In the second half of his pre-Aston Villa press conference, Mikel Arteta answered questions on Emile Smith Rowe’s departure, ambitions to integrate more academy kids, whether Arsenal will sign a striker, his contract talks and Unai Emery’s work at Villa Park.
Here’s what he had to say…
On Emile Smith Rowe’s departure…
I really felt it. First of all, because I had huge gratitude because he came into the team, I have him the opportunity in a tough moment, and I think he was the player that made our supporters and the team click in a way. I don’t know how to explain it but that was my feeling. Something changed when he came on the team. He created a different energy straight away and I have a feeling like, ‘Argh’ I haven’t got the best out of him. Obviously, a lot of things happened in that time for that not to happen but from my side it was really sad because I love [him]. I know how those boys feel when they are in that building, how hard everyone worked to get them into the first team, so I feel a huge responsibility after to give them the chance and then can they sustain this level and make us better. That’s the idea that we have.
On Arsenal once aiming to have a first team that incorporated 50% academy youngsters…
I think the sentence is not finished, it’s I want to have a team that is half academy, half foreign, or whatever it is, and win the Premier League and Champions League consistently. Is it that the sentence or is it just have it? Have it, it’s possible, we can do that tomorrow but to achieve what is something different. I have a great example, Athletic Bilbao, what they’ve done with only academy players and Basque players is remarkable but can they win now every year La Liga and the Champions League, that’s a different task.
On whether he’s concerned that current Profit & Sustainability Rules incentivise Premier League clubs to cash in on their youngsters…
Every rule has its consequences. If somebody has thought about that very early, that’s good. That’s what we want. If you put the offside line here, you know what you can do. A lot of teams are going to play with a high line and you’re going to be offside. If you take that off tomorrow a lot of teams are going to defend in a different height. Every rule has its consequences and we have to accept that.
On whether Arsenal will sign a striker in this window…
It’s not a question that we’ve put to ourselves because we have some great strikers; Gabi Jesus is there, Kai has played there a lot of minutes, Leo has played there. We believe that we had other necessities as well and we fully trust our players, last year we scored the most goals in the history of this club. We want to get better, for sure, and we’ll try but we’ll try with the players already with us.
On Bukayo Saka having a new mural near the stadium (it’s actually a Persil advert!) and why he’s so popular…
Bukayo is a very likeable person and player and not only here, but across the country and anybody across Europe or the world who knows him, you can sense that he’s someone special. Bukayo understands that as an academy player. There are many other paintings out there, there is one of Josh Kroenke (by @northbanksy) which is unbelievable as well, and that’s good to see. It’s a reflection of how people feel about the club and the individuals.
On his relationship with Raheem Sterling and what impressed him the most…
His willingness to learn and how he reacted in a difficult moment for him on many levels. A player with a lot of courage, always available, always willing to play, always wants to develop. I was really impressed with him.
On Arteta working best when he’s under pressure and hungry…
I think the pressure is something we put on ourselves and that pressure comes from giving the team and the club the best possible tools to play the best possible way and that everybody is happy and fulfilled at the club and that we win trophies. That’s the pressure, the other part is something that is part of the job but it doesn’t feel like pressure.
On needing pressure to perform…
I don’t see that happening [pressure dropping off]. If there’s something that we really want to promote, it’s that everybody is on their toes, everybody is willing and everybody has the same intention which is to win. Hopefully, we can transmit that every day.
On falling into a trap during last season’s Villa games…
There is a lot of patterns there. Efficiency is one of them. I wouldn’t call that a trap, I’d call that something else but you have to give credit to the opponent when they manage to beat you whether you merit or don’t merit it. At the end, there are a lot of things you can analyse and be very simplistic about it when looking at how you lost but in my eyes, there are other things that are relevant as well.
On Unai Emery…
I always admired him as a coach, as a person, what he’s done with his teams. He had a difficult time when he was in his first experience here and he didn’t hesitate to take another project and take it to a different level. So that tells you a lot about the courage of the person.
On supporters panicking about his new deal…
I don’t think anybody has to panic, I’m in the place that I want to be. I’m really happy, hopefully, the club thinks the same thing and the players, they are the most important ones in my opinion, I look every day to them, when I’m talking to them and we’re having discussions and planning things, you sense in their eyes that sense of belief and hunger is still there.
