- 4 months ago
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta Speaks on Club Changes, Zubimendi’s Display & Gyökeres
19/09/2025
Sobha Realty Training Ground, London, UK
19/09/2025
Sobha Realty Training Ground, London, UK
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SportsTranscript
00:00Good to see you. Two big wins following the international break.
00:03You must feel in a good place heading into Sunday.
00:06Yeah, two very important wins.
00:08Very good feeling about the games as well.
00:10And yeah, preparing for a big match for Sunday.
00:13Ben White, Pakai Saka and Martin Odegaard missed the trip to Spain in midweek.
00:18Have they got any chance of featuring on Sunday?
00:20If there is a chance, it will be after tomorrow's session
00:23because they haven't done anything yet.
00:25So, we will have more information tomorrow.
00:27And just to check, Mikel Moreno and Victor Jokrej picked up head injuries on Tuesday.
00:31Are they actually fine?
00:32Yeah, they are fine. They will be available.
00:34William Saliba, an unused substitute on Tuesday.
00:37Can we expect him to come straight back into the starting level on Sunday?
00:40Let's see. Obviously, he's been carrying an injury.
00:43He's done really well to be available for the last match.
00:47And yeah, he's really pushing it.
00:49So, we'll decide tomorrow what's the best start.
00:52And today, the club announced a number of changes at a boardroom level.
00:55Will that have any impact on what you do here on a day-to-day basis?
00:59No. Well, there have been quite a lot of changes since I arrived at the club.
01:04First of all, obviously, Tim is leaving.
01:06And I would like to say a few words because he's been someone that I really enjoy working with.
01:12I think he has a tremendous contribution for everything that we've done over the last few years.
01:18Then, on Rich, congratulations, obviously, because it's a massive role to be the CEO of this football club.
01:25And then, welcome to the new members of the board.
01:29Hopefully, they're going to make us better and help us and bring ideas and support and make this club much better.
01:36It's ultimately a stance on Joe's decision.
01:39They've been incredibly supportive, so we move on again.
01:42And finally for me, it's still very, very early in the season,
01:45but just how significant is this match in terms of the title race,
01:48in terms of staying close to Liverpool and potentially building a gap to Manchester City?
01:53It's about winning again and creating, you know, another good moment for us, consistency,
02:00competing against one of the best teams, obviously, in the world.
02:04And it's a good test for us to see our level as well.
02:08Go to Nick from PRP.
02:10Hi.
02:11Good afternoon.
02:12You know Pep got a lot of company better than all of us in this room.
02:15How demanding do you think it's been for Pep to be at this level for so many years,
02:20to be achieving what he achieved in so many countries?
02:22And also how do you think he evolved his coaching and management in the last few years?
02:27Well, yeah, the demands that he puts first of all on himself,
02:30the standards that he requires for everybody around him,
02:33his will to win, to evolve, to improve.
02:36You look around him always, he wants to surrender about the best people.
02:40For me, he's by far the best coach in the world.
02:43I always said it.
02:44I have the pleasure to work with him and win a lot with him next to him.
02:49So, yeah, it's always great to see him back.
02:52No.
02:53When you look at him in the summer,
02:56what made you decide to recruit him from Chelsea?
02:59And how do you think you and your coaching staff are getting such a wonderful version of him?
03:03Yeah.
03:04Well, because I was sure that he was a player with a talent and quality that we didn't have in the squad.
03:09A player with a level of threat and unpredictability that he was going to make us better.
03:14The moment I picked up the phone and spoke to him and his dad and his agent,
03:18the three of them gave me the impression that they were really willing to come,
03:22that they saw something special here they wanted to be part of.
03:25And then, yeah, you have to come here and slowly start to get to know him
03:31and he needs to start to get to understand the team.
03:33But I think so far the impact it's having on the team is very, very positive.
03:37And Martin Zubimendi, how pleased are you with the way you settled here?
03:40How would you describe the balance that Phil gives you and the partnership with Declan Rice as well?
03:45Yes, another one that obviously coming from abroad is always very tricky,
03:48especially with demands in this league and in that particular position
03:51because you have so much responsibility in that role
03:54and you have to be aware of everything that we do.
03:57That's such an intelligent boy.
03:59A lot of presence, a lot of quality and a lot of courage to play football.
04:04Alex, BBC.
04:05Hi, Michael.
04:06No goals conceded from open play and Christian Mascara has been a key part
04:11of a young player coming in and summer signing.
04:13Why do you think you have been so solid this season?
04:16Well, first of all, because he's very good.
04:18And I think credit to the scouting department, Andrea,
04:22that they presented the opportunity to have him.
04:26Again, no concern as a boy.
04:28You know, someone extremely focused, very determined, very clear
04:32that he wanted to come here and he wanted to come here to play
04:35and in his place.
04:36I think what he's doing in that position so early, very impressive.
04:42Just on why Saka and Oliva, you said decision after tomorrow's session,
04:46have they trained already or would that be their first session?
