Sunday’s north London derby couldn’t be bigger and yet, off the back of a couple of impressive victories and everything seemingly calm on the injury front, Mikel Arteta’s press conference was as generic as they come. The manager was asked about City’s hammering of Brighton, the fact Sp*rs have had 15 days off to prepare for Arsenal’s visit, his admiration for Ange Postecoglu and the headache caused by having too many players to pick from.
Here’s everything he said in the first section of his press conference…
On Arsenal’s chances with 4 games to play…
Now we are there. We have to look at ourselves and try to perform in the best possible way, win our matches and wait to see what happens. That’s what we discussed. It sounds a bit repetitive but it’s what we have to do.
On whether it’s a two-horse race…
I don’t think so. I think this league is tremendously demanding and there can be a lot of turns and we all know how difficult it is to win games in this league.
On his side turning things around in April…
Yeah, it’s been great. Not only the results but the performances as well. We had a big one again in the last London derby against Chelsea and now we have a big one [against Sp*rs]. Now that I’m sure we’re going to have to do it, we want to beat Spurs as well.
On having players available…
Availability, we mentioned that before before, was going to be something key. It’s true, apart from Jurrien [Timber], that it’s going to be very close, that we have everybody available. And that’s a huge boost that elevates the training session, the competition between the players and gives us alternatives to pick the right line-up, to change the game. So it’s something really important.
On how excited he is about his side’s potential in future campaigns…
Yeah, obviously but we are fully focused on this one because it’s still at a stake. We really want to get the job done and we know as well that obviously ,it’s a very young team with a really bright future and still a lot of room for improvement. We will try to keep developing it.
On playing 4 games since Tottenham last played…
For sure, we’re going to be fully ready. We have a bit of time as well to recover and to prepare from the Chelsea game. And I’m sure the team is going to be fully ready to go again on Sunday.
On City’s win over Brighton underlining Arsenal’s need to be perfect…
It’s another game and they managed to win in a convincing way. It’s something that we cannot control. So, let’s do what we have to do.
On team selection being difficult with players fit…
It’s good headache. You feel for the players because I see how much they want it and and how much everyone wants to start and contribute to the team and impact the team in the right way. It is always difficult, and it’s part of the job, but as well they’re fully ready to come on the pitch whenever time that we need them to try to help us to win matches. The spirit is so good.
On how preparing for a north London derby compares being a manager to a player…
More motivation [as a coach] if anything because you know what you can give to your people which is a lot of joy and happiness if we manage to win the game. Obviously when you have the chance to do that and that’s in your hands, you really want to make the most of it to try to make it happen.
On Ange Postecoglu…
Yeah, it’s really impressive with what he’s done. I’m not surprised because I know him. He was in the Australian national team and when he was in Japan, I followed him and when he was at Celtic. He’s always been super clear with a really clear direction and identity of how his teams play and I love the way his teams play so I think it’s been very good.
On how his players are at the moment…
Enjoying the moment. They try to navigate through this in a natural way. They are super competitive at the moment. Everything we do in the training session, they just want to compete, compete and compete. And it’s a really good sign because we know what we’re going to have to do. We’re going to win it and that’s it. We have to raise the bar every day in training to try to match that. So when we get to games, we are ready.
On his decision to sign Havertz and Rice and what he saw in them…
Yeah, it’s never ‘my’ decision, it’s our decision. We made the decision and were super-aligned with the club vision and then obviously on the sporting side, Edu and myself, we make all the recommendations. There is a lot of people who are very important and you need the ownership as well to buy them for you and then make things happen. But we’re very convinced that they [Havertz and Rice] were characters first, they were players with the right qualities to fit in our model, in our club. And sometimes it takes a bit of time. It’s inevitable. Sometimes you’re going to make mistakes. I try to minimise them and try to at least generate the environment and everything that the players need to fulfil their potential.
On his squad having the potential to challenge for a while…
I hope so, but that’s something that you have to show every season, every game and in this league that’s extremely difficult to do, to do it two years in a row. We’re not satisfied with that, we want to win it and we’re going to make everything that we can to win it. If we do win it, we’ll try again to win it and if we don’t, for sure we’ll try again.
On this season representing progress…
I’m not thinking about that at the moment, I’m just thinking how we’re going to win it.
On the ‘super computer’ giving Arsenal a 26% chance of winning the title…
I don’t know what to say. Hopefully, we can tweak that computer and make it a bit higher. Maybe he needs to update the software. Maybe we need to help him to upload the software or give him more tools. Hopefully, we can change that.
On using terms ‘being vertical’ and ‘ball speed’ when describing his team’s play…
Well, depending on the moment of the phase of play, certainly, and the behaviour of the opponent is all about that. It’s all about what the opponent is trying to do, how can you hurt them, where the spaces are and identify those moments to punish the opponents. But every game is different. Obviously, there are a lot of concepts and ideas around any way of playing and for us these two are important, but there are many others.
On how he sees games in advance of them happening…
Well, there are certain games that you imagine the type of game you’re going to play and try to explain to the players, this is what I think is going to happen, this is why this is going to happen, this is how we can provoke this happening as well. And then it’s about trying to make it happen and then use it.
On losing to Sp*rs when chasing top four a couple of years ago…
My memory is failing. I was more focused on the one of last year, much more positive.
