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Back again for every word from Mikel Arteta's
pre -Bournemouth presser today. Speaking at the
Sober Realty Training Centre ahead of tomorrow's
trip to the South Coast, our manager was asked
to share the latest team news as well as his
thoughts on the Cherries and the Premier League
title race. Here's everything he had to say on
the following subjects. On if there are any fresh
injury concerns after Tuesday. No, we haven't
trained yet. So today is going to be the first
training session with the players who started
against Villa. We will know more this afternoon.
Well, I mean, by the time he finds out, It'll
be too late because we won't know. And it's obviously
a good ploy to reflect any injury concerns or
any new updates because Andoni Iraiola is preying
and prying. On if the swelling on Rice's knee
has reduced. Not yet. And we have another session
today. So let's see how he comes in today and
how he's feeling. But the Villa game was too
early for him. And yeah, as I alluded to in the
last press conference analysis. I wouldn't be
surprised. You see, either way, I wouldn't be
surprised if Ricey is rested with Liverpool in
mind on Thursday or if Ricey plays because, as
I've said previously, Mikel Arteta does not like
to mess around with Premier League games. He
wants his best players out there and Ricey is
most certainly one of those. On Calafuri and
Mosquera, they are both out. Four words and a
full stop. On a selection headache of three strikers,
It helps the team. It helps every individual.
I think that's what we want, to have options
with the amount of games we have on the schedule.
So far, we haven't had that. So we're looking
forward to having everybody on it, everybody
performing and being able to change profiles
during the game as well and to pick players in
their best conditions every time. To be honest,
I make that four because I personally fit Mikel
Moreno's best position for Arsenal. Not Spain.
For Arsenal, he's a striker. For Spain, central
midfielder because of the way they line up, because
of the composition of their players and the attributes
of their players. But for Arsenal, certainly
he's a centre forward. So we've got Mikel Mourinho,
Kai Havertz, Victor Jokeres and Gabi Jesus. And
he is the one that I hope to start tomorrow.
Jesus, that is. On our improved discipline this
season with six fewer red cards, we know how
important it is to maintain your 11 players on
the pitch as much. much as possible and we failed
to do that last year we lost both games against
Bournemouth and we know the difficulty of that
we know how good a team they are how they can
threaten you from every angle so we know the
difficulty of the game tomorrow game against
Bournemouth I believe was last October which
was the first game we lost if I'm not wrong shortly
after we lost to Newcastle then we lost to West
Ham and then we lost to Bournemouth again What
I would say about that game on the South Coast,
that the vitality was, it started off much of
a muchness game, a bit bitty, a bit nothing happening.
But then the crucial moment was when Saliba got
red carded. That changed the game. Evan Nelson
scored a penalty in that game as well. And they
ended up beating us 2 -0. But the game at the
Emirates, we had our eyes on the Champions League.
So it was a little bit of a weird period where...
We were out of the title race, kind of just seeing
out the season really, making sure we finished
second. Get through the games, get through the
90 minutes, kind of use it for match fitness.
All our eggs were in the basket of the Champions
League. So we were beaten by Bournemouth despite
going 1 -0 up. I was actually there. So it's
now a case of we need to get our own back on
them. We need to beat them after they took six
points of us last season. The only team to do
so. On what we're considering for the January
transfer window, we are open to every option.
Obviously, if we can find a solution that is
short, medium and long, it's always much better
because it gives you stability and you don't
have to constantly start a process with a new
player. But let's see what happens. Let's see
what the news is in the next few days and we'll
try to make the right decision. Well, I mean,
I've already stated that... We're interested
in a few players, none other than Adegula, Rodrigo
Mendoza, David Bartoszagi as well from AC Milan.
Whether we do go into the market... If we do,
for me personally, I believe we need a central
midfielder. Although we probably won't go for
one, even if Wanyeri leaves, because I believe
Arteta will start playing Havertz in midfield.
So that way he doesn't have to have three strikers.
