- 4 hours ago
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on Arsenal’s Form, Defensive Strength & Winning Mentality
06/02/2026
Sobha Realty Training Ground, London, UK
06/02/2026
Sobha Realty Training Ground, London, UK
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SportsTranscript
00:00As always, if we're ready, we'll kick off with Gary from Sky Sports.
00:04Thanks, Dan.
00:05Hello, Raquel.
00:05Thanks for your time.
00:06It's a big weekend on Sky Sports, I'm sure you're aware.
00:10I wanted to build up to that with a NASA-style 10-to-1 countdown.
00:14It'll be quick, don't worry.
00:15Surprise me.
00:17So, 10 games you weren't on the bounce.
00:20That's the 10.
00:21Okay.
00:21Sunderland ended that run.
00:23Revenge tomorrow?
00:26Another opportunity.
00:27To win, to be better than the position, and then the right to win the game.
00:33That's it.
00:33You do win nine points.
00:36That's the nine ahead of Manchester City.
00:39Over nine, at least.
00:41Is that a big statement at this time of the season?
00:43The statement is that we do what we have to do.
00:46It's going to be a really tough match.
00:48I think they've been in an incredible run all season and what they've been doing.
00:51So, we know the complexity of the match.
00:54Eight.
00:55The number of letters in Rosinia.
00:58Okay.
00:59You've been thinking about that all night, or your wife involved?
01:05Also, eight letters in encroach.
01:07Okay.
01:07He seems concerned about what he thought was a lack of etiquette before the Caraba Cup.
01:13So, if I was second mate.
01:15Do you think he's overreacting?
01:16I don't know, it's his opinion and obviously we respect everybody and at any point one of the staff members went through that.
01:24We apologise and that's it.
01:26It's very common in football, especially with the keepers, because they have to kick long balls and all that.
01:31So, nothing there to comment.
01:32Seven.
01:33The Kaio squad number.
01:35Okay.
01:36How's his hip?
01:37His hip is getting much better.
01:38So, yeah, hopefully very soon he will be with us.
01:42How long?
01:43Very soon.
01:44Very soon.
01:45Very soon.
01:46This weekend?
01:47Number Six.
01:49Six, seven.
01:50Six, seven.
01:50Six, seven.
01:50It's what my kids showed me.
01:51Six, seven.
01:52Leslie's a six, seven.
01:53Number six, number of letters in Timber.
01:56Oh no!
01:57He said...
01:57Number of letters in Martin.
01:59Okay.
02:00I'm going on Timber heavy.
02:04So Martin again is getting better.
02:06It will be a matter of days, we believe, and your end is fine.
02:10Oh, great.
02:11So, good for the weekend.
02:12Five.
02:13It was fifth time lucky in terms of getting through a big semi-final and you're still in the big four competitions.
02:22That must have settled on reaching a Wembley final.
02:25Just over the last few days, have you sensed a real vibe around the place?
02:29It's a springboard to move on.
02:31Well, the energy that it brings, winning a big tie against a great Chelsea side
02:35and the fact that you visualise yourself in Wembley in a couple of weeks,
02:38obviously it's exciting, it's what we want.
02:40You could feel the excitement around our supporters as well, which is great.
02:44So, yeah, on to the next one now.
02:47We're nearly there, three, Max, three letters.
02:49Max Damon, almost back, we're here.
02:51Max hasn't trained with us yet, so it will be still a few weeks, I think,
02:55but it's getting better, yeah.
02:57And the man with two surnames, Oxlade Chamberlain.
03:00Yes.
03:01He said goodbye to his friends here at the training round.
03:04Looks like he's going to Celtic, not confirmed, but has he got a lot to offer at the club still?
03:08It's been brilliant, it's been great to share some time with him, his experiences.
03:13Obviously, we played together as well.
03:15So, some great memories, so it's been really helpful to us.
03:18Hopefully, we can help him and support him in that tough period for him
03:22and wish him all the very best, whatever he decides to do.
03:25Hopefully, anyone else picked up an injury we're not aware of?
03:29No, we are all good, thank you.
03:31You're the best one, the top one.
03:34Thanks, Gary.
03:35We'll go to Alex from the Premier League.
03:36Hi, Mikel.
03:37Hi.
03:38Just reflecting on that game at the same flight back in November,
03:42what makes this Sunderland team difficult to play against?
03:46Well, they are obviously extremely competitive, really well coached.
03:50They have very good individuals, very clear identity of what they want to do,
03:55where they want to take the game, and they are very good at it.
03:58You can only see the result that they had against the top side.
04:01So, we know what to expect, but we need to deliver that tomorrow.
04:05What kind of atmosphere are you hoping for at the Emirates?
04:32The best. Tomorrow at 2.30pm, the best atmosphere that we've seen.
04:36Ready everybody for three o'clock to exploit.
04:39That's what we want.
04:41We start to get into a really, really crucial part of the season,
04:45and we know what every game means,
04:47and we need to get into a stadium with that energy.
04:50All of us.
