It’s not yet clear whether Mikel Arteta will be on the plane to Barcelona this afternoon, but as a former graduate of La Masia he’s excited about even the tiniest possibility of being involved.
In a wide-ranging interview with homeland publication El Confidencial he previewed the upcoming showdown and spoke about his fitness, his future and what it would mean to finally play at the Camp Nou.
Some of these quotes have been appropriated from the translation by Sport Witness, others we’ve muddled together from the original using a battered old Spanish dictionary [Google Translate].
On his injury-hit season…
It has been difficult since my ankle surgery [in January 2015] to get back into the team. I did the entire pre-season and felt good. But I’ve played less continuously than at any time since I came to Arsenal. There’s a calf muscle problem and it’s affecting my pace. I’ve been training with the group again for a few days and I’m ready to help the team in the final stretch of the season.
On returning to Barcelona…
I’d love to return to Barcelona after the years I spent there [at La Masia]. It’s funny that since I left I’ve never played them. I was sorry to miss the first leg, but between the muscle problems, lack of game time and our large squad…let’s see what happens now.
On playing at the Camp Nou for the first time…
I’d be thrilled to play because I’ve not made my Camp Nou debut, oddly enough. I was going to with Real Socieded, but the match then coincided with my move to Everton and I missed it…then never again.
On getting old…
I love training and playing matches. I’ve enjoyed competing and in the 17 years I’ve been a professional I’ve always been a starter, also a captain. Ageing is a process that you have to go through and the club has to think about the future. I understand that. It hurts that there have been injuries that have meant I’ve not been able to play with the team. That’s what is leaving a bad taste in my mouth.
On Arsenal’s belief this year…
Everything changes so quickly in football. On Saturday it’s one thing, then it suddenly changes, then on Tuesday you’re back to believing again.
For the first since I’ve been here, we believed [we could win the league]. Everyone one on the team believes that this is the year. I arrived when the club was going through a transition, selling their best players to pay for the Emirates. It’s taken a while to get back to the level of the past, but in the last year and a half we’ve won four titles and now we’re right in the fight.
It would be the best gift to our fans, that have always been on our side during the difficult years no matter what has happened. They deserve it. Personally, it would be an amazing finish to my time here.
On this season’s Premier League rivals…
The big team have been hurt and the smaller sides have grown. There are many clubs that signed well [in the transfer windows], despite having smaller budgets, such as Leicester, Watford, West Ham. What Tottenham are doing under Pochettino deserves credit. And then, everyone plays to win, no matter who plays who. That’s the best thing about this league.
On his future…
Right now I’m just focused on contributing to the team on the pitch, we’ve an exciting end of the season looming and hopefully we’ll win the Premier League. The next chapter is more complicated, today, I’m not sure on my plans. Obviously, it’s not impossible to think three months ahead when my contract ends here, but I won’t be thinking objectively until I’ve had two or three weeks without training. Therefore, I don’t want to make any decisions without knowing for sure how I am and what I want to do able getting back in the ring.
On tomorrow’s clash with Barcelona…
It’s obvious that they have the upper hand. Statistics show that it will be complicated for us, but in football you cannot say a tie is over until it is over. Don’t forget the year Bayern won the treble, we went to Munich and won 2-0 away, and we’ll try and match that result here. In a game, you don’t know what’s gonna happen: there could be a penalty and a sending off soon after the start… Anything can happen. What’s certain is that we are going to Barcelona with the mindset of making a comeback.
He still plays for arsenal!?
On the ball, Arteta remains on our most reliable midfielders. His experience and composure is something the team has been missing in recent times.
Unlike you, yeah.
I don’t remember winning any’titles’ recently…
I’ll still back the team with faith smaller than a mustard seed so…
FOREVER COYG!!! ;(
FA CUP x 2 doesn’t count now? The privelege of never being happy with anything must be quite annoying,
Penalty and red card for sure, but not likely to be against Barca…
All the same, COYG!!