That's one less competition for Jokeres. So it
will be kind of more so Jesus as an out -and
-out centre -forward and Victor Jokeres as an
out -and -out centre -forward. With Havertz and
Mourinho... Because they can play central midfield
and he's doing rotations, he'll place one or
both of them in midfield and that way he could
just have one less problem. So that is why I
think Wanyeri will leave and we might not necessarily
bring in a midfielder. However, I still think
we need one with him there. In terms of defence,
I think it all depends on when Christian Mosquera
can return because that way it means he can cover
right back and centre back. Same with Hincapia
being able to cover. centre -back and left -back
and Calafiori as well, which means Lewis Skelly
will have his work cut out getting football in
the second half of the season. On if Ethan Wanyeri
could go out on loan, every player is very important.
Every player has a role. That role can change
throughout the season for different reasons and
everybody has to be ready to play. Basically,
this is Mikel Arteta speaking in code to Ethan
Wanyeri. So if you remove the word every player
and substitute it with Ethan, then it's effectively
saying Ethan is very important. Ethan has a role.
Ethan's role can change throughout the season
for different reasons. And Ethan has to be ready
to play. So he's speaking in code to Ethan Wanyeri.
On Enzo Maresca leaving Chelsea. I wish him all
the best. I really like Enzo as a person, as
a professional. I think he's done a terrific
job at Chelsea. That's a decision that has been
made and I just wish him all the best. Terrific?
Terrific? I'm not sure I used the word terrific.
He's done an okay job, obviously. kind of went
stale, was kind of at peaks and troughs. High
moment would be the fact that he won the Conference
League, which he probably should have won, especially
with them playing their second string side for
the vast majority of the competition. But the
World Club... cup triumph is a major one was
a major one however in the league they've suffered
and stuttered in recent weeks and that's probably
only part of the reason why they sacked him i
think the other one was the fact that he kind
of clashed with the owners and that's not really
something you can do if you expect to keep your
job and what the mood is like amongst the team
it was very good after the game against really
top opposition again to perform and to win in
the manner that we did great now we focus on
bournemouth we know how tough it's going to be
tomorrow and everybody is going to be at it that
was a really morale boosting win even more so
now because we're now four points clear at the
top of the Premier League our players are all
coming back Gabriel Saliba Axis is back hopefully
Declan Rice can be back soon if not tomorrow
and as well as all our centre forwards being
back fit and raring to go Gabriel Jesus Kai Havertz
also back so the squad is brimming with competition
talent and now we just need fluency On what we
learned from last season's defeats to Bournemouth,
they were two very different games. Obviously
a game that until the 30th minute when Saliba
gets surprisingly sent off, it was a different
game that we managed. We had some chances, but
we managed to lose the game. Our home display
at the beginning, it was very dominant and that
ended up in a really poor way for us. So a lot
to learn. Huge respect for them. I know Andoni
really well and what he's doing. I think it's
incredible. I'm watching all the games that they
played this season. and against the top sides,
how difficult they made it and how they haven't
got results against them as well is difficult
to understand. Yeah, I mean, normally you'd say
Irayola should really be in the reckoning for
that Chelsea draw alongside the likes of Liam
Rosinha, Cesc Fabregas and Oliver Glasner. But
Bournemouth's form of recent in probably the
last two months has been abject and they've just
been losing games for fun, really. However, they
got a fantastic result at Stamford Bridge, a
two -all draw. We'll be looking to build on that.
And obviously Antoine Semenya is on the brink
of joining Manchester City, although it's literally
come out that he's going to feature tomorrow
for Bournemouth. On how pleased he's been with
Trossard, who has our most goal involvements
this season, I think he's been very consistent,
very stable, but as have all of the front players.
I would say because they have contributed through
the season so far in a great way, whether it's
starting or whether as an impact player as well.
So that's what we need. Wherever we put them,
they will bring different qualities to the team.
But I think they're in a great moment. Yeah,
I mean, he could be the reason that Gabriel Martinelli
leaves the club because Martinelli, who is the
player that I think he's talking about here,
he mentions wherever we put them, they will bring
different qualities to the team. So he's obviously
when he mentions qualities, we know that Gabriel
Martinelli has got good pace and movement finishing
as well, actually. And so obviously his role
has changed to an impact sub, stroke, cup player,
where he's now going to play in the cup games.
