- 7 hours ago
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and midfielder Christian Norgaard preview their final UEFA Champions League group stage game against Kairat Almaty
Emirates Stadium, London, UK
Courtesy of UEFA
Emirates Stadium, London, UK
Courtesy of UEFA
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SportsTranscript
00:00Hi everyone, hope everyone's well. We'll kick off with the as live section and then we'll go into a 10.30 tonight.
00:05If we wait at the back, we'll kick off with Alex from the BBC.
00:16Hi, Mikel. A first home defeat of the season on Sunday. Just wondering what the reaction has been like around the training ground and among the players since then?
00:26The reaction has been excellent. We took a moment to bring the temperature down, to pause and to reflect and ask two questions.
00:38One is, how do we feel and how do I feel myself? And then, how are we going to live the next four months?
00:47And it was so encouraging and beautiful because what came out of that is very simple.
00:56We have earned the right to be in a great position in four competitions.
01:01And in the next four months, we're going to live and play with enjoyment, with a lot of courage and with the conviction that we're going to win it.
01:11And this is going to be the mindset and where we're going to put the energy.
01:16And I'm just hoping that everybody that is related to this club, especially our supporters, jump on that boat
01:21because this is the way that we're going to live the next four months because we deserve to live like this.
01:27How did you do that reflection? Was that something you did on your own or was it a presentation you gave to the players?
01:32Together with the players. It was just a conversation about that.
01:36First of all, because I told them how good they are and how grateful we are to share every single day with them
01:42and with the position to realise where we are and just let's make sure that we enjoy with a lot of conviction that it's going to happen
01:52because it's our moment and we really want it.
01:55You mentioned there you want to bring the supporters with you and hope they join you on the journey.
01:59There were some anxious moments from the supporters in the ground on Sunday.
02:05What can you do about that and does that reaction...
02:08That's why I encourage them to jump in this boat because it's going to be fun.
02:11Because the excitement, that conviction, that energy, that will is the way you have to live when you want to achieve a dream,
02:19when you want to achieve something that you play for ten months.
02:23Because out of that a lot of incredible things are going to emerge, some of the things that we cannot even imagine.
02:29And for me that's the only way to live it because we're going to give absolutely everything.
02:34We're going to prepare in the best possible way and the best chance to deliver what we want
02:38is putting all the energy and channeling the energy into that direction.
02:44Thank you. And then just finally from me, team news for tomorrow.
02:48There was no Williams-Lieber, Jurian Timba and Mikel Moreno out on the pitch training.
02:53I know Moreno is suspended but are the other two available and is there anyone else who's not available tomorrow?
02:59No, those are out.
03:01Perfect, thank you.
03:02We'll go to Chris from Sky Sports.
03:05Amako, you mentioned bringing the temperature down. Was that because you're potentially feeling it from outside?
03:11No, it was because of the hectic schedule. So we played four away games in four different competitions.
03:17And it was a moment to pause and see who we are. What are we doing? And I said, OK, four months, how we want to actually live that.
03:28And it's just beautiful what is ahead. So we're going to live with a lot of enjoyment.
03:32I'm very convinced because this team and this player have given us every reason to believe that the outcome is going to be really good.
03:39So was that always kind of planned after this game to have a meeting like that?
03:43Yes, we do it every three, four weeks on international breaks. It's very important to understand the reality versus the perspective.
03:51And sometimes you have to look with the microscope and then you have to put the telescope in and you have to be able to see everything with clarity.
03:59Because at the end is that energy that is very important that we need to use in the right way.
04:04You talk about perspective. I guess there's been a lot of talk in the last couple of days since the Man United defeat around Arsenal's goals from open play.
04:12And also the forwards, some of their stats at the moment. You have scored the second amount, the second most goals in the Premier League.
04:19But is it harder to do when you sort of don't have that outstanding goal scorer, someone who's producing kind of higher numbers than the rest of the team?
04:26I don't know. But I saw a lot of incredible talks as well about the team and individuals when we won in Milan three days before.
04:36It's the beautiful thing about this game. Same players, same team.
04:41In terms of your attacking players though, obviously at the moment in the league the numbers aren't quite as high potentially as some of the other players in the league.
04:51What do you put that down to? And does the team maybe need to kind of help more to get more out of your attacking players right now?
