In the second half of his pre-Liverpool press conference, Mikel Arteta touched on the stresses and strains of picking a starting lineup when you’re not entirely sure of the fitness of certain players, as well as the importance of staying positive in the face of adversity.
On staying positive and refusing to think about defeat on Sunday…
That’s the way we try to behave every single day. If we could be four points ahead, that’s not going to change the season, we’ve been there in that situation as well. So probably we’ll learn from it as well but the possibility is tomorrow. Let’s have a beautiful day on Sunday where we really perform, where we are who we are and we win that game in the manner that we want. This has to be what drives our team.
On taking confidence from results against big teams last season…
That tells you that we are capable of doing it and we did it in a really consistent way, this season as well. We went to Villa, one of the hardest grounds, and we went there, we went to City, played 55 minutes with ten men, we did it. And tomorrow is another opportunity and the team has done it [before]. That’s the good thing. They already experienced it, they believe how good they are and that’s really important.
On the option of using Kiwior as a centre-back on Sunday…
This is one of the options that we have certainly and Jakub has done it there. Obviously, the context that we did it the other day was very different for him because of the situation that we had to play with 10 men for so long, but certainly, he’s one of the options.
On a potential rivalry with Arne Slot…
That means that we are all there fighting for the same aims and that’s it. I admire and really like the way he sets his teams up, the way he communicates as well. We’ll welcome them on Sunday.
On how stressful it is trying to come up with a starting lineup given the issues he faces…
The only stress, because it’s not just the back line, it’s the midfield, it’s the front line as well, so for me, stress will be two things; one, that you don’t have options and then what do you do? And the other thing that generates not stress, but you get in the shoes of the player, is that every time you make a decision, obviously it’s a positive one for somebody, not so positive for the one that you have to deal with on a human level with that player and that’s what causes a little bit of tummy ache. But that happens every week, that’s a process of choosing the lineup and understanding how everybody’s going to feel about it.
On whether it’s worth risking players’ fitness for such a big game…
No, obviously the risk that we take, normally we want to understand what the risk and what the consequences can be. You don’t always get it right, for sure, because it’s medicine and there’s a lot of unpredictability the moment you extend minutes on players. But I think a player is a great indicator of how he’s feeling, how much he pushes you every single day. If you have to do it, I don’t think it’s great. When players are really pushing you and giving you the right clues to say, OK, I’m ready, I feel good about it, then it’s easier to push and I think everybody’s more certain as well.
On when he’ll make a decision on his team…
Normally I prefer to go to bed with the lineup in my head so I can sleep like a baby, but sometimes it cannot be because you have to wait for the next day. Sometimes two days before or just three days before you already have the idea…against this team, this is what I’m going to do. But when you have uncertainty with injuries that’s tricky.
On minimising the knock-on effect of missing some players…
Obviously, a player in one line, especially if he’s a versatile player that can play in different players [positions], is moved, that has a knock-on effect on the rest. If he doesn’t, it has an effect as well on the things you are able to do because you have to fit the qualities of that player to deliver the game plan that you want, but that’s always the case.
UTA
When he is asked about getting it done against big teams this season he mentions 115 and Villa, not Spurs.
Chapeau Mikel!
How could it be oberwise, the guy knows football 😅
*otherwise
Evening Unai!
Good attitude, but I’m quite petty. I want to see at least one rival player sent off for delaying a restart:-)
Big game in a tough spot. Let’s hope for a lot of that nobody believes in us, cornered animal energy on Sunday. I think I want to see a 4-2-4 shape:
Kai/Trossard taking turns going high and dropping deep as the front two
TP/Rice as the double pivot
Martinelli and Jesus as wingers
Zinchenko playing a more traditional LB but inverting when it’s on.
Gabi, Kiwior, White as the rearguard.
Zini is not ready IMO, especially not for Salah in his current form.
Salah will have Zinchenko for breakfast sadly
I think Declan Rice will be helping on our left, regardless of who the fullback is. Meanwhile, Martinelli will be running Alexander-Arnold ragged and one of their midfielders will need to fill that hole. For me, that means the key is Saka’s availability on the other side.
Thanks for the reality check, Reality Check. I should explain myself. I see 3 options at LB: Zin, Kiwior and MLS. I immediately rule out MLS. He’s a teenager. Then, if we put Kiwior at LB it means someone else has to play RCB, and that means more disruption to the unit overall. If Zinchenko plays, Kiwior can be a RCB and everyone else can stay pretty much where they have been and should be. Now how worried am I about Zj checking defensively? Not that worried. Why? For one thing, Salah is an all time great. If you don’t… Read more »
I’m nervous about this one doc. I’m going to the game and if we don’t see timber and Saka on the team sheet then I’m expecting a very edgy crowd. The atmosphere in the stadium has been a bit flat recently – even against psg when 2 up it was quite stale and the psg fans made more noise.. nerves are a bit frayed and I fear what will happen if we go a goal down tomorrow
I noticed the atmosphere thing too. I think we’ve just not had enough chest thumping, emotional, feel good moments this season. I think at the moment we are still in a hangover from the City game where we came within 1 minute of doing the impossible, and then getting such bad press for it. That was the emotional momentum changer. A lot of people probably though, man, we’ll never beat these guys, maybe some players included. The other thing is Arteta has departed from the Arsenal canon this season, mostly by circumstance and necessity. He has deviated from our identity… Read more »
Very well put!
Looking for some vintage TP!
You may want to pay this place a visit
I’m clutching at straws but arteta has not exactly ruled califoiri out. It feels like yesterday I was telling my liverpool mate there isn’t a team in Europe with the depth we have in defence this year. 🤦♂️
You were correct then and still are now
Tummy