In the second part of his pre-Dinamo Zagreb press conference, Mikel Arteta addressed questions about Jakub Kiwior’s role, the possibility of using Declan Rice at centre-back, the mood in the Arsenal camp, and whether he has the financial backing of the owners to sign players this month.
Here’s what he had to say…
On using music during training sessions…
Music is very much part of our culture. We have music in a lot of different places and I think music has the capacity to change your mood, to change your energy to a certain place. And I think it happens in all of us. You play a song and immediately you feel different. And we have certain songs that trigger something in our team because they have some history as well with us.
And we use it when we believe it’s the right way to do it.
On his favourite music…
I have a lot, depending on the day. That’s what I’m saying. It’s all about my energy. And sometimes I play a song many, many times and my kids say, ‘Dad, can we stop it, please?” It’s what it is.
On whether he felt at the end of last summer that he had enough in attack…
I mean, what we couldn’t do [in the transfer market], we couldn’t do. That’s it. I look at a lot of positives and things that we have been able to do in the market. We’ve had so many [transfers] to do in the last few years and we haven’t invested, really, the things that other teams have done in the front players. But we put it in other areas that we believe were really necessary and we have to develop players to have really high standards as well. So every case is different and I’m very happy with what we have.
On the mood of his players after the Villa frustration…
They were really at it the next day. I mean, it’s our job. I don’t want them to feel unlucky or deserve much more, all those things. We have to control what we can control. Is there anything we could have done better in the game to win by a big margin? Yes, let’s focus on that. The other things, we were very unlucky. I think we were very unlucky.
On whether the 2-2 draw with Villa reflected the performance…
No, it didn’t. It’s clear, obvious, watching it two times. It’s what it is. It was in our hands to change it and that’s it and move forward.
On the importance of using the Champions League to evolve the team…
Well, I already saw a big one from last year and the way we performed against certain oppositions, especially away from home. We played some big games at home this season as well and were very dominant, something that in the past we haven’t been able to do. So we need to keep going and now we need to capitalise on what we’ve done for many months in the competition and earn the right to be with the top teams in the manner that we want to be. Let’s see where we are when we go to the next stage, if we deserve to be there.
On Jakub Kiwior’s role in the side and what’s going on with him…
The ideal position for Jakub is left-central defender, that’s key. And as well with the amount of changes that we have to do in the front area, the attacking midfielder area, full-back area, he hasn’t found the consistency that he had for that period of time [this time last year]. But he will play games and he’s played games and I’m very happy with him because he’s a player that, the way he looks after everybody, the way he trains and when you need him, he’s always there. There’s very few in the squad that are like this, so I really value having Jakub in the squad.
On whether he envisages adding Max Dowman to a Premier League matchday squad this season…
I don’t know if we can even do that. I think he’s not allowed to do that yet because of the rules again. But I don’t know. It will happen naturally, organically, whenever it has to happen. He’s in the environment already, which is incredible at his age, so whenever it has to happen, it will happen.
On talking to the owners in November and whether he has their support to spend in January……
Yeah, we are in constant contact, obviously. Understanding the situation, how the team is evolving. Obviously, some of the big [injury] news that we had, unfortunately, wasn’t that positive. [We talked about] how are we feeling about it, they’ve been super supportive and they continue to be so.
On whether the owners are willing to back him financially right now…
First of all, it’s backing the club and themselves, because we all want the best, so the decision that we make is not to back anybody. It’s just something that makes sense; it’s going to improve the squad and give us the ability to perform to a level and win the things that we want to do. If that’s the case and we have the resources to do it, we will try.
On whether he could use Declan Rice at centre-back again?
He’s been there, he’s been in my head, but the reality is he had to play because of certain circumstances, as six, as an 8, play one game as a 10, as well as to put him in a different position. It’s not ideal, he’s coping with it really, really well, but we know that he has the ability to do that, offering something different, obviously, to the other central defenders, but the reality is that we don’t have right-footers in those positions.
On the difficult transition from player to coach, particularly when your reputation in the game is as big as Fabio Cannavaro’s…
Yeah, I imagine [it’s hard]. I don’t know, in his case, obviously, he’s already been in different jobs for many years, but I admire his unbelievable career as a football player and as well what he’s done as a coach, in different roles, in different places. Tomorrow we will meet and it will be a good experience.
On Cannavaro’s coaching career taking him to China, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Italy and Croatia…
Plus all the ones that he had as a player, all the experiences are amazing. I think those experiences have incredible value and it really changes and moulds a person and consequently the coach. So it’s getting everything that you can and getting an environment where you can develop that idea, give you time and then have success.
On whether he wants to coach around the world like that…
At the moment, no. At the moment I’m so happy where I am!
off-topis, but love the Blogs’ decision not to post on Twitter anymore!
Twitter is a right-wing shithole and i hope it sinks
I’m happy you are happy. I wish you many even happier years ahead as that will bring more happiness to us all.
Who is this Igor Jesus that we are linked with that has 5goals in 22games, they said a parting gift from Edu before he leaves.. I checked his stats he spend 4years in UAE.. His they truly what we need at this time and rumors of Evan Ferguson who has score only 1 goal since last October on loan.. To me this are not upgrades just like sterling filling the bench and zero impacts..
i very welcome your decision to ban X and far right oligarchs trying to rule the world, thank you!
(sorry for the political statement)
Don’t be sorry.
That’s hardly political, just a statement of fact. These people fancy themselves kings, and well… the French had a handy, gravity driven solution for that type of tyrant that can easily be constructed at home. Just saying.