04:58We want those numbers to be higher, but as well I think we are three goals away from the best team, you know.
05:05So we are not that far, so the margins are still very small.
05:08Maybe they are contributing to a lot and other players as well to score a lot of goals or to do other stuff.
05:13So we want to be the best in every stat, but it's very important that we can read the stats in the manner that are useful for us and especially for our players.
05:23For someone like Bakayo Saka, who I know is driven by numbers, when he goes through a run like he's going through at the moment where he's got no goals in 13,
05:31how do you read that as his manager? Do you have to have perspective in terms of his age or is it something that is a frustration for you and him?
05:38Yeah, look in the last 200 games where he's done. Very simple.
05:43Okay, we'll move to James from the Athletic.
05:46Hi Mikhail.
05:47Hi.
05:48Do you feel that in any successful season there comes a point where instead of just next game, next game, next game,
05:54you start to look more towards the finish line, like you say, you start to look more at the prize that's in front of you,
06:00where it becomes about we are going to do this now, we are going to take this step together, a kind of turning point.
06:07Do you think that's this moment in the season?
06:10No, I think it's still very early. I mean, the amount of games that we have in so many different competitions,
06:16that's going to be in the last five or six games, I would say, when you're talking different competitions,
06:22talking about the Premier League, if it's the Champions League, the moment you are in those semi-finals,
06:26then you are very, very close that we are in the semi-final and we want game to play against Chelsea.
06:31That's a different story. But after then, as I said, it's put the energy in the things that are going to make us better.
06:40And you spoke about the four away games, the schedule, how difficult it's been.
06:44Obviously, on Sunday you were playing against an opponent who had a free week before.
06:49Do you think that's going to be one of the challenges for you in the second half of this season?
06:52You hope you stay in all the cup competitions of the Champions League, but obviously it's going to mean a really tight schedule.
06:58It's been like this for the first seven months of the competition, whether it was with the competition league,
07:04domestic league and Champions League or with international players playing for their countries as well.
07:08So there is nothing new. The good news is that we have some players back as well now that are going to be helping us.
07:14And we are so used to it, so that's never going to be an excuse.
07:18Matt from the Standard.
07:19Hi, Michael.
07:20Can I just check with Saliba and Timber, is that them being rested or are those injury issues?
07:24No, they have some niggles and it's a good opportunity now that we make a different kind of work with them
07:30to get them in the best possible conditions for the weekend, hopefully.
07:33And you were emphasising there the need for it to be fun over the next four months.
07:37How difficult is that with all the expectation and the pressure from fans and wanting to finally end the title?
07:43It's part of the enjoyment to be on the table in these conversations, in this incredible competition.
07:49And that's what we want to be. If not, we have to go and do something else.
07:52I mean, if we don't enjoy what we are as a club, do we prefer what we were six years ago or ten years ago?
07:58Let's enjoy the moment and let's embrace it and let's make sure that we get the most out of that.
08:04And the only way to do it is daily.
08:06Do you think the margin for error this season could be a bit bigger in the Premier League in terms of drop points?
08:12It feels like even the top teams may be dropping more points than they did in previous season.
08:16Yeah, or smaller. It means that anything can beat you and you see the difficulty of winning every game in the competition.
08:23So it depends how you look at it.
08:25Let's do the last couple of years live now. We'll go to Tom from Football London.
08:28You used the word fun a lot in that opening monologue there.
08:33You've got the biggest squad now that you've ever had. As a manager, is it fun to have that many players?
08:38Or like when we spoke to Christian a second ago, does that challenge and difficulty and the emotion of leaving players out sometimes ever become too much?
08:44No, it's very enjoyable. And they make it enjoyable for the type of characters that we have, but as well the way they live their profession and how much they want to win with us.
08:55And that's the only way. It's not about the numbers, it's about the quality of the numbers and the players that we have. The same with the staff.
09:02So it's not about the numbers. I'm now going to ask you a question about numbers now and I'm feeling quite self-conscious about that.
09:07But when it comes to the idea of the stats behind your forwards, in the last ten Premier League appearances that your seven forwards have had,
09:15in those 70 games, they've returned just ten goals. Just ask, why do you think that's happened?
09:20And what is it that needs to change so that those numbers do go up?