On whether he trusts this team more than in the past…
I have always trusted my players and then from there you can perform, I can get right or wrong decisions as well to help the team to win or not win in the best possible way. It was a very particular match for many situations, that one [the 3-0 defeat] as well. But certainly, of course, we learn, we try to evolve from there. We try to get a squad that is better equipped. We all had experiences as well that hopefully has helped us to develop and be better.
On the Invincibles being an inspiration for his team…
Well, I understand that, but that’s [winning the league on Sunday] is not going to happen mathematically, even if we do win it. But there are moments obviously that are very important in our history and I’m sure that a lot of players know about it, certainly the staff and the ones that have been here long enough know about it and it’s about making our own history now.
On whether Arsenal have an advantage having played regularly…
I don’t know. What I can tell you is that the boys are going to be fully ready on Sunday to go to play against a great opponent. It’s going to make things very difficult for us and we’re going to have to be very good to beat them.
On whether Timber is available on Sunday…
He’s very close. I don’t know if this is going to come a bit too early this one, but it’s very close, I would say.
On whether he’s surprised by the fixture situation…
Yes, but we knew that happened. They [Sp*rs] weren’t the only team. Because of the circumstances in the schedule, a few teams have to go through a few days without a game. It can go either way. I don’t know what is the best way to do it. It is what it is and what we can do is prepare to be fully ready on Sunday.
On whether he’d rather have rested or play the games his side have played…
I love the fact that we played four times and we had some great experiences, a really demanding week. We managed to have some really good results in the last two. And obviously, that boosted the confidence and the belief of everybody. And we’re in a good place.
On Ange-ball and if he expects an open game…
I don’t know. I don’t know what they will do. They haven’t changed much. I think they’ve been very, very consistent. I think that’s been probably the biggest strength as well in what they’ve done. So you have to be prepared and then in games, things can change and you have to be able to tweak things if necessary.
On signing players – Rice, Havertz, Rice – who’ve come from clubs that also hate Sp*rs…
Yeah, we know. I think it’s an unbelievable atmosphere [in the north London derby]. It’s a beautiful stadium. We’ve played there a few times already and it’s a great atmosphere to play football. We know about the rivalry, but I think you have to put that aside. You have to live the game with the intensity and the passion that demands it, that’s for sure. And on top of that, we know what we’re playing for. So I don’t think we need anything special because the game has got everything that you need as a player to go and enjoy it.
On St Totteringham’s Day being possible on Sunday and people not talking about it…
I don’t know, but I think we have to look at ourselves and what we want to achieve and what our goals are and then evaluate that. And obviously you have to put that in the context of a league and a lot of clubs and teams that are super strong and make it really difficult for you. I think that evaluation has to be related more about what we’ve done, what we’ve done right, what we can still improve and then make certain decisions in relation to that.
On UCL qualification being possible on Sunday and nobody talking about it…
Yeah, we have to do it first, and once we do it, I think it’s important to mention it and remember it and then go to the next one.
Is that whisky available in my hood?
I want it 😂
Available for worldwide distribution on Sunday.
Me too!
Apparently it has a peaty flavour, with strong overtones of failure and unfulfilled potential.
Also a nasty aftertaste that’s likely to make you choke.
This would be one to savour, while watching their DVD, on an open fire.
Explains the bottle of Martinelli from the other week. Actually thought the marketing dept were working over overtime.
I’ve tried it and although delicious at first you can’t mask the unmistakable aftertaste of shite.
On losing to Sp*rs when chasing top four a couple of years ago…
“My memory is failing. I was more focused on the one of last year, much more positive. ”
🎶 We’ve got Super Mike Arteta… He knows exactly what to say 🎵
Mik* you blawdy auto correct!
Magic Mike also works but not sure he’d like that.
“Characters first”, speaking of Havertz and Rice. I love this recruitment philosophy. It is pretty obvious every one of our regularly appearing players is willing to dig deep for the team. The work rate from front to back is amazing. Last pod talked about whether lack of rotation was down to player quality or Arteta. From the armchair perspective this is an area where Mik might aim to improve his management. Even if you are rotating in a player who at his very best can give you a 7 out of 10 performance, if it means that guy who can… Read more »
I think it’s also important to note that with the signings of Havertz, Rice, and Jorginho, we had 3 players who were not only comfortable in the PL but probably didn’t need to uproot their lives or families to play for Arsenal, allowing them to settle and integrate into the club much quicker.
Quality of character is a nonnegotiable which is why Bruno, pick one, will never be an Arsenal player but equally important is football IQ like Ode, Saka, Rice, Havertz, Jorge etc. Players have to be smart enough to understand Arteta’s tactics and implement them.
I think any team that wins the PL can pretend to be the World Champions like the Americans do. Even between Barcelona and Real, it was never that they have to win 10 successive games to win their league.
For tomorrow, first we have to master the emotion of the derby, the hostile environment, the high stakes at hand. Those things have to energize the players in a positive way if they can’t be put aside entirely. After that, we will find we are the superior team just as we were in the home fixture. I watched that home game back. It was a weaker team than we will field tomorrow, with starts for Vieira and Nketiah and Zinchenko at left back while Spurs had everyone and at that point they were undefeated and Ange was being anointed their… Read more »