10 goals, three cities and two wins; the 2023 tour of the US has had plenty of talking points.
Rounding off our coverage of an action-packed 10 days, we bring you quotes from before and after Arsenal’s 5-3 victory over Barcelona in Los Angeles.
Leo Trossard on the level of work done in pre-season…
A lot, a lot to be honest. We want to prepare in the best possible way and I think we were on the right track and we want to keep going.
That always helps a lot, of course, if you can have a full pre-season with the guys. It’s been an amazing 10 days and like I said we wanted to end on a positive note, we’re happy with that and now we can go back to London.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Mikel Arteta on a hectic tour of the USA…
I think it was a challenge because we had a lot of travelling and a lot of things to adapt to, but I think the team showed a big capacity to adapt to different times, to different pitches, to the heat, to different opponents. It was a really good test but I’m really pleased with the outcome. We certainly feel a big difference now in the States with the support we are having. We were in three cities, Washington DC, New York and now in LA and it’s getting bigger and bigger. So thank you so much to everybody because we really feel at home now here.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Barcelona boss Xavi on Arsenal’s attitude toward’s last night’s friendly…
I said to Mikel at the end of the game, it was like a Champions League tie with the intensity they put in. It was not normal for a friendly, but I understand everyone wants to win. For us, it was our first friendly and we went into it off the back of loads of players having had a bug.
Source: Guardian
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Declan Rice on making friends at Arsenal…
I think it was important from the first day I got there, I tried to be as outgoing as possible, and I’m like that anyway, but I really wanted to put myself out there, go speak to other players, speak to the Brazilian guys, speak to the Portuguese guys, show them that I’m a nice guy, that I wanted them to get along with me. And you know what, it feels like I’ve been here for ages already. I don’t feel like a new player. Even all of the staff members, the physios, the chefs, the people behind the scenes, they’ve all been so welcoming. I feel like that’s been really important. Like I’ve just said, I feel like I’ve been here forever already, which is a massive positive and also has made it really easy for me to settle in.
Source: ESPN
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Kai Havertz on his new position…
I really enjoy it, to play that position [as a No. 8]. I am more on the ball, more integrated in the game. I am really enjoying it. I think I have a lot of room to improve in the games, I am still adapting to the game and everything. So far it is working quite well. I think [goals are] important for my position, and also with my height. I want to score goals. It’s part of my game. I always have to arrive there. Hopefully, it works more times in the league now.
Source: ESPN
“speak to the Portuguese guys…”
That’s mighty nice of you Declan but I hope someone talks to you about Cedric before you get too attached…
Cedric could leave the club this summer and still be seen hugging Rice when he scores his first goal for Arsenal.
Hahaha! The visual of Cedric running into the Arsenal goal celebration mob in the opposing teams jersey for the photo op made me choke on my morning coffee.
🙂
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Just think what might have been if he were half as good at football as he is at photobombing.
So when are we signing Kalou, Hangeland and Yann mvila. Up the Arse
Julian Draxler only has a year left…
And I think Thomas Lemar is gettable.
(I had a crazy dream once that Arsenal bid £92m for Lemar. No more cheese before bed!)
Eight years ago or so, heard a private jet was on the tarmac somewhere in Germany to bring Draxler to the Emirates (Football Mercato’s genius). Was roaming the net, waiting to see the pic of Draxler getting off that jet.
Plus, that game where Mbappe, Dembele and Lemar were way too fast for England to handle and thereafter heard we were after Lemar.
Those were the summum of excitement.
No to both. They had their chances. We don’t go for same player twice anymore.
I’m sorry to say there were some complications with the sense of humour transplant. Unfortunately, in this case, the sense of humour has rejected the host.
We will off course put you on the waiting list once again. But as you know, this can take months, sometimes years. I would suggest that you speak with family members who may be a viable option.
I’m sorry there isn’t more we can do at this time.
Christopher samba as well
Very gracious of Xavi
Haha for real. Expected more from an icon. Let’s hope he’s even more butthurt if we face them in the champs.
Arteta once got kicked out of a public library because he shouted “Vamos!” every time he turned the page of his book.
That boy only does intense.
hahahaaaa! that one made me chuckle.
There’s a nice contrast of a club redifining it’s identity on this high intensity and expansive brand of football versus another struggling to live up to it’s glamorous past. Can imagine both Xavi and Arteta being acutely aware of that dynamic, and how it relates to the past relationship between the two clubs.
Long story short, Xavi knows what’s up, somethings cooking at Arsenal.
PS – Barca are still a bunch of wankers!
Here here!
Someone needs to find a clip of Rice saying that stuff and intersperse it with that line from Jay in the Inbetweeners.
Think our time in USA has been a great success, games have been played with a bit more intensity than your normal friendlies, the squad and new signings are gelling, our ‘brand’ is getting bigger on a global scale, we came back home with no major injuries, and bashing Barcelona with 5 goals is always good, for a long time i am so looking forward to the start of a new season, buzzing..