09:23Well, it's clearly every situation, every player is different. Obviously, the level of efficiency that we showed,
09:31in certain actions, it hasn't helped to raise those numbers higher. Some others, because we need to produce probably more for them as well.
09:39So it's a combination of different factors, but the positive way to look at it, okay, even though without this, look where we are.
09:48So we're going to try to undo that and improve in that area and then the margin will be bigger.
09:54Can you tell us about the coming game with Kairat? Did you analyse this team? What strengths, maybe sides it has or weak sides?
10:11And can you tell us about the main staff who will appear at the pitch?
10:18Yeah. Well, obviously, it's Champions League, so every opponent is very tough because they are very used to winning.
10:23That's first of all. Obviously, the conditions that they are coming, it's special because of where they are in the domestic league as well.
10:29But looking back at the games that they play against Real Madrid or Inter, for example, I watched both of them.
10:34Yeah, they make it very, very difficult for them. So tomorrow we expect a game very similar.
10:41We have to be at our best because we want to win the game again and we'll go for it.
10:47Okay, Phil, in the back from PA.
10:49Hi.
10:50Hi.
10:51You've spoken about the supporters and that anxiety in the stadium, but do you think the reason that is because they're perhaps carrying the scars of finishing runners up for three seasons and that's why everything is over-exaggerated?
11:05It's a possibility, but we cannot control that and what happened in the past has to be very powerful to learn for the future.
11:16And that's the only way you can take it. And in life there are many examples about that.
11:21And you have to keep trying and giving your very best to try to achieve what you want and if not the very best that you are able to achieve because maybe somebody else is better and you have to accept.
11:31This is a sport as well. And that's it. But we all channel the energy and live the moment and the next four months in that manner.
11:40It's going to be much more enjoyable and the outcome will be very, very good.
11:45Christian Norman, I was speaking before you about Martin and his captaincy and saying how good a captain he is.
11:51He's obviously not getting as many minutes this season as perhaps he might have done. He came up in the second half, Martin.
11:57Is there a world in which he can no longer be the club captain for someone else or has he got more full support in that?
12:03No, there's nothing. I mean, the minutes as well are related because obviously he had two shoulder injuries and he was out for six weeks with a new injury as well.
12:11And then, yeah, we had the possibility to change games and the game maybe requires something different and every play is very important to be able to achieve that.
12:19OK, that finishes as live. We'll now go to 10.30 tonight. I think there's four of us in here for that. So we'll kick off with Simon.
12:25Mikel, just on the meeting you spoke about, was that today with the players and staff?
12:32No, it was yesterday. We have meetings every day. This is not something different.
12:38Yeah, it just feels like this was a more kind of impactful meeting than you maybe had.
12:43We had many others. Weeks ago in Milan we had a big one as well. So, no, it is what is required.
12:50It is something that you have to check. How do you feel? And how do I feel? And I need to express that. And that's very good.
12:57And especially is how, if not, you just get in the daily routines and it's not efficient. It's what do I want?
13:04How do I want to live the next four months in the beautiful countries that we have ahead of us? And it's a very important question.
13:11And when you have these periods where, you know, it's sort of a wobble in the season, do you have someone who you can talk to,
13:18who you can sort of calibrate yourself with and kind of get perspective yourself? Because obviously you're leading this club.
13:23Yes.
13:24Do you have someone you can lean on in there?
13:26Yeah. Anyone. I can talk to Josh. I can talk to Rich. I can talk to Andrea, to staff.
13:33To players, which is the best information that you can have because they are the ones that are daily there on the pitch.
13:40I have coaches. I have family. So I'm very lucky because I can open and ask the right questions and understand how I feel as well.
13:49Ed from the Guardian.
13:50Just on the meeting, you obviously had these meetings, we have a lot of them with the players, but when you've had other setbacks in the past,
13:59and you've had these meetings, do you sense that this time around that the players have got the belief that they can come back from this?
14:06The spiral, the scars issue that some of them had from the previous season?
14:11Yes, because when I ask them how they're feeling, I think if I have to, probably it was like this.
14:19Vamos, let's go. That's the mindset and what this moment requires is that energy, that conviction because of what we are doing.
14:29That's it. And place it in a natural way. Because if you want to achieve that, there are going to be bombs in the road.
