In the second half of his pre-Manchester United press conference, Mikel Arteta answered questions on Bukayo Saka’s state of mind, squad rotation during this hectic period, the importance of supporters staying patient and more.
Here’s what he had to say…
On whether he’s seen Bukayo Saka and how he’s doing…
Yeah, he’s been around a lot. It’s great to have him, it’s always a smile on his face. He’s going through a period that is unknown for him because he’s never been injured for such a long time. We discussed the things that we can do together, and he can do as well, to use that time in the right way to make him a better person, to make sure that he spends the time adequately with the opportunity that he has and when he comes back he’s in a better place.
On whether Saka’s teammates are motivated to win for him…
We had unfortunately a lot of players injured so we do it for all of them but we do it for our people and because it’s our job and our passion to try to do our best to win four matches, that’s it.
On the hectic schedule being the reason for Saka’s injury…
The answer is that we don’t know. We don’t know if he’d had one or two less games [whether] he would have got injured or maybe not because he’s done it in the past so nobody can answer that question. We can have our theories, our feelings and look at every possible data but the answer is that we don’t know.
On whether his players can mount a similar second-half-season run having not had a break this January…
Well, I look at it the other way around. I said in the first part of the season with all the injuries, suspensions, more games, more competition that we have played, we are in a better position than last year or exactly the same in the Premier League. How is that possible? So everything is ahead. It’s in our control. There are things that we can do still better with injuries, without injuries, with the schedule and we focus on that.
On whether going out of the FA Cup early would improve Arsenal’s league chances…
We want to be in the FA Cup.
On whether he got enough credit for his 2020 FA Cup success…
I don’t expect to get credit. I expect to get judged on what we do on the day. That’s what we’ve done in the past and the future is not relevant. It doesn’t interest me at all.
On whether the Covid-19 pandemic overshadowed the 2020 FA Cup win…
I don’t know.
On using corners to great effect against United last month and whether United will be more prepared this time…
I don’t know the way they have prepared, what they have focused on, so it’s very difficult to answer that. In the way that we believe we can hurt them, certainly, we’ll focus especially tomorrow on those areas.
On the importance of the fans being patient with the team at this time of the season…
In my opinion, it’s crucial because the success that we had is very, very related to the atmosphere and the energy that we have created amongst our supporters, so that’s it.
On the clash with United representing an opportunity to rotate players…
I think we have rotated a lot for different reasons and we’re going to have to continue to rotate because of the amount of games that we have and the level of the players that we have. So I don’t see it [being about] the competition. It’s about momentum, it’s about feeling, it’s about what we need in the occasion as well to give ourselves the best chance to win. So my selection is going to be [based] on that, not in the competition.
On the match representing a big chance to respond to Tuesday’s defeat to Newcastle…
Yeah, but the response cannot be attached to the performance or to the result? The result, yeah, we are very unhappy with the result, especially because we believe that we didn’t deserve it. But there are a few things that we have to do much better and against Manchester United as well to earn the right to win again.
On getting sent different competition balls to train with and when that happens….
Yeah, so today we trained with those balls for example.
On the FA Cup ball celebrating Manchester United’s success last year…
I just answered a question the other day. Somebody asked me, I don’t know who it was. Don’t worry, we will adapt to that.
On being in a no-win situation when it comes to people’s opinions on his side’s emphasis on set pieces…
Yeah, we have won a lot.
On whether he feels like people are getting at him…
Me, personally? When you are there competing on every front, it’s normal. Because a lot of people want to support another club but if I look at what they say about Chelsea or Tottenham or Liverpool and this, it’s the same. So there’s no difference. What do they want me to talk about? That we conceded 0.3 [xG] goals in 10 games in a row? Nobody’s going to talk about that, no? And we scored now five goals. No, because last week we talked about not scoring and now they scored four. I’m not going to ask any questions about that. It’s normal, guys. For me, it’s totally normal.
A very good student of Arsene Wenger in media interaction. My manager 👏👏👏
Yeah he deals with press conferences like a seasoned pro and has done since day one.
Still my main man, I get supporters being unhappy about certain things, fair enough, but fans wanting him out need to give their head a massive wobble, go for a walk in a wooded area, find some inner peace and come back into the fold with a new found appreciation of where we are as a club. We will be buying forwards and wingers in the summer, so come back and back us 100%, we need you! Up the Arse!
People have short memories. Being in the CL and being serious serial contenders for the title going into the business end of the season as a self sustaining club is in my opinion a massive achievement given the current level of competition.
Fan patience is earned by winning games, and right now well…
Mikel has been at Arsenal nearly five years. Fair enough he won the FA Cup in 2021 and runners up twice but given the amount of money spent and the time given to him (Lopetegue was given just 5 months at West Ham – a team with no aspirations for anything) you would have to see he HAS to deliver this season…
Not for me he doesn’t. He changes the whole toxic culture of the club. Unfortunately there are still some fans (mostly online) they remain. Critique is great and necessary part of supporting a club. Here’s my critique, Arteta changed the whole club and had us the last two years a couple of better performances away from winning the title against one of best teams premiership has seen. In 2024 we got most points, conceded fewest goals and scored second most goals. Now is not the time to panic. Injuries, illness, terrible ref and var calls resulting in suspensions and playing… Read more »
Alex Ferguson nearly got sacked in his 4th season at United as he had not won anything. He won the FA cup that season. It took him 7 seasons to win the league I believe. It turned out that some patience was all that was needed.