On his talks taking a matter of minutes…
Minutes [laughs]. I don’t know, we’ve done it in the past, it’s never been an issue. I don’t expect that happening [taking too long].
On Kevin Campbell’s passing…
Really sad. It was very difficult news and you can sense the love and respect and admiration that was here for him. What we experienced on the day of the Wolves game was really emotional, very unique as well, very moving for everybody and especially for his family. Hopefully, they felt the club and everybody who knew him, loved and respected him in the manner they do as well.
Throw him a question on Raheem Sterling so they can write headlines like “Arteta can’t stop talking about want-away Chelsea star”.
I think we’ve got a really busy week in the transfer market. Whereas we’ve needed to do business early in previous years, this season we have a good enough squad to start the season without any new additions.
But I do think things will get a bit crazy this week. For some reason, I still think TP5 could go. And I think we might still sign two players. A WF and a CM.
Vibey. Let’s go Arsenal!
It’s going to be a pretty mad last week of the window.
For outs I have Ramsdale, Eddie, Reiss, Vieira, possibly Kiwior. We would then need a goalie and a wide forward for sure, possibly a defender and striker too!
Anyway, most important thing today is 3 points. We have a good record of righting wrongs from previous seasons.
You people who think that results are more important than the transfer window.
Smh.
Silly people. Just look at how many transfer windows Chelsea have won recently, and how happy their supporters are! You have to conclude that winning transfer windows is the key to fan’s happiness and how proud you are of your club.
Also none of those big purchases they made that helped them win those transfer windows ended up being duds, they all look fantastic in retrospect.
I see Kiwior leaving n Tierney staying. Mistake.
Smith Rowe. Lokonga. Elneny. Vieira leaving and Merino coming in. 4 to 1.. mistake.
But we trust the process maybe something is cooking we aren’t aware.. COYG… 3 pointer at the villains…
If you count Merino as the CM then I think yes, there’s a chance we’ll get a forward and the CM by the end of it. But I’m also preparing myself for potential disappointment, because the fact there are whispers we’re interested but no loud whispers about any specific such forward means we’re basically preparing to be opportunistic, and in such cases you need some luck to go your way. You might gazump another club’s offer in the last second or you might be the one being gazumped. You might swoop in for a talented winger only to be rebuffed… Read more »
Anyone hear Giles (John), banging on about people in Arsenal ( high up), saying “we’re going to win the league”, on Thursday night last on Irish radio.
He was telling Nathan Murphy on “ off the ball” on Newstalk and I was quite pissed off.
It categorically hasn’t happened, yet these shows trot this shit out.
A reasonably good sport show too.
Was disappointed with Johnny and Nathan.
You’re really living up to your name there, Colin 🙂
I don’t listen to Irish radio but I’m guessing it’s just U2, The Corrs and Ronan Keating on repeat, interspersed with updates on the likelihood of potato blight.
Plus Declan’s new band – Rice Against the Machine
I might be in the minority here but I think all that talk of needing a striker (meaningfully) died when we started playing Kai as the number 9 and Leo starting games. What we really need in my opinion is Leo starting again and a back up for Saka and the goals would still flow. Martinelli is very excited an option but like Jesus, lacks the goals and assists and having him or Jesus as starters, though not the worst thing, is pinning everything on hope. Kai might never score 20 league goals or he could but with him starting… Read more »
I really hope we do something to find a cover for Saka. He seemed to be carrying a lot of knocks at the end of last season, again on the first game he had a little scare, and in general we know how much he plays and obviously was at the Euros… I believe we’re walking on thin ice with him and we’re one or two injuries away from potentially big troubles.
I think he didn’t give the chance to ESR.
When he was injured or when he came back and the whole team was performing?
He showed it today against Leicester. What a player!
He did not. Martinelli got every chance and did not produce. MA has his favorites, we just have to live with it.
Every manager has.
Jesus injury changes the above i predict
I want to believe MA when he talks those kind words about ESR but his actions just don’t make sense if they are true. We all say ESR didn’t take his opportunities, it’s debatable if he even got any legitimate ones in the first place but when MA bought Havertz and played him in the midfield where he was forcing ESR to play, he gave Havertz countless opportunities and starts. Even handing him penalties to get his confidence, if he really believed in ESR he would of done that with him. I think it’s just best to leave the ESR… Read more »