14:34If not, we are killing ourselves. That's it.
14:37And just to ask you about Martins and Mendy's played the most minutes for you in the Premier League.
14:42Do you think he needs a bit of a rest? Because he's played so many minutes and also Christian Norbert hasn't started a Premier League.
14:50Do you think there's a big role for him to play in the second half of the season?
14:54Yes, there is a role, but I wouldn't put the error that we had with Subi down to the minutes.
15:01Because imagine that he has scored the first header and we win 1-0.
15:07Then is he tired or no? So we don't know. At the end it's not about that.
15:13Martin was fresh and he was really conscious about, OK, we made a mistake that cost us a goal.
15:19That is part of football, I played there, I made a mistake at the highest cost.
15:22If you want to play in the manner that we play, those are mistakes that are part of our game.
15:26And just on Christian, he's going to play a bigger role for you at the season progresses?
15:31Yeah, he's already playing a big role. On the pitch he hasn't played that much,
15:35but he has a very, very important and big role in the team and around the club.
15:40And I think when you get him sitting and speaking in front of you, straight away you understand probably what I'm talking about.
15:48With meetings like you had just after the United game, when there is a defeat, what's the atmosphere kind of like?
15:57Are the players raising voices? Is it heated? Is it very good? What's it like?
16:02No, because it's what I said, there's nothing to fault attitude or effort or willingness.
16:08It's not that. Sometimes it was a really strange game, watching it back two times as well.
16:13To accept that we lost that game is tough. Do you deserve to lose it only for one reason?
16:19Because of the efficiency that they have for the rest? No.
16:24But you have to accept that and use as well that.
16:27Learn from it, use that pain and move on immediately because there is no time to stay in the past.
16:32Being in a title race with a lot of pressure, speculation, everything that's around, all of this.
16:37Excitement. Yes. Joy. Yes.
16:45Is there potentially a psychologist at the club that talks to the players about the pressure of either a time to race or just like the weekend?
16:52Yeah, we have people in and around the club, we have people with experience that have done that as well.
16:58But then I think it's something very internal as well how you perceive that and that's on your DNA.
17:05People can talk to you but at the end you have to do that because everything is good.
17:09But what happens when you lose two balls in a row? Great. I mean, it's how you react then.
17:14And that's a psychology that is very difficult. Someone in a room when you are very protected can help you to do.
17:21Okay, finally, Gary from the Times.
17:23If I could ask you, which of the players would stand up in a meeting like that?
17:27Which are the ones who have got a loud voice? Which are the ones who sort of maybe have got a reflective view
17:33that kind of make the points and which are the ones who slightly more...?
17:38A lot of players, but it's not about raising the voice, it's actually talking about what is relevant,
17:44how can we help the team, how do I feel?
17:47Because when you have a defeat or you have a moment, whatever it is, the tendency is to talk about other people.
17:56And others they don't do or they don't... No, no, talk about yourself.
17:59How do I feel or how can I do this better or how can I help or what am I not doing?
18:03And that's much more powerful. And then we can talk about the rest of the things.
18:07And that's for me the most important thing. And we have a group that is so honest when it has to be vulnerable,
18:13and especially because they want it that badly that the energy that you feel immediately is incredible.
18:21It was noticeable on Sunday after, I think it was the one when United went 2-1,
18:26the players had a big meeting in the centre and they all went together,
18:29which I don't think I've ever seen that this season.
18:31And it always looked like there was some very honest things said in that meeting about who's not doing what.
18:37So I'm just wondering, is that someone like Declun or who would be the person who actually sort of says,
18:44come on guys, you're not doing your job, I'm not doing my job?
18:48That's the team as a whole. And someone, my leading team in one moment, I don't know who he was in that moment,
18:53but that's taking ownership and just making things that can help the team in the moment.
18:58Because after it's too late, it's always seldom. Act in the moment.
19:02You feel something, you think it's something good for the team, go and do it because you guys are there.
19:07That's to take ownership. The next day, we're stopping the video, that's too late and it doesn't help us.
19:14Obviously, you've had a point this season where players are not maybe at the top of their form,
19:19and now you've got maybe a clutch of them perhaps not playing as well as they did over the season.
19:23Is there a tendency maybe tomorrow to play some of them, to play some in the form tomorrow night?