The guillotine was introduced mostly to reduce the empathy the people started to have with convicts when they were butchered by previous far more savage, cruel methods, creating an extended spiritual/Christian martyristic salvation event. This had begun to undermine the deterrent effect intended and made the authorities look bad so they cleaned it all up with a single blade. Just saying.
Brilliant 😆 I endorse this approach 👍
Who banned the what now?
Very glad he’s so happy here, it’s clear how well our system works but it needs quality players to win the big stuff, which due to circumstance (awful injury run, repeated absurd Arsenal-only calls from
referees held to zero accountability for them) and our own transfer failings we have not had.
I hope we will have the players we need to dominate soon. Very non-commital on whether the owners will provide the funds though…
“Can you feel the excitement? This season could be the onewhere we finally claim victory! Let’s make it happen!”
Most of us here in Mumias (Kenya) are feeling that you better retain Party as a 6 and not deploy him as a right fullback. In most of the games he’s been deployed at the back ,we either drew or lost.
You rather train Skeley in that position and use Tieney or Kalifyory (if fit on the left )
Additionally get a striker or even Lookman of Atlanta. He can operate both as a winger on either side or a central Striker.
Totally agree.
First we don’t need lookman cos he operates from d left n drift inwards like cr7 lookman can’t play from d right-wing which is d utmost position we need to solve n cf.. thanks Ethan is back n will manage d position till saka returns..I guess that’s y d club is more bent on looking for a cf right now..arteta hands were force to use partey as fullback rather than tactical so we should be glad that partey has stay fit for us this far…for me I will give him 2nd runner up for d player of d season in… Read more »
Love how he completely dodged the question of what music he likes as if it was a question about tactics or injuries. Can anyone else imagine Arteta singing along to any song at all? Much less until his kids are screaming at him to stop. I think he knows that would show a softer and much more vulnerable side of him that would be inconsistent with the image he tries to maintain. Which player, referee or press member will ever fear him again after imagining him singing Adele’s “Someone Like You”? Or Bowie’s “Ashes to Ashes”? would prefer those to… Read more »
You went for Ricky Martin and you didn’t choose this?
Luchar por ella,
Do you really whaaaan’ it?
GO, GO, GO!
ALLEZ, ALLEZ, ALLEZ!
I think it’s more likely that he has a thing for Clown Core.
Or that being Spanish he’s super into Rosalía. But more her first album, because he prefers a more minimal beat with attention to detail, doesn’t dig that commercial sound of her more recent stuff.
Not sure why, but I get 80s power ballads vibes from Mikel (probably the hair)
Bet he loves Lego House by Ed Sheeran
Wake me up, before Le-go go
I do feel for Kiwior. He was played very well last year bar the Bayern game (and he’s hardly the first player Sane has made look silly) and I think we looked worse after dropping him for Tomiyasu in the last few games of the season. Calafiori looks a definite upgrade, but I really don’t think Kiwior deserves to have replaced Cedric in the hierarchy.
Arteta basically sees him now as LCB and nothing else, and there are two players ahead of him in that position (I think – we haven’t seen Arteta play Calafiori there but actually I think that’s probably his best position). One of my biggest pet peeves with Arteta is how inflexible he can be with which side of the pitch a player plays, even though Kiwi did really well at RCB in place of Saliba two seasons ago. I’d be very surprised if he stays with us beyond this coming summer.
So basically, Kiwior will only cover Gabriel, or if we play 3 at the back. Unless Gabriel is injured or sent off Kiwior, will be in the same boat as Neto. We have too many left backs. Subs on the bench. Sterling, Neto, Kiwior, hmmmm….😕
Kiwior’s best position is probably LCB. But the question shouldn’t be what his best position is…it’s whether or not playing him at RCB and leaving Timber at FB is better than Timber at RCB and TP at FB.
The latter has been poor at FB and made the team so dysfunctional, it’s hard for me to believe that playing Kiwior at RCB would be worse.
Off topic……..
Has anyone noticed ( of course you have) the kid gloves treatment of Ethan (“ an appearance here and there, he’s so young, pathways etc etc “).
Whereas Myles just came in and there’s no talk about protection etc etc.
Mikel….. you are a brilliant manager and so good with player welfare.
However, there’s quite a difference in the handling of the 2 lads🤔
Well maybe just maybe that’s because he sees them both every day and has known them well for years and he doesn’t just treat everyone the same as if they were the same.
Yeah, probably this.
Still would love to know his thinking behind it. I mean, he was hesitant to play Nwaneri even with Odegaard out and no other natural alternative, whereas he keeps on playing MLS despite Zinchenko & Kiwior being available (not that I’m complaining!)
I think it’s also about the positions they play in. Lots of young players break through at full back / wing then move central as they mature because they’re not positions where having a weak link can completely destroy the team structure. When a wing spot opened up after Saka’s injury Arteta started Nwaneri in the Prem with no hesitation, but the risk of playing him at is higher, even if he’s probably ready.
I think it has to do with their positions and physicality. Myles does the tackling and seems stronger overall. While Ethan gets tackled while dribbling at speed… So more likely to get injured (same way Saka has been handled in terms of tackling risk and asked that he is protected more over last few years)… And he seems a lighter build… On top of the pressure of being creative and scoring goals in the front line against some big defenders. I love that we have them both… And Myles has really been amazing at LB!! They are both so young… Read more »
Just one thing on tonight, I never want to see Thomas Partey in defence again.