So we expect him to play in that semi -final
against Chelsea in the FA Cup game against Portsmouth
at Fratton Park next week, I believe. So, yeah,
it's a different role. And obviously the same
with Maduweke coming on to replace either Trossard
or Saka on the wing. So yeah, there's competition
for places and it's only going to benefit the
team. No hunger from our attacking players to
start matches. Yeah, I want to start. but as
well fulfilling their role when they have to
come in in an extraordinary way. That's something
that we have improved a lot. So every time we
bring in players on the pitch, they're really
deciding the games. That's what we need. Yeah,
I mean, I think it's fair to say Trossard is
going to start tomorrow. Martinelli is going
to be on the bench and is almost certainly going
to come on at some point. On the four -point
lead at the top of the Premier League, it's where
we are and we are really happy in the position
that we are. It can always be better. There are
things to improve. And the only thing we know
is that it's always the next game. And we know
how tough it is for every opponent to beat them.
Yeah, I mean, so now we've obviously given ourselves
some leeway. We can afford to lose one game,
not something we want to do. So we was in a situation
where if Man City won every single game, they
would have won the league. However, now they
need to win every single game and hope we slip
up. On the consistency required to win titles,
yes, but we are still in early January so we
have another five months to go and so far we
have to do much more. Whole of January, whole
of February, whole of March, whole of April,
whole of May, unless he's doing it that way.
On how much he spoke to our players about discipline
ahead of the season. I think we can talk about
it, but at the end, it's the players' decisions
and sometimes it's not even their decision. So
yeah, we had periods since I've been here that
we had quite a lot of red cards, then none. So
it has fluctuated. We know how important it is
to have that stability and that discipline, as
well as having a possibility to play constantly
with 11 players. We try to add as much as possible.
Obviously, mentioning some of the weird decisions
the referees have made in terms of giving us
reds, which is true because there have been some
unprecedented red cards dished out. And then
obviously those rules have now since changed.
And he's right in saying that there's been peaks
and troughs in terms of red cards, like a flurry
of red cards, then none. So when he first came
in, we're getting a lot of red cards. Granit
Xhaka was getting a lot of red cards and we went
one or two seasons with none. Then last season,
we had a lot of red cards, especially in the
first quarter of the season. We had six or seven
red cards throughout. And this season, I don't
think we've had one or if we have, it's just
been one in total. And also, I'd like to add
the fact that I believe that if we can keep our
players fit, especially our key players like
Gabriel Saliba together, Timber, Declan Rice,
Xhaka, we keep that core of the team, the spine
of the team there. and we keep 11 men on the
field, it's going to be a great end to the season.
We'll be lifting at least minimum Premier League
and probably supplement it with a cup or two,
should I say. On Rice's ability to master every
position he plays in, I think it's a very positive
thing for him, for the team, for the club, and
in general, in football. A player that has that
mindset, that capacity to adapt, and that has
attributes that can fulfil. different roles and
he makes it a much better team yeah Declan Rice's
attributes are that of that he can play in the
vast majority of position at an outstanding level
so definitely for me can play as a right back
can play as a center back I don't think he could
play as a left back I think he could play as
a holding midfielder although I don't think that's
his best position that's become apparent in the
last two years and obviously box to box is his
best position I also think he can play on the
right of a four in midfield so because of his
crossing ability, because of his lung power,
energy, enthusiasm, drive, thrust. So he can
play in about four or five positions at a high
standard, which is amazing. On how much he values
the expected goal statistic, it's another one.
But as I said before, it's a stat that fluctuates
so much. There are other teams that were overperforming
it for a big time. So is it sustainable? No,
it's not. but it will change the dynamic and
then you see throughout the game how that changes
as well. So for 60 minutes, 70, 80 minutes, what
you've done in the last 10, though it is a stat,
you can use it in a manner that you want. For
us, there are many things, there are many other
things much more important than that. He's definitely
sent some shots at Liverpool, the fact that they're
riding their luck and it's caught up with them.
On if Rice should have come off against Brighton.
No, no, that's normal. Sometimes you get a hit
and throughout the game, you are able with adrenaline
and because you are warm, able to sustain that.