19:29I understand that, but it's very difficult to distinguish competition because in Milan they were outstanding.
19:34I think Milan has lost one in three years.
19:37And we go there and we were so dominant and it was a joy towards the team.
19:41So, we make those judgments as well with a little broader view.
19:45OK, everyone, see you tomorrow night.
19:48Yeah, thank you.
19:50I know you didn't play at the weekend, but first home defeat for Arsenal.
20:09So, what's the reaction been like amongst the players?
20:12Yeah, it's been a different experience for us this season, being so strong at home.
20:20Yeah, it's a disappointment, of course.
20:23Every time you lose, especially in a club like Arsenal, it will be a disappointing experience.
20:30But I think the mood is still great.
20:33You know, we're in a great position both in the Premier League and then Champions League and also the domestic cups.
20:39So, looking at like a bigger perspective, everything is good.
20:43The manager is always very complimentary about you in terms of your leadership and experience.
20:48So, what have you made of your role in the squad this season?
20:51Yeah, it's been a fantastic experience for me so far this season.
20:57I would obviously love to play more minutes, but the minutes that I've had so far I've really enjoyed.
21:04Also, in the competition we're playing in tomorrow, I had a few games and for me it's the first run in the Champions League.
21:11So, it's been amazing and even though I'm not playing as much, I still try to contribute with everything I can around the group.
21:17What's the main difference you found playing in the Champions League?
21:20The ball? No, not only the ball, of course, it's just an iconic tournament.
21:27So, everything around it, the anthem before the game starts, it's just special.
21:30It's something you grew up watching as a child.
21:33You have so many memorable moments.
21:35So, for me also, the likes of trying to play against other clubs and only English clubs is an amazing experience.
21:43I'm going to Chris.
21:45Hi.
21:46You need the mic.
21:48I think Zubamendi recently said in an interview that you're the best trainer at the club and you keep your standards really high.
21:55I was wondering, when you're out of the team or not starting as many games as you'd like to, how do you manage to keep those standards so high?
22:01I think because I do it for myself.
22:07I don't do it to get closer to the team or necessarily to be a better football player.
22:13I do it because I feel better as a human being and that should not be affected by whether I start or I'm on the bench.
22:21So, it's probably more like doing things that I know that are good for me.
22:26And yeah, of course, that will then be reflected in being professional, you know, being disciplined.
22:33And I try to be very consistent whether I'm in or out of the team.
22:39Has it been hard to get used to? Because I think by this stage last season, I think you played or started 20 out of Brentford's 23 games in the Premier League.
22:46You haven't got that start yet for Arsenal. Has it been difficult?
22:49Not that difficult. I knew that it would be a different role here than I had at Brentford.
22:59And I've tried to embrace it as much as possible.
23:01Of course, I do feel some sort of frustration when I don't play, but I think that's really, really normal.
23:07And it's about how do you change that frustration to a positive energy that you could then transmit to your teammates
23:16or transmit in training to try and improve or try and show the manager that he can give me more minutes than I've had so far.
23:26Because there has been speculation, I guess January there always brings around that speculation, Ajax as a club that's been mentioned.
23:31Has there been any thought in your mind of maybe leaving the club or speaking to Mikel about the minutes that you're getting?
23:37No, no, I'm really, really happy here. And the messages I get from the club is that they're really happy with me here as well.
23:44So for me, it's a mutual relationship that right now is working really good.
23:51And it's a development, it's a learning curve for me as well.
23:55I need to also improve and show that the tactics that Mikel is showing, that I'm getting that under my skin.
24:01And I think now I've felt and seen the last couple of games that I've played, both in the Champions League and in the Carabao Cup.
24:09There's been a good improvement. So hopefully coming into the last part of the season, I can also contribute more on the pitch.
24:16Tom?
24:18Hi Christian.
24:19Hi.
24:20There's a kind of growing Scandinavian group of players at the club now, yourself and Martin and Victor, of course, as well.
24:26How has that dynamic helped the group? And do you spend more time with those players because of maybe that cultural familiarity as well?
24:33Yeah, for us it's a great dynamic to have. I come from a club where there was a lot of Scandinavians and a lot of Danish players and Danish staff.
