- 4 months ago
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on missing 3 key players for Liverpool clash
29/08/2025
Sobha Realty Training Ground, London, UK
29/08/2025
Sobha Realty Training Ground, London, UK
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SportsTranscript
00:00We'll kick off the live section and then we'll go into the 10.30pm tonight.
00:07We're all ready at the back. Gary, are you ready to go?
00:10Yes, thanks, Gary.
00:12Hello, Mikhail.
00:13Hi, Gary.
00:14Mikhail?
00:15Yeah, we're going to be doing better, but it will be out for a few weeks, unfortunately.
00:20What is it? Is it some strength?
00:23Yeah.
00:24No surgery required?
00:25No, no surgery. It's not as bad as the previous one.
00:30It was very unfortunate to pick it up.
00:32He's on the other side.
00:34It's an action that requires full power from him.
00:37Then he clashes with the opponent and he needs to change pace again
00:40and he felt something, so he will be out for a couple of weeks.
00:43So do you hope, and I know you don't know because you're not a doctor,
00:47but do you hope that when you resume club football he might be available?
00:51I don't know.
00:52Let's see how he evolves in the next few days, few weeks.
00:56Repeat the scan and see where he's at.
00:58And with Martin, he's obviously been selected for his national squad.
01:03What's the situation with him?
01:05We don't know yet.
01:06He hasn't trained yet.
01:07And if he does, it will be tomorrow.
01:09And let's see.
01:11He's doing everything he can.
01:12We're doing everything that we can to make him available,
01:15but we'll have to wait and see tomorrow.
01:17So that's definitely not serious, Martin.
01:20No.
01:21Well, there is an injury there, but hopefully if everything goes well,
01:25he can cope with it.
01:26But we don't know yet.
01:27So with Kai Havertz, we know he's had surgery.
01:30Is that weeks rather than months before he's recovered?
01:34I think it will be weeks, but I don't know how many months.
01:38Very unfortunate.
01:39Very sad for him.
01:40I think he did tremendously well to recover from the previous one.
01:43He's never had an injury before.
01:45And suddenly this happens.
01:47But this is our profession, part of football.
01:50We need to live with that.
01:51Obviously we lose another big player for many, many weeks.
01:55But it was the right thing to do.
01:57You know, and the doctors had bias.
01:59And I think he was very, very convinced at the end
02:04that it was the quickest and the best way to resolve that issue.
02:08You did mention the word months there, so it could be months.
02:11Yeah, every time there is a surgery, you expect something like this.
02:14So I leave that for the medical staff or himself to explain in detail what it was.
02:19But hopefully the most important thing is when he gets back,
02:23he's in good condition and medium and long term,
02:25we protect as well the player.
02:27How disappointing is that?
02:28Three big names, three big important names.
02:30He just started the season and we lost three of our main players.
02:33But that's the reality and very unfortunate situation.
02:37Three very different situations.
02:40But that's why we keep insisting.
02:42Like everybody else, we need a big squad to be able to cope
02:46and sustain the level.
02:48And if that's not enough, Ben and Christian, I guess, are still doubts.
02:51Yeah.
02:52So that's another two that we don't know yet.
02:55Again, tomorrow we have another day.
02:56Let's see how they evolve.
02:58And this is a chance to keep them involved in the game.
03:01On the brighter side, Air Presenter has had a great week's training.
03:05Fitted in really well.
03:07Tell us about his first week here.
03:08Yeah, really impressed with him.
03:10I had a lot of things about him.
03:11I spoke to a lot of people about him.
03:13Really bright, very special energy, a special aura around him.
03:18And yeah, really willing.
03:20He's already gathered a lot of information,
03:23the things that we want to see on that pitch,
03:25but especially make sure that he has the freedom
03:28and the capacity to express his quality,
03:30which is the reason why we brought him here.
03:32Even more so than you'd heard in terms of his character,
03:34his personality, a great guy?
03:36Yes.
03:37Very impressed with that, yeah.
03:39So straight in then, given the situation with Martin potentially,
03:43as a number 10 at outfield?
03:46We have options in that position,
03:48and that's a good thing that we have this year.
03:50So let's see, as I said, another day,
03:53and I'm not going to give you any clues, obviously.
03:55The fact that he adds to your ability to be unpredictable,
03:59that's one of the reasons you want to be in the area?
04:03Sure, and we have a lot of players now,
04:05they can play in different positions
04:07and they can fulfil gaps when we have them.
04:09And looking at the start of the season
04:11that we already have with injuries,
04:12that's going to be very necessary.
04:14So I'm very happy to have the ability to do that.
04:17In Capier, his name's been reached with you
04:21before the window closes.
