for a share of the spoils at Stamford Bridge
yesterday. after we played out a 1 -0 draw with
Chelsea. Mikel Arteta addressed the media following
the final whistle, discussing the result, performance
and latest on the fitness of our squad, including
that of William Saliba, who was a late omission
after picking up a knock in training. On whether
we should have won three points. First of all,
I think it was a proper London derby. It was
very tense. And you could sense that from the
beginning, that every duel, every action has
something on it. First of all, I think it was
a proper London derby. It was really tense. And
you could sense that from the beginning, that
every duel, every action has something on it.
Two teams very willing to win and not much football.
A lot of stops, free kicks, yellow cards. So
not a lot of fluidity. But obviously, after the
sending off of Moises Caicedo, we wanted to settle
the game. We didn't manage to do that. We had
four more yellow cards and those players were
obviously targeted in order to even the game
in terms of numbers. And at halftime, we said,
let's push it now. Get what we have to do. And
we were very clear on our intention and how we
were going to dominate the game in the first
action. Long ball, free kick, corner and we concede
from a set piece. So then the momentum shifted
and ultimately the team had to react to that.
We managed to get some good spells without having
too much momentum and we scored a great goal.
And after that we had two or three big chances
but lacked certain detail. Especially in the
manner we attacked and especially in certain
positions. Robert Sanchez had the ball in his
hands. Whoa, whoa. I've been doing Mikel Arteta's
podcast for the whole season, virtually. I think
bar one game, which was probably the Man United
game. So I've been doing about 30 or so press
conference analyses. And I tell you that that's
the most convoluted, long -winded paragraph.
that I have ever read. That is a long way of
answering if we should have won the three points.
And I'll answer it for you guys. I'll interpret
it for you guys, which is what I do in these
podcasts. The answer is no. Yesterday, Chelsea
were the better team, for whatever reason that
is, whether they were the home side, whether
it was the third or three gruelling fixtures,
whether the fact that we just couldn't really...
get into our groove. Probably a bit of everything.
But Chelsea were the better side. But them playing
out of their skin wasn't enough to beat an Arsenal
side who were off -colour yesterday. And that
tells you a lot about how good we are, how difficult
we are, how difficult a side we are to beat.
So, in short, Arsenal shouldn't have had three
points, but I think we was good value for a draw.
However... Last season, we went to Stamford Bridge
and were the better side, but it was a draw then,
so people need not forget that. On players at
the back learning from the match, it's been a
big week. starting with the derby, with how emotional
and the intention we had to win it. Then to play
Bayern Munich three days later, we lost players
in those games. And today, for example, we had
to play a partnership we hadn't played before
in a really difficult match. The captain is still
not here. The number nine is still not here.
Kai Havertz is still not here. And we lost Leo
Trossard in midweek as well. But the team had
to react to that. And overall, it's been a really
positive week because the difficulty has been
immense. But I have this flavour that today we
should have won the game and we haven't. That's
a learning point for me. Oh, oh, OK. So he's
answered it here. He said we should have won
the game. What does he mean by that? Does he
mean we should have won the game as in the fact
that we're better than Chelsea? and or we played
against 10 men for the vast majority of the game,
but not necessarily how the game played out.
Because if it means that, then I agree. If it
means that based on the game state, he believes
we should have won the game, I'm going to have
to disagree with that one. But I do think, like
I already said, it's a solid point. We tick off
Stamford Bridge from our list of venues to visit.
So now we've gone to... Anfield, Old Trafford,
Stamford Bridge, and we don't have to go there
in the second part of the season. So for me,
it's a good valuable point, but now going forward,
we need to go on another run and start getting
the points, free points, back in the bag. On
whether a tiring week took its toll, we played
every two and a half days, so we had one less
day than Chelsea to prepare. And on top of that,
we lost players. But this is the schedule. Now
we're going to have to play Wednesday for sure.
It drives you on. And there was a lot at stake
and we had two very intense matches. But that's
the beauty of it as well. Not many teams have
the opportunity to play the games that we have
played this week. And I am extremely proud of
the team. Well, Chelsea have had a similar kind
of schedule. Although you could argue if you
want to include the Tottenham game, then I see
where... Arteta's coming from. Barcelona, Bayern
Munich, you know, both top sides. Chelsea swatted
away Bayern Munich with consummate ease. Sorry,
Chelsea swatted away Barcelona with consummate
ease a day earlier than we swatted away Bayern
Munich. So both teams had tough games. However,
prior to Barcelona, Chelsea were able to rest
Moises Cacedo and a few players. In a game against
Burnley. Who were never really going to trouble
them. And they won that comfortably. 3 -0 I believe.
On taking positives. From a good away point.
That's the feeling that we have. And the standards
that we set to ourselves. Probably it's because
of the spirit. The hunger. And how much they
want it. that it's so incredible, will overcome
everything. So many things have happened, but
we have to prepare very well for Wednesday and
try to be better than Brentford. Yeah, I mean,
Brentford's definitely a must win. Manchester
City play before we do tomorrow against Fulham.
All things encompassing, I do think their game
at Craven Cottage is tougher than our home game
against Brentford. But that being said, I do
expect Manchester City to win that game. So if
that is the case, they'll go two points behind
us. Although we'll have a game in hand against
a Brentford side who Keith Andrews have got playing
really well. And a centre forward, Igor Tiago,
is a real brute and he's been causing problems
all season. Ask Liverpool. On the impact of losing
both Saliba and Gabriel, it's been a headache
because we've had to have a lot of options and
changes over the last few months for different
reasons. That one is very unexpected and it happened
yesterday. But the beauty of it is that you have
players so willing to play, so willing to connect
with each other, and it makes their relationship
even better. So it was a great match for all
of us. And it gives you the reassurance that
whoever is there is going to perform. Yeah, obviously,
when I saw Saliba go down, I was a bit shocked.
But knowing that Christian Mosquera was going
to come in to partner Piero Hincapia, I was...
I was resting assured that he would come in and
not put foot wrong and he had a good game. So
long may it continue, if Saliba is not ready
for Brentford, I have full trust in Mosquera
to do what he needs to do. On how squad depth
was tested at Stamford Bridge. To be fair, our
depth has been tested since pre -season because
we lost six or seven players constantly out of
the squad. No doubts with the squad we have and
the mentality every player has. So, yeah, I mean,
this famed, this famous squad depth that everyone's
been talking about all season. Well, now is the
time for us to show it. Obviously, there's games
every three days, literally going into the new
year. So there's going to be opportunities for
every player, although it seems seemingly. On
the periphery of the team and of things and of
proceedings, Ethan Wanyeri doesn't seem to be
getting a look in. Hopefully, things can improve
for him in the coming weeks where he can get
some game time and try and squeeze his way into
the squad. Because now that Gabby Jesus, Kai
Havertz and Victor Jokeres are all in the reckoning
for attacking berth start, it's going to get
even harder for the youngster to get into the
starting line -up, let alone squad. What other
way around? On the conditions of Saliba and Gabriel,
I don't know. I think Willow has another test
tomorrow to see the extent of that feeling, that
sensation that he had. Then we'll know more.
With Gabby, there are still some weeks to go.
Okay, so that gives me the impression now we're
in December that at best it will be the end of
the year, if not early January, as we thought.
But with Saliba, well, you know that. Arteta
does this all the time. There's another training
session, blah, blah, blah. The training session
is after the press conference, so you won't know.
He won't be able to tell you. And I agree with
that. We don't want the opponent to know whether
Saliba will be fit.