24:41We even had a Danish sports director when I first joined Brentford. So to have a few Scandinavians guys here is brilliant.
24:49You know, we often sit and have lunch together or dinner before games at a hotel and we speak our own languages, which is fun, you know.
24:59And the other ones obviously don't understand anything of it. But it's good for us to have that Nordic chemistry.
25:06So yeah, hopefully the club will keep keep recruiting more Scandinavian players.
25:11And at the start of the season when you did your media day and you had to pronounce your name.
25:15There's a famous kind of viral clip went round actually where you pronounce your name differently last season compared to this season.
25:22If you're aware of that.
25:23No, I didn't.
25:24Do you want to put it to bed and tell people how you pronounce your name?
25:26So I have pronounced my name two different ways or in like beginning of last season and beginning of this season.
25:32Okay, so I think I probably pronounce it in an English way and then in a Danish way.
25:36So Christian Norgoth would be the English way and then Christian Norgoth would be the Danish way.
25:40Right, gotcha.
25:41So I don't think I've made two different Danish ones.
25:44That's on me then, if so.
25:46No problem.
25:47We'll go just behind, yeah, and then come back up.
25:53Hi Christian.
25:54There's such a strong squad and the aim is to win every trophy possible.
25:58How has that affected your mentality as an individual?
26:01Yeah, it's about the standards.
26:04It's about the demands that are set from the coaching staff, of course, but also among the players.
26:12And yeah, going back to the minutes.
26:15Everyone wants to play more minutes, but it's a big squad.
26:18It's a squad full of quality.
26:20And I think coming towards the end of the season, it's exactly what we need if we want to compete in all of the tournaments.
26:29Your role has been bigger in the Cup competitions in comparison to the league.
26:32How do you mentally prepare for those games, especially as they are knockout games?
26:36Sorry?
26:37Your role has been bigger in the Cup competitions in comparison to the league.
26:40How do you mentally prepare for those games as they've been knockout games?
26:44Yeah, I've taken a few penalties before the game.
26:49But I think going into the game, it's been more or less the same preparation I would have had for any other game.
26:55But you're right, when you play the game, you know what's at stake.
26:59And that will be the same now in the Champions League, going into the knockout phase again.
27:07Hi Christian.
27:08It's been a bit frustrating for you.
27:10I mean, is this something you've spoken to the manager about, you know, having not started a Premier League game?
27:15And do you think that you've still got a big role to play in terms of the Premier League for the rest of the season?
27:20Hopefully I have.
27:22It's not like a daily frustration I have, to be honest.
27:25Like, I'm just making it clear that I want to play more minutes like any other player would in my situation.
27:30But it's not been a daily frustration for me.
27:32And I feel like I have really good communication with the manager and he's being really honest with me.
27:39And I feel that he's happy with my role here.
27:45And I think coming towards the end of the season, hopefully we will also need the whole squad.
27:52And I'm sure I can play a role as well in the last part of the Premier League.
27:56I've heard an interview with you at the start of the season that your grandmother keeps a scrapbook.
28:02Every year she does a scrapbook of all your achievements.
28:05What do you think it would mean if you could win a few trophies this season?
28:09It would obviously be icing on the cake.
28:13It's fantastic.
28:15It's the best Christmas present I get every year.
28:18So my grandma, she collects all sorts of different articles from different papers during the year.
28:23And she's done that for nine years running now.
28:25So I have like a big stack of first scrapbooks at home.
28:28And it's, yeah, the whole family sits around that scrapbook at Christmas Eve.
28:33And it's a very special moment for me and my family.
28:36And hopefully also with my boys growing up, they will look at these scrapbooks and see that it was alright at football.
28:45We'll go along the lines. We'll go to Matt and then to James.
28:48Hi, Christian.
28:49Hi.
28:50How do you think the players are more relaxed and sort of able to play with more freedom in the Champions League and the Cup competitions compared to the Premier League where the sort of pressure and scrutiny feels so intense at the moment?
29:02I don't think so. I think we should play every game in the same way.
29:09I think that could then quickly change again because now coming into the stages that we're in in the Champions League will also be on edge and be a matter of winning or losing your in or out.
29:22So I don't think so. I think you can easily judge maybe after one game or two games.
29:29I think again, looking at the whole season and all of the competition, we've looked really fluid.