04:49Because everything has been modified so far for him and still a few things to clear.
04:55And tomorrow we'll have more information whether they are part of the score
04:59or they have a chance to be part of the score or not.
05:01You've spoken about the evolution of football and how the style is changing.
05:06You know, a lot more teams are going more direct.
05:08Are you expecting a different type of game than usual against Manchester City on Sunday?
05:13There will be moments that has been in the past as well, in the last few years.
05:16And they have certain different qualities, especially in the back line.
05:21And since they recruited Erling as well, they always modified a few things
05:25because of the quality of individual, which is normal.
05:28And there is a tendency in football, especially because there is,
05:31as well, all the tendencies in the way teams are defending
05:34that always has certain implications to how teams react to that.
05:39Ian talks more.
05:40Hi, Mikkel, how are you?
05:41Good, thank you.
05:42Talking about the evolution of football,
05:44I mean, it used to be seeing if you were on the subs bench
05:47that maybe you'd done something wrong and the manager didn't like you.
05:50We saw in the mid-week your substitutes you brought on,
05:53won you the game in the Champions League.
05:56So, explain to me how the evolution has happened in terms of subs
06:00and how important they are to you this season.
06:03You look historically, the top teams, the team that has won a lot,
06:06the impact that the finisher had has always been really, really high.
06:10You need that quality nowadays to unlock games
06:13and to do it consistently every three days is even harder, more difficult.
06:17And that's what you need.
06:19We are very lucky because we have players that can make that impact.
06:22They certainly did that the other day
06:24and now we need consistency on that.
06:26So, when you name the team and you name the subs,
06:29do you go up to them and say,
06:31listen, don't take it as being anything bad you're on the bench
06:34because I'm going to need you this afternoon?
06:36We already had a discussion in pre-season
06:39about the roles and responsibilities
06:41and about the implication of each other's roles in relation to the game,
06:45the scenario, the schedule, a lot of factors.
06:48But the quality and the delivery and intensity and will
06:52that you have to put every minute for this football club,
06:54that's a question of whether you are a starter or not.
06:57You've had to rebuild this football club
06:59and you've been here five years.
07:00Is Pep having to rebuild Man City after all their successes?
07:04Do you think he's anywhere near that now?
07:07Well, I don't know. That's a question for him.
07:10But obviously what he's already done in this league is unprecedented.
07:14The level that he's put the standards in the league, in my opinion, unprecedented.
07:18And maintaining those levels for 10 years is already something incredible.
07:23And the demands are there for him.
07:25And he wants to carry on because he certainly believes that he can do it again.
07:29History beckons for you tomorrow.
07:31No Premier League manager has gone five games in a row.
07:34I'm beating against Man City, so not tomorrow or Sunday.
07:37But if you do it, all hail Mikel Arteta.
07:40Well, the preparation of the game will be to win it, that's for sure.
07:43Arsenal's suicide convention service will be open for the first time at the game at the weekend.
07:52Can you talk to us about how important it is to be open about mental health struggles
07:57and also about what Arsenal's role is in that?
08:00Well, first of all, very proud that the club again takes initiative
08:04and takes a problem, a serious problem that is out there in our society
08:10and get solutions, practical solutions, and to create a safe space as well
08:15for our supporters to be able to raise their hands and say,
08:18listen, I need help and this is the space to do it.
08:21I think it's incredible and hopefully more people can do the same
08:25because obviously there's a big need for that.
08:28Sorry from Stephen Sandler.
08:30Hi, Mikel.
08:31Was it a surprise that a few people in the news about the team was announced this morning?
08:35Was it a surprise to you how much you were aware of these changes coming in?
08:39Well, I was aware in certain moments and I had various discussions with Josh especially
08:46and as well with Tim and, yeah, it's not the first time that it's happened
08:50since I've been here and, again, incredible gratitude towards Tim,
08:55what it's done for the football club, what it's done for the team,
08:58for myself personally as well.
09:00And, yeah, everybody's in different phases of their lives
09:03and requires different things and that's it, we move on.
09:07I think supporters will see a big change like this and wonder what comes next
09:11and what the future looks like.
09:13What are your messages?
09:14Wonderful future.
09:15That's the only thing that I invite.
09:17He's so positive about it and every time I speak to Stan and George
09:22and how willing they are, the projections that they have,
09:24the vision they have for the football club,
09:26the people that we have around it.
09:28There is no question that big things are ahead.
09:31Tom for London.
09:32Michael, you mentioned it's not the first time it's happened to you,
09:35but some of us were trying to list the amount of executive changes that happened.
09:38We've come up with a list with the late Sir Chips Keswick,
09:41of course Francis Kajigauer, Raul Sanehi, Ken Fryer,
09:44who stepped down past Farmer, even Ivan Kateshin,
09:46Edu Gaspar, Jason Ato, and of course now Tim Lewis.
09:48What's it like as a manager having to go through that amount of change in just 500 years?
09:53Well, it was my first managerial job,
09:55so I don't know if that's a lot or very little.