04:51Really crucial part of the season, as you say, fighting on forefront.
04:54What is the priority? Is there a priority?
04:57Yes, tomorrow, that's the priority.
04:59And the only priority, and the only focus,
05:02that we have to put all our energy and commitment.
05:05And we will do that tomorrow, and try to end the ride to win again.
05:10Ian Totoro.
05:11Hi, Mikel. How are you?
05:12I'm good, thank you.
05:13You've unbeaten your last 43 matches against promoted teams.
05:18That's the joint longest run in Premier League history.
05:21So that's a bit of history you can make tomorrow.
05:23Your team has scored the second most amount of goals,
05:26kept the most refused goals from going into your net.
05:30You're winning the league, or you're winning games this season,
05:32in the right way, aren't you?
05:34You're going about this assault on four trophies in the right way.
05:38Well, that's what we try to prepare every week.
05:42Every opponent is different and brings very difficult challenges,
05:45and we need to face them.
05:48We've been doing that for a lot of months now,
05:50and that's the thing that we have to continue to do,
05:53and play with that hunger and that commitment every single game.
05:57Because if we do that, we have a big chance to win a lot of games.
05:59A couple of your key signings.
06:01First, David Reier, 20 clean sheets in 38 games this season.
06:05He took 58 games for him to keep 20 clean sheets last season.
06:09He's been pivotal to you.
06:11While a lot of people are focusing on the other end of the pitch,
06:13I'd argue he's been your most pivotal player?
06:17Well, obviously when we are where we are,
06:20it's because individuals are doing so well,
06:22and certainly David has been immense for us since he joined us this season.
06:26Again, I think he's gone to a different level,
06:29very stable, really, really consistent,
06:32and it's a key player for us, obviously.
06:35Key player for you, and you've spoken before about how you
06:38when it gets what some people thought by bringing him in.
06:42Another one, Kai Havertz, also a pretty good player for you,
06:45and you've seen that in the last couple of games.
06:48Yes, we are really happy to have him.
06:50Again, he offers something very different to the team,
06:53and to be able to mix it up,
06:55and for him to show the level that he's showing immediately
06:58after such a long injury is very impressive.
07:01So, great.
07:02Just one last one.
07:04I was thinking about your answer about Liam Messina before.
07:07How important is it for managers to keep their calm,
07:12even before the games when they come out and watch the team warm up,
07:15but also use the right kind of body language and language as well?
07:20Because I think one thing that Liam would probably look back on
07:24is the fact that he swore at a camera or with a camera around during that period.
07:29I mean, you've been doing this six years now.
07:31How do you keep yourself in check?
07:34I don't know.
07:35Sometimes it's difficult because you cannot be aware constantly about everything,
07:39and we are human beings and we react to things.
07:42So, I think it's normal.
07:43I try to give the right example always,
07:45and if that's the intention, that's okay.
07:48Mark from Athletic.
07:50Hi, Miguel.
07:51Across the Premier League this season,
07:53I think it's the biggest share of goals from outside the box in 12 years.
07:58And with that increase, I think you've seen Zubmendi as a score for Arsenal this season.
08:05Last week you mentioned when you can't be, I guess, vertical and teams drop in,
08:11you have to take those shots.
08:13I'm just wondering, do you think that kind of increase in shots from outside the box
08:17is a reaction to how teams have started to play in recent years?
08:22And how do you view that kind of evolution?
08:25Well, yes.
08:26The more density there is inside the box
08:28and the more contact there is,
08:30the more difficult to score goals, especially in open play.
08:32So, that's clear.
08:33So, you have to find other ways.
08:34And I'm not surprised that that number is increasing.
08:37The quality of the plays as well is increasing.
08:40It happened in basketball especially, from choose to threes.
08:44And the stats were incredibly high.
08:46It's not that easy here to score because of the distance
08:49and the crowd that is around the goal.
08:51But, yeah, it's another weapon to have.
08:53And for you as a player, you obviously scored quite a few goals from outside the box.
08:58If you were a player today, would you be doing the same?
09:01Would you take the same shots with all the talk around, like XG for instance?
09:06Would that be in your head or would you still back?
09:09I don't think you can be thinking about that.
09:10I mean, you are in the right position with the right timing,
09:13with the right angles in front of you.
09:16I mean, you have to take the shot.
09:18I mean, the objective has to be to score.
09:20If you have somebody else free next to it, yeah,
09:23probably pass it depending on who it is especially.
09:25But, I mean, these are footballs that you have to make decisions in milliseconds
09:29and you cannot be thinking certainly about, okay,
09:32they have 0.1 more spectacle chance to score from here.
09:36I cannot see that happening.
09:38Max Alexander and Miguel.
09:40Declan, I spoke earlier this week about how important
09:42Gabriel Hines has been for you this season.
09:44He's obviously been there and done it in the Premier League.
09:47Has he become sort of even more important as the season has gone on
09:50having had that experience?
09:52Yeah, but right from the beginning, we knew that Gabriel was going to bring something
09:55very different to the coaching staff, the staff and the players.