04:23Maybe I'll be confused.
04:24Again, you know, the fact that he's versatile
04:28is the kind of player you like?
04:30You know the answer to that.
04:32I cannot talk about players that are not part of our squad.
04:35I'll ask you a supercomputer question before I finish.
04:38Okay, sure.
04:39The supercomputer tells me that it's the first time in eight years
04:45that the top two teams the season before
04:48have faced each other so early in the season.
04:51Okay.
04:52It's the earliest for eight years.
04:53Is that a shame?
04:54Should it have been later in the season
04:56or would you prefer it later in the season?
04:58It's what it is.
04:59We have to play them.
05:00They are the champions.
05:02They are champions for a reason
05:03because they deserve to be champions.
05:05They were the better team last year,
05:06the most consistent one.
05:07The one that find ways to win in many different ways.
05:11And we want to be that team this year.
05:14And we need to go to Anfield with that spirit
05:16and that conviction.
05:18Benita, family?
05:19Hi, Mike.
05:20Hello.
05:21Obviously, you've seen Ezra in training for a week.
05:24All of us are very aware of his qualities
05:26and what he can bring to the team.
05:28But from the little we have seen,
05:29what do you feel he'll add to this squad?
05:32First of all, his energy.
05:34I think when you are next to him,
05:37you are comfortable.
05:38He's got a big smile.
05:39He picks things.
05:40He asks you the right questions.
05:42And then you just see him flow with that ball
05:45and the ability he has to pick passes,
05:47to drive past people effortless
05:50and just to understand the timing of things.
05:53Very impressive.
05:54I know it's early in the season
05:56and you talk about the standards that Arsenal has
05:59meaning to win every game.
06:01How much does tomorrow feel like a season-defining game
06:05to put a marker down given how close Arsenal has been
06:08in the last few seasons?
06:09A very important one obviously
06:11and you want to continue building the momentum
06:14that we are in right now
06:15and going to those grounds, those stadiums
06:17against this kind of opposition is what we want
06:20and come from those big games winning
06:25in a really convincing way.
06:26That's the objective.
06:27Of course, you got the draw against Liverpool last season.
06:30Both home and away.
06:32I'm sure you're aware of the stats
06:34that the last time Arsenal won at Anfield
06:36was when you were a part of the team.
06:38I think it's 2012.
06:39What do you feel needs to change
06:41to try and get that win this time around?
06:43It will be better than we've been in these games,
06:45more efficient and do what we've done
06:47with many other stats that we had even for longer before.
06:52Just go there and be convinced that we can go to Anfield and win.
06:56And you feel there?
06:57Yes, I do, yeah.
06:59How about Harit and Maruti?
07:00Mikel, on a slot has been talking about the subtle differences
07:03to the way that your team plays now
07:05with a kind of out-and-out number nine up top.
07:07They've made a lot of transfers this summer
07:09and they've changed things up top.
07:11Is there any differences you've noticed
07:13to the way Liverpool play
07:14and the way you're going to approach the game?
07:17Yes, because I think the individual characteristics
07:19at the end is what it changes moulds or evolves a team.
07:22And it's clear that a certain player
07:24receiving the ball in certain areas
07:26with different qualities,
07:27the outcome is going to be different.
07:29And they made a lot of signings,
07:31really good signings.
07:32They keep evolving the squad like we've done as well.
07:35So, big match ahead.
07:37Tom from London.
07:39Hi.
07:40You described the United game
07:41as a bit of a basketball match.
07:43At Anfield, there's a chance
07:45for there to be opportunities
07:46that you're in control and they're in control.
07:48There's a lot of counter-attacks.
07:49And you've signed some players like Victor
07:51and Everet through soon moments in transition.
07:54Did you specifically target players like that
07:57that would be good for these moments
07:59where you're going to hit teams?
08:01We have to add values,
08:03players that add value to things
08:05that can define football matches
08:07and those two, they have the ability at the end
08:09to make the final action in many ways
08:11to finish with the ball in the back of the net
08:13which is the outcome that we want in every action
08:15that we have in our attacking phase.
08:17And those two, they're going to add these
08:19individual action, magic moments,
08:21and that's what we need to win games.
08:24And 27 injuries last season.
08:26I think seven players have already been missing this season.
08:28It must be a big pain.
08:30Does it ever make you look internally
08:32in what Arsenal can do versus trying to mitigate that?
08:36Or do you kind of accept that it's part of the volume
08:38of matches across play these days?
08:40No.
08:41First of all, we have to analyse what we do first of all.
08:43That's for sure.
08:44I think in the previous season,
08:45we had the best record in the Premier League.
