In the second half of his pre-Fulham press conference, Mikel Arteta discussed Emile Smith Rowe’s summer departure, Arsenal’s strength from corners, and why he believes his team still has significant room for improvement. He also explained how boosting the squad’s overall ‘value’ became a central goal of his project.
On letting Emile Smith Rowe leave the club…
It was a special one, for sure, but when you look somebody in their eyes and he really believes that it’s the best move for him, that it’s the right time for him to move, that he really needs another challenge, at the end you have to understand that, you have to show your gratitude and move on, that’s it.
On playing with Alex Iwobi and the midfielder’s form for Fulham…
I always liked him a lot. I always thought that he had tremendous quality, a very special talent, a talent that has the capacity to play in different spaces and positions. I’m really happy to see him playing at that level.
On how close his team are to being ‘kings of everything’?
Very far. I don’t think there’s ever been a team that has achieved that. Do we have the best atmosphere in the world at the stadium? Not yet. Are we on that trajectory, have we improved a lot? Yeah. Do we have the best academy in the world? Not yet. Do we have the best mentality in the world? Not yet. We want to achieve that. Are we the most physical team in the world? No. Do we have the best individuals to play magic moments every three days? No, we are on it.
On whether it’s actually possible to reach that level or just something to strive for…
I think that way, you know, we’re going to score three magic moment goals every game. That’s the objective, that’s the project. We score one, it’s good, we want two, and then three. It’s not going to happen overnight. But it’s a lot of the things that we put targets on, is it impossible? No. They have become a reality.
On whether he admires the set-pieces of other teams…
No, I’ve never admired a team for that. Admired? No, I wouldn’t use that word. There have been some really good teams, yeah. I don’t know, I have to think. Arsenal, let’s say that.
On whether there’s anything else, like corners, where his side can make fundamental improvements…
Yeah, for sure. Obviously, when we are monitoring the team, and understanding not only the team and the squad, one of the main things was the value of our squad. We want to be the kings of squad value in the world. Last year, I think we were probably the best in Europe. Before, we were so far. We need to do a lot of things to generate value in this squad, to generate value in a lot of things that we do. So, we need to have a project and we need to work on that. And we did it for three or four years, and last year, it was the first time or the second time that we had the highest value in any squad in Europe. That’s an objective, and now it’s a reality. So, it’s great to see that. There’s a lot of people involved, putting effort into things, and then it happens, but you have to think that way.
In what sense he means value…
In every sense, what they produce [on the pitch], how they can perform, what is the actual [monetary] value in that market, what is the sustainability of that squad, in what kind of phase is each player, the squad, the starting XI, the academy, what is the pathway, there is a lot of things that you have to plan out, because you want to make a sustainable performance, and, as well, the capacity to constantly evolve as a team under the demands of this game. And we are doing it.
On dropping five points against Fulham last year and wanting to put that right…
Unfortunately, it’s not that easy, you know, because the opposition plays and they merit to get points, you haven’t been the best on that day, it can be from other factors as well. This season it has already happened. So that’s it, what is gone, unfortunately, is gone, learn from it, make sure that you are better equipped and prepared for the next one, and then it’s about delivering when you have the chance to do it.
On whether Nicolas Jover is enjoying the attention and praise he’s received…
I don’t know, obviously, the fulfilment of his work, it’s very recognisable, and he needs to be very proud of that. Not only him as well, but a lot of people that put a lot of effort into preparation, into a lot of things, starting with data, with analysis, with video, in training sessions, a lot of the staff that participates on that. And then the players that are the main protagonists at the end to deliver something. Saliba didn’t score the nicest goal of his career the other day, but look at the way he celebrates, it’s unbelievable, look at how the crowd celebrates. Those ugly goals are exactly the same as the most beautiful one that he scored against Bournemouth, same value, same emotion, or even higher. So that tells you the story.
On creating fear in opponents from set pieces…
I don’t know, I don’t know how they will feel about it, what they do, that’s not in our control. We have to control the things that we can do, especially the ones that we are doing really well, and the things that we can improve. And in that area, again, we have still big margins.
