Arteta is obligating Saka to take a break!

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is obligating Saka to take a break!  17/01/2025  Sobha Realty Training Ground, London, UK

Transcript

00:00Hi.

00:01You also have Ian Sterling back from injury,

00:03who played the last couple of games.

00:05It's obviously still early days,

00:07he's probably still getting into the flow of things.

00:09What will be made of the performances of later?

00:11What more do you expect to do going forward?

00:13Obviously, he's increasing in the front line.

00:15Yeah, for sure, we can get a lot from Rash.

00:17We are getting much more than we used to get a few weeks back.

00:20Obviously, his involvement has been much higher

00:24and he's going to be capital.

00:26Obviously, now he's got more rhythm and more minutes.

00:29He had an injury that he's coming back from,

00:31but overall I think he can give us a lot.

00:35We've seen with Big Gabi, especially from set pieces,

00:37he scores once again.

00:39In terms of centre-backs across this country,

00:41and just football in general,

00:43how much of a threat is he as a centre-back

00:45in terms of scoring goals?

00:47At the present time, very much,

00:49when you look at his numbers and the type of goals

00:52and the occasions when he has scored the goals,

00:54very important goals as well.

00:56He will be right up there.

00:58Jordan?

01:00It must be really hard to balance what you now need to do in January

01:04with what you want to do in the summer.

01:07Have you been given assurances that if you spend money in January

01:10that that won't affect your budget in the summer

01:13or what you plan to do in the summer?

01:16Assurances in this industry I think that nobody can give you

01:19because it's related to performance, what we achieve,

01:23how we finish the season, a lot of things.

01:27It's clear, it's not easy,

01:29and I think that's probably the most difficult part

01:32because a player that is injured at the end,

01:35what can you do?

01:37He has no value, he cannot perform,

01:39so it's a really difficult scenario.

01:41On top of that, you have to add somebody else on that,

01:43so it's not easy.

01:45Is it something you've spoken about in terms of getting that balance

01:48right between this month and the summer?

01:50Yeah, for sure. We never plan a window.

01:52We have a plan, we look at the squad,

01:54how we're going to evolve it, what is in the academy,

01:56how we're going to change it and adapt things.

01:58And from there, then you go.

02:00Because from what you plan actually

02:02and the picture that we have today,

02:04or we are really bad at planning,

02:06or nobody could see that we were going to have that many injuries.

02:09So you're going to have to adapt whatever the plan is as well.

02:12Gary?

02:14Is it as simple as money to get the top issue on this month?

02:19I don't think so.

02:21Obviously it's a factor because at the end

02:23when you want to recruit a player and the player wants to come,

02:26you have to agree to a certain fee,

02:28but that player has to be available,

02:30that player that we believe can be the solution

02:33short and medium and long term,

02:35and then we have to be able to afford it.

02:37It's not easy.

02:39When you're looking at the players in January,

02:41it's a lot harder for players to necessarily settle

02:44as opposed to players playing permanently.

02:47Would that be part of your thinking,

02:49that if you bring someone in,

02:51you have to get the ground running,

02:53otherwise the pressure is already there on them?

02:55For sure, with every player.

02:57You have to understand the context as well.

02:59So which player do you bring?

03:01What are the expectations?

03:03How is this player going to fit in on that door

03:05when everybody's asking,

03:07OK, we need to sign that kind of player,

03:09and then how do you deal with that?

03:11That's always a big thing.

03:13Darren?

03:15We've still got players coming in,

03:17but Kai Hammond's at the club at the moment.

03:19You've been with him the last few weeks,

03:21not great for weeks on the pitch for him.

03:23Dr Reston, I'm sure...

03:25I enjoy to work with him, honestly.

03:27I wish that you could spend some time with him

03:29and the players around him

03:31and the people around him.

03:33That's why we all love him,

03:35because he just looks forward.

03:37He takes it in the chin, he works harder,

03:39and he tries again.

03:41Like him, anybody else.

03:43Because about football, what you've done today

03:45or three weeks ago, it doesn't matter.

03:47It's still what we can produce.

03:49We're going to be judged on that, that's it.

03:51Let's look forward to that.

03:53And finally, John.

03:55You mentioned the crowd had a different fight

03:57and a different body language.

03:59Like yours, you know, you are like this.

04:01LAUGHTER

04:03I love that.

04:05LAUGHTER

04:11Let's go.

04:13LAUGHTER

04:21Hopefully no.

04:23Hopefully that's the standards and we maintain it

04:25and we go from there to better.

04:27Sorry?

04:33I don't know.

04:35They have to watch the press conference.

04:37It would be difficult on me shouting and lifting my arms.

04:39What else can I do? I will try my best.

04:43You're leaving a break.

04:45Does that mean you can go on holiday?

04:47Yeah, yeah, he needs to.

04:49He's obligated to go.

04:51Yes.

04:53With his girlfriend, with his family,

04:55he can choose on his own.

04:57But he needs to get away for a few days

04:59and refresh.

05:01He can still do a lot of things on the rehab

05:03because it's the perfect stage right now.

05:05But I think it's going to make him really good.

05:07Does he deserve, also,

05:09a desire to stay part of,

05:11stay close to everybody,

05:13the most important part of the season?

05:15Yeah, but he is,

05:17and he's been every single day there.

05:19But there is a moment, especially when we plan

05:21and we're going to be away for a few days,

05:23that he needs to, that's very important for him as well.

05:25And we need to look after our players.

05:27So he can send you a postcard?

05:29Sorry?

05:31Yeah, a nice picture or a present or something.

05:33LAUGHTER

05:35OK, everyone?

05:37Thanks very much. Thank you.

05:39Good luck.

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