Mikel Arteta recently addressed the media ahead of Arsenal’s highly anticipated Premier League opener against Manchester United. The atmosphere surrounding the Gunners is one of optimism, fuelled by a productive pre-season and shrewd transfer activity. Arteta exuded confidence and eagerness to finally clinch a trophy, something the club hasn’t achieved since their FA Cup triumph in 2020.
The press conference covered various topics, including team news, transfer updates, the pressure of the new season, and Arteta’s assessment of his revamped squad.
Here’s a breakdown of the key talking points:
Pre-Season Excitement and Squad Evolution
Arteta expressed his excitement for the upcoming season, highlighting the “productive pre-season” and the “evolution in the squad.” The early completion of transfer business has also contributed to the positive mood. He emphasized the energy and enthusiasm within the team and staff, driven by a collective desire to improve and win.
Team News and Injuries
Regarding team fitness, Arteta confirmed that Leandro Trossard is recovering well from a minor issue. “I think he’s much better. I think he will be able to train again tomorrow and if that’s the case, he will be fit,” he stated.
Transfer Window Focus
When questioned about further transfer activity, Arteta deferred to the club’s management, stating, “I’ll leave that to Andrea and the club. My main focus is just about performing, preparing the games in the best possible way and winning.” He emphasized his concentration on on-field performance after a busy period of squad strengthening.
Challenging Start to the Season
Arteta acknowledged the tough start to the season, with fixtures against Liverpool, Manchester City, and Newcastle United looming. However, he embraced the challenge, stating, “We need to play each other, we need to play at some point and we’ll start at an incredible stadium with so much history and a beautiful way to start the season.” He emphasized a game-by-game approach, focusing on preparation and performance.
Title Contenders and Competition
Arteta believes that several teams are capable of competing for the Premier League title this season. “A lot, too many in this league and it’s getting stronger and stronger,” he noted, adding that some unexpected teams might surprise everyone. He highlighted the quality of squads, managers, and club structures as factors contributing to the intense competition.
Manchester United Expectations
Looking ahead to the match against Manchester United, Arteta expects a different and improved side. “I don’t know, they will be different as well and the manager will have more time with them. They have a pre-season, they made some really good signings as well like anybody else. I think they strengthen, and they will be better than last year like the rest of the teams,” he said.
Viktor Gyokeres and New Signings
Arteta expressed his delight at securing Viktor Gyokeres, anticipating a significant impact on the team. “I can just talk about Viktor and how happy we are to have him. I think he’s going to have a tremendous impact in the team. The adaptation has been very, very good and we’re really happy to have him.” He also highlighted the support the coaching staff and Gyokeres’ teammates will provide to help him reach his full potential. Martin Zubimendi was also singled out for praise, with Arteta noting his seamless integration and immediate impact on the team.
Captaincy and Leadership
Addressing Tony Adams’ comments about Martin Odegaard’s captaincy, Arteta firmly defended his decision. “Well my opinion is clear and it’s not just my opinion, it’s all the staff and especially the players. I asked them to vote the captain and I got the result yesterday and by a mile away, by a big, big 100 miles, everybody choosing the same person, which is Martin Odegaard. Which is the most clear sign that you can have,” he explained. He emphasized that the players’ overwhelming support for Odegaard demonstrates his suitability for the role.
Club Support and Ambition
Arteta acknowledged the club’s support during the transfer window, stating that it’s “not supporting me of course but supporting the team, supporting the vision, the idea and especially the ambition and the level that we are playing, the competition we have and what we expect to do.” He emphasized the need to improve the squad’s quality and depth to compete at the highest level.
Developing Gyokeres into a Premier League Star
The manager commented on how the coaching staff plan to help Gyokeres adapt from the Portuguese League to the Premier League. “Well, we’re going to do everything. First of all, understanding the player and exposing the player to the conditions that he can fulfil his incredible potential. That’s going to be the key,” he stated, drawing parallels to other successful strikers who have made the transition from different leagues.
Manchester United Rivalry
Reflecting on the historic rivalry between Manchester United and Arsenal, Arteta shared his excitement for the upcoming match. “Well, it’s a lot. It’s some great memories. It’s history. It’s the clashes when I was younger as well and there were some massive characters as well playing for both teams and it created something different in those games. Now it is different but still it’s going to be super intense and I’m very excited,” he said.
Pressure and Consistency
Arteta acknowledged the pressure to deliver a title after coming close in recent seasons. “Yeah, you keep digging, digging, digging and you have to be digging because one day the gold is going to be there. That’s all the time. When I’ve been taught, when I’ve been educated and that’s it. For three seasons we’ve had more points than any other team in this league, which is incredible. That’s how you have all the consistency. Now we have to do it in a season to have one more point or the same amount of points and more goals different than any other team. That’s the objective,” he explained. He highlighted the team’s consistency over the past three seasons and the need to translate that into a title-winning campaign.
Youth Academy and Player Development
Arteta emphasized the importance of the club’s youth academy and its role in developing young talent. “Well that shows the great work that has been done in the academy throughout the years, especially because those players have come to the first team and performed at the highest level without any professional experience and that’s a very different case to any other player that in big clubs they’ve been playing at 17, 18, 19, 20 with many other experiences before that, whether it’s loans or playing in different teams,” he said. He praised the academy’s preparation of young players and the squad’s ability to support their integration into the first team. He specifically mentioned Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, and Dowman as exciting prospects.
Player Availability and Injury Management
Arteta discussed the importance of player availability and the steps taken to manage injuries during pre-season. “Well especially because those two cases were players that were coming from long-term injuries so we have to be very cautious throughout pre-season especially when you start to travel abroad and there are so many conditions that change for those players,” he explained. He highlighted the improved balance and depth in the squad, which will be crucial for maintaining player fitness throughout the season.
Competition for Places
Regarding competition for places in the squad, Arteta emphasized that players will have to earn their opportunities. “Well it’s always we’re going to play with 11 players, there are going to be some players on the bench that are going to be used, some others that cannot be used, some players that we’re going to have to leave in the stands. That’s the level, that’s the next level that we’re going to face, something that probably we haven’t faced before,” he said. He noted the depth in the squad, with multiple players capable of playing in different positions.
Reflections and Evolution
Arteta shared his reflections from the previous season, highlighting the team’s ability to adapt and win matches in various circumstances. “First of all, with the amount of situations we have to deal with, I think the team showed an incredible capacity to adapt and win a lot of matches in a very different context, something that is not common and I revised that in the last Premier League for 20 years and what happened,” he said. He also discussed the need to evolve the squad and individual roles. The midfield evolution, particularly the partnership between Declan Rice and Zubimendi, was identified as a key factor in Arsenal’s progress.
Leadership Group and Captaincy Qualities
Arteta explained the process of selecting the leadership group and the qualities he sees in Martin Odegaard as captain. “So, at the end what matters the most is how these guys feel about who needs to lead them, how they feel comfortable, who is going to push them, who is going to give them support when it’s happening. Basically, who do you want to represent the club and the team when we go out there and face any opposition? That’s the key,” he said.
Rule Changes and Consistency
Finally, Arteta addressed the recent rule changes and the need for consistent implementation. “I think they’ve been very clear, we have very good meetings with the referees when we came here and the managers’ meeting as well. I think it’s very clear what to expect and wish everybody the best. I think we’re going to need the best of all of us to have the best Premier League ever, which I think is going to happen, and hopefully we’re going to come on top of that,” he concluded. He expressed confidence in the improvements made in officiating and the importance of reinforcing those messages.