29:33We've looked really good. We've looked like we have weapons all over the pitch we can use.
29:37So I think it's a bit early to analyze that way after the weekend at least.
29:43And in terms of competition, obviously competing with Rice and Supermendy for minutes, how difficult is that?
29:48It's probably not many people in Europe have it as difficult as you do.
29:51No, it's not easy. It's not easy. It's some fantastic players.
29:56And yeah, it's of course, it's honestly like it's a joy coming in every day.
30:05You train with this player of this quality, but it's also a good feeling to see and feel like you're a part of it.
30:11You can actually play on this level. And I've been confirmed in that this season.
30:15And now it's just about being patient, being hard working and hopefully more chances will come.
30:20Hi, Christian. Michael's got such a big squad now that it feels like every game is going to have to leave two or three players,
30:27sometimes even off the bench, senior players at that. Obviously, you were in that position on Sunday.
30:32I just wondered, what's it like for you watching a game, watching your teammates suffer in a game as well, losing,
30:37but not being able to impact that. What's that experience like?
30:41Yeah, you're bang on there. I think that's the hard part is that you feel a little bit helpless in that situation
30:47because you sit there in the stands and you can't really help the team.
30:52Yeah, I don't think it's his favorite part of his job to leave players out of the squad.
30:57But unfortunately, with the amount of players we have and the quality we have,
31:01that's a decision you will have to make for every game as long as every player is fit.
31:05I would say though that majority of this season has not been the case because of the amount of games we play
31:10and with the intensity. But the medical staff is doing an amazing job now as well to keep everyone fit and available.
31:15And therefore, the manager will have some tough decisions to make, but it's all part of it.
31:20We all have to embrace it. And like I said, we need the full squad if we want to compete in all of the tournaments.
31:26And we've seen you in a couple of different positions this season, obviously, holding the field,
31:29but also playing centre-half. How's that been for you?
31:32Do you find you as comfortable playing that position or is it a bit of an adaptation?
31:36The first game against Borussia, of course, before the game, I was maybe a little bit nervous about playing that role,
31:42but the game went really well and then coming into the Portsmouth game, everything felt a little bit more natural.
31:49So, yeah, I think it's good to be versatile and be able to play multiple positions.
31:56So, yeah, if there's an open spot as a centre-half, I'm happy to take that as well.
32:01We'll do the last couple over here. Sorry, I should pass it along to you, Sam.
32:05Hi, Christian. In recent weeks and months, there's been a lot made about who should actually be the captain at Arsenal.
32:13Obviously, Martin Odegaard, your fellow Scandinavian, is the captain right now.
32:17What qualities does he bring to the table as a captain which we might not see away from the pitch?
32:22Martin is an unbelievable guy, a fantastic guy around the change rooms, really well liked, well respected by everyone at the club.
32:31Talking about discipline and standards, professionalism, he's also one of them who walks the walk.
32:39So, for me, the armband could not sit on a better person than him.
32:44So, I don't know where that speculation comes from, of course.
32:48And, like, you know, captains wear different capes, wear different shapes and Martin is one of them.
32:56I was another one in Brentford. Someone is a completely different captain.
33:01I don't think, I think you can be a very different type of captain and still be a very good one.
33:07And in terms of the game on Sunday, one notable aspect was the crowd anxiety around the game.
33:12So, there's some boos, there's a lot of anxiousness around, probably because of that desire to get silverware this season.
33:20Does that translate to the players at all? Can you feel that in the stadium?
33:24I think mostly when you're on the pitch or you're on the bench, you're so focused on what's going on on the pitch
33:32and that you maybe not really sense it in the same way.
33:36But I've never been in a football club where the home crowd was not really happy if the team was not winning.
33:44You know, it's a normal feeling and emotion to show, I think, when you're down or not winning.
33:51It's a natural emotion to try and get the team going.
33:55And it's a mutual relationship.
33:57You know, we need to put as much energy on the pitch as possible to transmit to the fans.
34:01And the other way around, you know, it's like a partnership you have to embrace when you're at the stadium.
34:08I think we've had some amazing games this season where Emirates has been rocking.
34:13So, hopefully, we can keep that going for the rest of the season.
34:16Cool. We'll end it here, guys.
34:18Thank you. Thank you.
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