Perhaps wary of sparking any controversy, Mikel Arteta was in a cagey mood ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Manchester City.
Given the drama of September’s 2-2 draw at the Etihad – Leandro Trossard’s red card, a late City equaliser, a post-match bust-up, and tense exchanges between the managers – it was inevitable he’d face some probing questions. But Arteta did his best to keep the headlines to a minimum.
As for transfers, he continued to stress that Arsenal are actively looking to recruit but his answers won’t get any pulses racing.
Here’s what he had to say…
On David Raya’s fitness…
With David it’s still uncertain, we have another session tomorrow, another 48 hours so we have to wait and see.
On Ben White’s availability…
Ben is definitely out, he hasn’t trained with us yet so he’s not going to be available and no other news from the game against Girona.
On Raya’s issue…
It’s a muscular issue so we have to wait and see.
On transfers…
I’m very confident with the work that the club is doing and exploring every single opportunity that we believe can have an impact on the team. If that’s certainly the case and we can agree on something we will and if not we won’t.
On whether transfers are looking likely…
We are trying everything that we can but I don’t want to give any reassurance or not, I don’t know. It doesn’t depend only on us so our intention is clear but the possibilities are affected by three parties.
On Arsenal and City having niggle and whether the Gunners have unfinished business after the 2-2 at the Etihad…
The business is to try to be better than them to beat them, that’s it. The only thing I review is what happened in that match. How competitive it gets is normal when two big teams want to win the game, nothing else on that side.
On how he views the last game…
Very disappointed with everything that we did for 98 or 99 minutes but it’s what it is.
On him and Pep exchanging words after the game…
No, only positive ones.
On saying “he knows things” about City…
Of course, I know because I was there for four years. I know how competitive they are, and how willing they are, and how they can sustain that competitiveness regardless. They win and win and win again. That’s what I meant.
On whether his relationship with Pep had been affected…
If so we wouldn’t be talking on the phone and talking to each other and messaging each other and willing [each other] to have the best. It wouldn’t happen.
On how he sums up the Arsenal – City rivalry…
Normal. Two teams trying to win.
On how decisive a result would be in this game…
It would be a big boost for us. Winning big matches is always something special. Every time we play a big match against our big rivals it brings something extra. It’s the confidence, it’s the emotion, it’s the fact that you are there and you continue to win. That’s what we want to achieve.
On how confident he is that Arsenal can win…
Yeah with 11 men and 60,000 [fans fighting] every ball right behind us, pushing and bringing the energy. That’s what we want.
On a bid for Ollie Watkins and whether he wants a striker…
You know I’m not going to talk about any individuals. As I said, we are actively looking, proactively, to find a solution in that position and we’ll see what the market brings.
On the importance of the referee this weekend…
Listen, he needs to do his job the best that he possibly can, like we have to do, each of us. There’s nothing else, nothing new, nothing special. We’re just going to focus on what we have to do from our side to be better than City and try to beat them.
On whether Sunday is a must-win game…
I mean every game we have to. We have to on paper, you have to. It’s that will.
On whether he’s surprised by City’s inconsistency this season…
I don’t know but that’s the beauty of football. It’s not that simple and it’s much more complicated than what you think in June or July or August.
On whether he wants an experienced player or someone young he can develop…
We don’t really look at the market in those terms. We look at what we have in the squad and what we are lacking and what can really impact and bring something that potentially can make us much better, regardless of the age or sometimes as well the background that they have. [There must be] a real belief that that player can be really good for us over time.
On whether buying a striker is a ‘must’…
It doesn’t [just] depend on us. We have the intention, the purpose and the ambition to try to help the team and support the squad to be better and to finish the season really, really strong. We are actively trying to do that.
On MLS and Nwaneri starting games together and what it says about their quality…
First of all, they earned the right for us to trust them. That’s certainly the case with those two because again in pre-season probably we wouldn’t have projected how many minutes those two were going to play in the league or in the Champions League. Probably we wouldn’t be talking about the numbers that they have already achieved. That’s credit to them and everybody that is contributing to that. If they continue to perform, they will continue to play.
On whether the result of Sunday’s game will affect transfer deadline day…
No, the result, no. I mean hopefully not, but obviously, if something happens that obviously is not planned and puts the squad in a much more dangerous position, it might do.
That [the result] no [won’t affect thinking] because that would mean that we haven’t planned anything and we’re just reacting to something last second which is not good.
On whether Pep thinks City are in the title race…
I think it’s very obvious that it’s yes, we don’t have to discuss that I think.
On Haaland’s comments at the end of the game…
I don’t take anything personally that happens on the pitch for me and since I’ve been a player it stays there and it’s full of emotions and things there and I just leave it aside and move on.
On how important Kai Havertz is to the squad…
Yes, very much, obviously he’s been our main striker now for a while and he’s producing some big numbers and his work ethic is unbelievable, not only that, but what we’re demanding to do in our model his availability has been exceptional. So he’s always there and we’re very happy to have him.
This is a very important weekend in regards to our title chances. Liverpool are most likely going to beat Everton so this is a must win or else the gap will just be too much. COYG!
It’s more important, they’re at Bournemouth tomorrow, Everton in couple weeks. Please Iraola get a result against Arnie.
First of all, Liverpool are playing Bournemouth this weekend away, and that won’t be easy for them, as Bournemouth will not just roll over and die.
Second, with Moyes back at Everton, we cannot assume that Liverpool will simply win their game in hand against them. They may well do, but it’s not as
straightforward as it may seem.
Agreed. The dreamer is hoping for a win over city and Bournemouth to do us a favour. Everton is middle of this week and derbys are weird. By next weekend the gap could be 3 points and same games played.
Of course the doomsday scenario would be a 12 point gap to Liverpool and City only 3 behind us.
I took would like to see it be a 3 point gap in a few games time, that’s the dreamer in me!! However, the realist in me says it’ll be between 9 and 12 points!! Only thing left then is CL and maintaining a top 4 finish!!!
Just win it.
Jesus…
“ Be Humble”.Hope the cyborg & the arrogant Silva get an earful.
Can’t for Gabriel to score a header, naturally from a corner, and throw the ball at Haaland’s head. Let’s see if Sloth can stay humble then….
And whether the referee punishes him for it, as Haaland escaped sanction.
Haaland is a 🔔 end
Wise and balanced words from a top man in the ⚽ business.
As for haaland and his stay humble, well it’d be nice if he and that 💩 club he plays for were
Just had a mild infarction while misconstruing “on MLS and Nwaneri”
I recommend the Dwight Eisenhower treatment: fresh mountain air, Mozart, and judicious use of fine cognac.
I agree with Arteta that our best chance to win is with 11 outfield players