Clear, concise, honest, humble. This is exactly want I want from an Arsenal manager. Long may it last – and let it be decorated with silverware. If anyone deserves it, it’s Mikel.
I agree and the fact so many pundits are commenting negatively about our “time wasting”, blocking and ugly Neville’s comments on Jova means MA is doing a great job.
Grateful for Mikel 🙏
It’s funny how perceptions of managers change from Arsenal supporters to opposition fans. I share an office with a Newcastle fan who can’t stand Mikel, calling him classless, volatile and irritating. I see the exact opposite; classy, intelligent, steely and imaginative. Eddie Howe though…
I used to Like Howe until he went to NU. He’s been preening peacock.
nah, it’s a great moment for managers in the premier league. off the top i can’t think of a single one i don’t like, it’s full of excellent young managers that work hard and try new approaches. we’re quite far from the sam allardyces, tony pulis and mourinhos. only sean dyche comes to mind but i really haven’t heard him say anything wrong, i just don’t like him. and guardiola can be effing annoying sometimes, but everytime he’s spoken about arsenal it’s been with respect. your friend is delusional
Great points, my tendency is like John and Dada to also hate opposition coaches just because they’re on the other side and they say or do things that make them seem classless, because for instance they complain about calls or non calls instead of acknowledging our superiority when we beat them, or talk about their own superiority when they beat us instead of acknowledging the calls or non calls that we had seen in the match, etc. Of course those are two sides to the same coin, so it’s good to step back once in a while and see what… Read more »
Sounds like your friend is just another Newcastle fan who has created a faux rivalry with Arsenal in his head, even though geographically we couldn’t be further apart, they’ve never competed for any trophies against us bar one fa cup in the 90s (where we destroyed them) and they are nowhere near our level despite having all the money in the world. Glad we live rent free in his head though. He probably hates Mikel and thinks the Saudis are brilliant, the morally corrupt fool.
What a great time to be alive, opposition fans crying, emptying stadiums wherever we go, universally hated.
Aaaah, the smell of fear…..COYG!!
So many outsiders consider Arteta lucky to keep his job after his first two seasons.
What they fail to recognize is how well he understands what it means to run a club in every aspect. The guy is truly bilingual : he knows how to speak like a player and like a club owner. And he established a strategy for his team’s style of play, but also for Arsenal’s business as a company. It’s not the side we love about football, but you don’t win without that.
They also fail to recognise the poison & deadwood that he had to clear out before he could rebuild the squad initially with limited resources & a club that had fallen well down the ranks in terms of clubs that top players want to go to.
it’s gotten to a point in which im no longer just an arsenal fan, but an arteta fan. i think i might follow his career wherever he goes. such an inspirational figure, we’re really lucky to have not just a successful manager but a likable human being that shares the values of our club. how many clubs have to see rounds of wankers take charge of their club every 8 months? we’re spoiled and should be grateful
I felt this way about Wenger and I feel this way now about Arteta. And have done so for some time. Guys like them are rare.
“On dropping five points against Fulham last year and wanting to put that right… Unfortunately, it’s not that easy, you know, because the opposition plays and they merit to get points, you haven’t been the best on that day, it can be from other factors as well. This season it has already happened.” Referees are the first thing that spring to mind when he talks about other factors like this. They’ve committed atrocities against us already this season, just like they do every season although to me at least this time feels worse. We have to be so much better… Read more »
ESR wanted to leave badly by the sound of things. You shouldn’t keep a guy who doesn’t want to be here. It was the right move for both him and the club, and now he’s enjoying his football again. Win-win.
Just not today…
yep, he was right to want to leave, sure there was the off chance (which with the benefit of 20:20 hindisght ended up materialising) that Odegaard would get injured for a third of the season and allow him a lot of game time, but that didn’t happen the previous two seasons, so why should he assume it would? And what are the chances he could seize the left 8 when Mikel just bought another Mikel to play there and when half the time Rice plays there? Next to none. Fulham was the perfect move for him and I hope he… Read more »