Haha wait. Did both BFG and Arteta independently say that “there could be a penalty and a sending off early in the game”?
Sounds like this is the team strategy, would suggest therefore that Theo play with the sole purpose of standing on the left edge of the area calling Alves a cheating Elvish cunt and see if he belts Theo one.
Messi will definitely score too
I would welcome some comedy after a long time.
Four titles ? Emirates Cups too ? We must be desperate to count Emirates cups but FA Cups are real achievements contrary to what lot of people say. I am even surprised we are good at winning a competition where you get knocked out right away with our propensity for losing games we’re supposed to win.
FA Cup x 2
Community Shield x 2
Yeah, we know…but you get where he’s coming from.
It’s a sad time when you’re calling the community shield 2 titles
Yet everyone counts them when we are talking about the great Pep’s achievements.
Still his community shields are sandwiched by some very bready titles.
what about the 10 or more 4th place trophies Eek did i really say that out loud lol but the 18 years or more above Totteringham is a great trophy
Gotta love Arteta, he’s a class act. Might be a bit slow, and not exactly the calibre of player we want starting for us now, but there’s no reason to dislike the guy.
Arteta is so classy. He really deserves better than the shit a lot of fans have been giving him. He’s been struggling and a lot of it is no fault of his own. I wish him and perfect hair well!
Seems like he’s aware his time as a top level player is over.
To be fair he had a couple of seasons when he was really important to the team, and a couple of seasons when well you know
If he is in any shape or form ready to play, I’d play him against Barcelona. It doesn’t make any sense to play with Coquelin, whose form is terrible and gives nothing to attack. He is a class player, and I think he is on the Alonso level, good enough to hold his own against CL teams like Barcelona. I know people hate him, but what do people around here know about football anyway… Arteta Elneny pivot for me, please.
You’re trolling, right?
Would be nice to give him some minutes.
Would be mean to have him start the game. The guy hasn’t played in ages and has no pace
What a shame he hasn’t been fit to play. Would be an excellent squad player to have fill out the squad, certainly much better then Flamini and was always a great distributor of the ball when healthy, which is what this team sorely lacks outside of Özil and Cazorla
he was talking about the community shields not emirates cup…..
Class player and his injury issues have been sad but that is age for you. Could be a real help in the run-in if he can stay fit. Would be good to see him keeping the game ticking over like he used to, would add some calmness to our play that has been badly missing recently. Need Santi back desperately too, am I right in thinking our season turned to shit the moment he got injured?
Was liking what he was saying until he said that Tottenham was doing well.
It’s shit but true, have you looked above us in the league -_- looks like we won’t get to celebrate St Totteringham’s this season
Hold on a minute! The Spuds always have a “fuck up” in them! COYG!
This is truly the first time since he’s been at Arsenal that they’ve believed they could win the league?! What about all the years they told us that they were going for the title?
the epitome of what’s wrong with arsenal. too many guys, simply not good enough, getting paid without having to contribute on the pitch. worse is that he’s our captain. good riddance arteta. you’re program notes have been…adequate.
p.s. thanks for single-handedly losing that game for us against west brom. that was awesome. i also blame you for not marking anyone for that last minute liverpool goal. probably the turning point of our season.
20 minutes to go; Arsenal 2-0 up – Wenger brings on Arteta – sweet
el capitano deserves so much more respect than he gets. a true pro and a loyal servant to the club
I’d play Giroud and welbeck up top together in 4.3.1.2 there’s nothing to lose.
A message from captain Arteta: Dear Arsenal fans, I look forward to the next 10 games this season. I love this club, the manager and the fans who have been so supportive. Rest assured I will give everything my body, heart and club permit to win every game possible. I will keep my comments to the haters, whiners and wannabe managers as crisp, neat, classy and impeccable as my hair…. Grow up!
Arsenal have chosen their team to play against Barca tomorrow…it’s Real Madrid! 🙂
Leicester?…tough crowd on here tonight! 🙂
COYG!