09:59And with the games that we have at the club,
10:01he's someone that has done it in various countries.
10:04And obviously, I have a really personal relationship with him,
10:06so I knew how he was going to fit in with his character within the team.
10:11So, I'm very happy that the players are enjoying his company.
10:14What do you think the messages are that he is able to pass on having talked in there?
10:18The best one is the experience, because when you have lived something,
10:21you can talk and the detail there, it's incredible.
10:24And the things that have been helpful, the things that have been so helpful.
10:28And try to support the players.
10:30He's got a big role in that.
10:32Do you think it makes a difference from the players' perspective
10:34hearing it from someone who has achieved what they want to achieve?
10:37Well, I think the players have huge respect for all the members of the staff.
10:41Everybody is unique with their experiences,
10:43others because they've been with great managers as well,
10:45that they have one thing.
10:47So, everybody's opinion is very valuable.
10:49How you transmit that and how you connect with the player,
10:51probably is the most important thing.
10:53Tom, come on then.
10:55Hi.
10:56You mentioned it's getting to a really critical part of the season now.
10:58You've been with your side for six months
11:00and being at the top of the table,
11:02top of the Champions League,
11:03into the late stages of these cup competitions.
11:05Is this the best group that you've ever worked with?
11:08I don't like comparing.
11:11It's an amazing group, obviously, and they're doing an incredible job so far.
11:17And we are all very excited and very privileged to have each other.
11:20And we're going to enjoy it till the last of the season.
11:23One of the things that tends to happen when you are at the front and at the top
11:26is that you're the most exposed.
11:27I don't think I've ever heard as much spoken about the Arsenal team
11:30in the last ten years as I have about this team this year.
11:33How do you deal with that and do you expect to hear more voices
11:37and more talk around the team when you are in that position?
11:39We don't have much time.
11:40We are so busy with games, training sessions, planning and that.
11:44We are a bit far from that.
11:46But it's normal and I think it's something very positive,
11:50whether it's a positive feedback or not so well.
11:52I think we are here to learn and improve.
11:54And the fact that we are there is the most important thing at the end.
11:57Michael, I heard you talk about the positive reaction in Europe
12:05to the way you are playing.
12:07And I just wonder how do you know?
12:09I mean, do managers call you?
12:11Are you on WhatsApp?
12:12Do you Zoom with them?
12:13Do they call you to tap into the things that you are doing?
12:16Is that a discussion that happens?
12:18Yes, and we have a lot of people coming here as well.
12:21And when I was in other clubs I always like to work with other people.
12:25I love having coaches here from different sports,
12:29from different countries as well.
12:31Some of them are not working that I admire
12:34and we can get so much from them.
12:36We'll go to Phil.
12:38Back to Pierre.
12:39Hi, Mick.
12:40I'm just going back to the people of Siga's comments.
12:42Obviously, you said we apologise or we apologise.
12:45I want to know if you would change the way that Arsenal go about
12:48the way they warm up as coaches in case to avoid a similar incident.
12:53Yeah, I already replied to questions of that.
12:56I think that's enough.
12:58Just in terms of the Premier League,
13:00obviously, if you win against City on Sunday,
13:04sorry, if you win on Saturday,
13:07you'll move nine points clear of City.
13:09When do you start believing that this is going to be the year?
13:12Is there a moment when the gap is so big
13:14that you think this is going to be the year that we're going to do it?
13:17Yes, before the pre-season started.
13:20We started to prepare everything with the intention to be where we are
13:23and make sure the players are very convinced that we are going to achieve it.
13:28And then go day by day.
13:29That's it.
13:30Okay, we'll do the last couple.
13:31Nick in the back.
13:32Hi, Mick.
13:33I've got a couple of questions about Granit.
13:34I'm not sure if he's going to play or not.
13:36Were you surprised to see him come back to the Premier League
13:39and then what impact he's made at Sunday?
13:44The fact that he came back is always a possibility in football,
13:49but obviously he has spent quite a lot of time away from his half in the end
13:53and it was a critical part of the decision that he made when he left us
13:58about the impact, not at all because I know his character
14:01and when you give him that role, he grabs it with a lot of authenticity
14:07and in an incredible way and I'm very happy to see what he's doing.
14:10When he was playing here, a lot of people said that he had all the make-up
14:13of a good future coach or manager.
14:15Can you see him following in your footsteps?
14:17If he decides to do that, I think he's going to be a great manager, yeah.
14:21Hi, Michael.
14:22Hi.
14:23At this stage in previous seasons, Arsenal were the ones chasing title leaders,
14:27but now you are the ones being chased.
14:29Does this feel different?
14:30Is there a different type of pressure on the team?
14:32Depends.
14:33I think we've been in both positions in recent years.
14:36At the end you just have to focus on what you have to do,
14:39try to perform every single day and in May we will start to think what is better.
14:44Okay.
14:45If that finishes down, it's like...
14:46Okay.
14:47If that finishes down, it's like...
14:48Okay.
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