In the final part of his pre-Aston Villa press conference, the boss was asked about Bukayo Saka emulating Ian Wright, the importance of having a squad willing to play through the pain and the headache that comes with not giving players the minutes they want.
Here’s what the manager had to say…
On Saka having a chance to emulate Ian Wright by becoming the first Englishman at Arsenal to score 15 league goals in a season…
Keep learning from what Ian did, his character, his consistency, the hunger that he had always to improve and to be in front of goal and if he does that with the quality that he has and the players that go around him, he’s got a chance.
On Saka needing to win titles before people put him in Wright’s bracket…
For sure, obviously. I think the team’s success is really important to elevate a player to that category and we still need to do that.
On Saka, like many other players in the squad, playing through the pain…
That’s a quality that a team that wants to be successful and win has to have. Because you have to go through pain, through difficult moments, through good moments, through moments that you have to give and support others, moments of doubt, high moments and you have to be able to cope with all those to be at the top.
On it being important to rotate and it being good that he has the players to do it…
Yes, we talked about it and having the squad healthy and the players that we have available obviously that’s a big bonus. It’s about making the right ones and the answer to that is always if you win the game because that’s the only judgment that you’re going to get. But the intention to keep everybody involved and important and fresh, I think it’s going to be crucial.
On rotation giving him a headache…
I haven’t experienced good headaches in my life, but I think it’s a good problem to have. And especially because after they respond. The toughest thing in our job is not to play players, especially when they deserve to play. When you give them the chance and they respond the way they have done recently as well, I think it’s a really positive thing to have.
On this being the most powerful squad he’s had since joining…
I don’t know, I don’t like comparing. I think we have a really strong squad at the moment and they are in a good place, which is really important.
On improving on the 12 points from 21 that Arsenal achieved in their final seven games last season…
We’re going to try our best, let’s just start on Sunday.
A win today is a big step towards the title. I am hopeful.
Been waiting for this game as much as the Toon game. X-ray vision ref saw Havertz handball goal, but double handball of Cash not seen. Cmon Kai, a double score will help today.
Walcott never scored 15 goals a season?
I think he did across all competitions, but not purely in the Premier League. I seem to remember him getting mostly shut down there by low blocks and scoring more in the Champions League.
He was a 1 in 4 player, which is not bad for a winger. Theo’s Arsenal career just came in the wrong era.
He wanted to a striker instead of the winger he was. That’s his major fault plus his many injuries
Hopefully the Bayern game was just a blip for our defence.
C’mon boys, feed the hunger!
Do you ever get the feeling it might not be a good day for football? Spuds beating Leicester in the women’s fa cup and rangers getting beat by Ross county!!!