09:57This experience that I had, what I can say,
10:00that I've been very lucky to work with some wonderful people
10:04that I have learned so much from them.
10:07And yeah, it's sad because we spent so much time together,
10:10and you named very important people
10:12that have been a big part of the football club of my life as well,
10:16personally, because you get really attached to them emotionally as well,
10:20and their families.
10:21And yeah, you have to move on,
10:23maintain that personal relationship for sure.
10:25And then people have gone and do various jobs,
10:28some of them have been very successful in other places,
10:30and I wish them all the best.
10:32And just to bring it back to the football as well,
10:34you spoke before about the emotion of using Mika Marino for his goals,
10:38that he scored for Spain,
10:39and one of the reasons why you started in the game against Nottingham Forest.
10:42With how Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard performed in midweek,
10:46does that now come into your thinking about harnessing that confidence
10:49they got from that game of attention?
10:51Yes, it does.
10:52It certainly does,
10:53because when players are in that state,
10:55I think they have to be used,
10:57and they have to be recognised.
10:59But it's a lot of players, obviously,
11:01that are in a really good moment,
11:02performing really well.
11:03And that's what we want.
11:04Whenever we need them,
11:05I'm sure that they're going to be at the best.
11:07James, CBS.
11:09Hi, Michal.
11:10I'd like to ask you a little bit about early Haaland.
11:12Eleven versus eleven at least.
11:14Your defenders have done a really good job of restricting that supply.
11:17I think it's two shots on target in the last four games.
11:21What has your team got right?
11:23Well, it's a lot of things that you have to get right.
11:27It's a player that doesn't need much space, much time,
11:31or a situation to generate big chances,
11:36especially when he's in and around the box.
11:39But, yeah, preventing the source sometimes is the best thing to do it,
11:44and we have to do it again.
11:46And you've allowed two open play shots on target in the last four games.
11:50It's been a real hunkering down since the United game.
11:53Do you feel like this level of defence quality will show now?
11:56Is that the benchmark, or is that beyond what you expected?
12:00Well, it's certainly what we are doing today,
12:03and what we have to do on Sunday and the following games.
12:06And there are still a lot of things that we can improve.
12:10And we know that. We are very aware of it.
12:13But it's a very big foundation to achieve what we want.
12:17Last two in the As-Lark section.
12:19First, Giles from Gold.
12:22Hi, Michal.
12:23On Tuesday night, lots of people picked up on a clip of you
12:26sort of screaming at SA to come out to the touchline
12:29and really come to the touchline and let Califuri
12:31sort of go into the central areas.
12:33Is that sort of how you sort of envisage SA playing here
12:38much more on the sort of touchline women
12:39than someone coming inside that maybe would be used to
12:42when he was at Crystal Palace?
12:43Sorry, sorry. Can you repeat the question?
12:45Just on SA, there was a clip doing around on social media
12:48where you were sort of spotted really calling him
12:51to get to the touchline and stay tight to the touchline
12:53and let Califuri to sort of move inside.
12:56Is that sort of your vision for SA,
12:58would you prefer more of a touchline winger
13:00than someone coming inside?
13:01No, depending on what the position does.
13:03It's one space or another.
13:05It's never the same because the space and the difficulty
13:08for the opponent will be in different things
13:10in relation to what they want
13:11and what we want to accomplish with that.
13:13Does this depend on the fullback he's got behind him
13:15at times as well?
13:16Say Califuri likes to come inside,
13:17but Hinkake who we know looks like he's more of a
13:20overlapping fullback?
13:21Yeah, where that nine is defending,
13:23especially if it's our left or right side,
13:25the behaviour of that winger when the ball is on the opposite side,
13:28the attacking midfielder,
13:29especially if it's higher or deeper.
13:31It's quite a lot of things to consider before we make that decision.
13:35Okay, Phil from PA.
13:37Hi, Mikel.
13:38Myles Lewis is the Skelly's celebration in this fixture.
13:42Obviously you've attracted quite a few headlines last season.
13:46Are your players free to celebrate as they wish on Sunday?
13:49Or have you said to them, you know, bring it in?
13:52Well, that was done.
13:53That's it.
13:54That's part of it.
13:55There's been a lot of celebration and non-celebration
13:57with the past from a lot of teams.
13:59And that's it.
14:00We've done that.
14:01Every experience is to learn as well.
14:04And we certainly learn from that one.
14:06And just in terms of City,
14:08obviously they've lost twice two of their form fixtures so far.
14:11They had their troubles last season.
14:13Do you think that they are a proper contender this year
14:15or do you think it's going to take them maybe one or two?
14:17I think so, without a doubt.
14:18I mean, knowing really well Pep
14:21and the demands that he's going to put there,
14:23the mentality that they have in that football club,
14:25the squad and the players that they have,
14:27I mean, they're going to be there for sure.
14:29Okay, that finishes the As Live section.
14:31We're now going to 10.30 tonight.
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