Then the body reacts and it reacted probably
more than we expected, unfortunately. And that's
where we are. So he's remaining very coy on whether
Declan Rice will play or will be all right for
tomorrow. If he was to ask me, I think he's going
to play on how he reacts to a new injury to our
players. First thing, what can we do better?
The second thing is the reality of the sport
that we play. But looking back at the last three
seasons, we have had fewer days of injuries than
before. We have injuries that you have to separate
the traumatic ones and the ones that are muscle
injuries. And we have to improve. And we are
better than some other years. Yeah, so let's
improve. Let's invest in doctors. Let's buy the
best doctor out there. On how players coming
back from injury allows us to be more flexible.
At the end, I think we have to talk about performance,
not rotation. We want performance, the highest
performance, every three days or throughout the
game. And that's what we have to look at in order
to achieve that. Who are the best players in
the best condition with the best relationship
to fulfill that? Well, we know there's about
seven or eight players that know they're going
to start every single game. But I think there's
two or three positions where... It's form -based.
And the reason the 7 -8 positions have consolidated
their position is because they have been outstanding
for the last two, three years. Some even more.
People like Saka, people like Timber are the
best players in their position in world football.
The same thing with Gabriel, with Saliba, with
David Raya, with Declan Rice. So now there's
flexibility in terms of... Can Odegaard have
a rest here and there? Can Eze come in? Can Martinelli
come in? Can Noni Madaweke come in? Can Mars
Lewis Skelly come in? So there's scope for rotation,
but there's obviously our untouchables in there
too. Onyf Trossard has gone up a level this season.
I think he's gone up a level every season. He's
such an intelligent player. He's a player that
really wants it. He's found his role. He's found
his maturity here. And I think his confidence
level is higher. He's a player that can create
magic moments and a very important player for
us. Absolutely. The most unsung hero. He could
even win our play of the season. The fans play
of the season because he's just, in terms of
where he was and where he is now, what he's done,
his attitude, his desire, his performance level.
For me, pound for pound, if he carries on like
this to the end of the season, play of the season
for Arsenal. Him or Calafiori. absolutely on
if he's keen for him to extend his contract we
are very happy for him he knows that we talked
about it many times and i think he's very happy
here as well okay that doesn't really answer
the question so you can say he's happy here but
he might leave at the end of the season i think
it's probably going to be a business decision
and to be honest i do think he will leave at
the end of the season for a variety of reasons
the fact that i believe they're going to bring
in a winger a left winger in the summer And they're
going to probably look at Martinelli and Trossard
and know that one of them will have to leave
the club. And because Martinelli is slightly
younger, he may stay. either raw could go to
be fair on the importance of finishes coming
off the bench in our approach to the game very
important and you don't know if you're going
to be a finisher a starter or sometimes you have
to come in because a player gets injured in a
warm -up so that's how ready you have to be it's
a joy because the players are really committed
really willing to participate in whatever role
they have on the day and that's what we need
Yeah, I was quite shocked when I see Calafiore
get injured in a warm -up because I was thinking,
wait a minute, I saw his name on a team sheet,
then I see Lewis Skelly starting. Obviously,
Lewis Skelly is the player he's referring to.
Hasn't had as much football as he would have
liked. Probably should have had some more minutes.
But then again, look at his mate, Ethan Wanyeri.
He's not getting any minutes at all. And I do
think in the next seven to ten days, Wanyeri
will go on loan somewhere. Probably to our opponents
tomorrow. On the fact that we've not won the
league the last five times we've been top at
New Year's Day. No. Let's break it. And we shall.
on the goal to change that statistic for sure
give me some good news give me some good ones
next time history is there to be broken we haven't
won the league in 22 years if we win it this
year that's gone on how desperate the players
are to change that that's what they transmit
every single day when they're with us training
or in every match you can see the desire you
can see the energy they put in how much they
want it and that's what we need it's still five
months to go So take it day by day. Enjoy the
process of being where we are and go for it.
Let's go for it. Let's go and beat Bournemouth
tomorrow. And I think we will. Let's increase
the gap to seven points and pile the pressure
on Manchester City, who have to take on Chelsea,
who have just sacked their manager and will feel
like the world's against them. So hopefully they
can be a wounded animal and take down Manchester
City.