08:47The following season, we have one of the worst as well
08:50because the extent, not the amount,
08:52but the extent of the injuries of certain players,
08:55especially Tomei Yazoo, Gabi Jesus,
08:57the long-term injuries we have with the hamstring injuries.
09:00So, yeah, we have looked at everything.
09:02We are continually monitoring and evolving
09:04the needs of the players and the schedule.
09:08But unfortunately, we picked very diverse injuries again
09:12that probably some of them were very unexpected.
09:15Simon, even a standard.
09:16Hi, Michael.
09:17Hi.
09:18It's probably something we didn't ask you in recent seasons,
09:20but with the depth you've got now
09:22and the options you've got now,
09:24do you worry at all about keeping everyone happy?
09:27Worry?
09:28Yeah.
09:29No, I think the word is that I care
09:32that everybody is as happy as it possibly can be.
09:35That's a big part of my job, our job at the end,
09:38to make sure that every player feels that he's fulfilling
09:41his potential and he's doing what he loves the most,
09:44which is to play football.
09:45And so far with the squad that we have
09:48and the five, six, seven injuries that we already have,
09:50we haven't had many problems to make the squad,
09:53but with everybody available,
09:54that will be a different scenario.
09:57But we're going to have to live with that
09:59and that's why that competition is going to raise the level for everybody.
10:02And just one on Eze coming in.
10:04Obviously on that left flank now,
10:05you've got him, Trossard, Madowiecki, Martinelli.
10:08There was a bit of suggestion earlier in the summer
10:10and it's kind of come back again
10:12that maybe Martinelli could be someone that leaves
10:15because of the competition there.
10:16Is that something you can see happening before Monday?
10:19No.
10:20And I think Gabby's been a super important play for us
10:22and it's going to remain to be very, very, very important.
10:25And the fact that we have options with different qualities,
10:27that's going to fulfil what we want
10:29because every opponent is going to require different things.
10:31And then the state, the moment,
10:34the way that those players are impacting the game
10:37and that competition is needed.
10:39We have in many other areas on the pitch
10:41and it's needed, especially in the front line,
10:43to start the game and to finish the game.
10:45So I'm very happy with what we have.
10:47Okay, last two in the Azlar section.
10:49Firstly, Phil at the back there for the PA.
10:51Hi, Michael.
10:52Hi.
10:53I spoke about Liverpool earlier
10:54saying they deserved to be champions last year.
10:56Yeah.
10:57They've obviously added to their squad this year.
10:59Do you think they should be considered the favourites
11:02to win the league this year?
11:04Well, I think the favourite is always the one
11:06that won the previous year and that's it.
11:09And somebody has to come and take that crown away from them.
11:12And that's what I suppose the rest we are going to try to do.
11:16We already started with the first two games in the Premier League
11:19and that's the end.
11:20Be better than them.
11:22Just one look.
11:23Obviously, you had a hamstring injury last year
11:25which won't have for a long time.
11:26He's already picked up another one this year
11:28with the other leg.
11:29Is that a concern to you at all?
11:31Yes, it is obviously a big one.
11:33Especially when we talk about a sprinter,
11:36a player that gets into that zone very often in a football match
11:39that needs that burst, that change of...
11:41rhythm of pace to be, you know, as threatened as possible.
11:47But, yeah, we will learn again why it happened,
11:50making him stronger.
11:51And, unfortunately, injuries are part of your career.
11:54He hasn't had that many, to be fair,
11:56with the amount of games that he's played at his age.
11:59That is something that we want to eradicate for sure.
12:02I think a couple of weeks ago you mentioned with Jorginho
12:08that the leadership group had to kind of be reshuffled a bit.
12:12I was wondering would you be willing to say who's in the leadership group now?
12:16There are a few.
12:17I think at some point it will come out.
12:19But there are a few players, a few names.
12:21Very happy with the outcome,
12:23the way it was done as well.
12:25And I think it's a very good reflection of the group.
12:28And on Avera, you mentioned the way he kind of flows with the ball.
12:33I was just wondering,
12:34is that kind of like a throwback to, I don't know,
12:37players you've played with here?
12:38I'm thinking of players like, they're not identical,
12:41but playmakers who played out wide like Kozola, Rozinski,
12:45those types of players,
12:46does it make you kind of think of those guys?
12:48Yeah, they have a different feel of the ball, you know,
12:51and everything glides and moves so smoothly.
12:53They are beautiful to watch,
12:55the way they carry the ball,
12:56the way they take touches,
12:57the way they turn.
12:58And Epps for sure has got this talent.
13:01OK, guys, that finishes the as-live section.
13:03We're now going to 10.30 tonight.
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