- 5 hours ago
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta Reacts to Set-Piece Debate and Previews Brighton Fixture
03/03/2026
Sobha Realty Training Ground, London, UK
03/03/2026
Sobha Realty Training Ground, London, UK
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:02How long did it take for your heartbreak to just calm down on Sunday?
00:08Is it ready to go nine games more that could probably be nine games like that?
00:12Yeah, the moment the whistle went, done.
00:15So it wasn't for that long.
00:17So I think I have a very strong heart.
00:20I mean, you might need a very strong heart as well.
00:22I have.
00:23I think it might be tested, I think.
00:25Sorry?
00:26I think it might be tested a little bit.
00:27It's been tested since I was two, since I was born basically.
00:30So it's been a few years.
00:33Talk to us, you touched on a couple that might be back,
00:36might not be back for this game.
00:38Can you just elaborate a little bit?
00:41Yeah, especially Kai.
00:42So he's on a part of the session,
00:45so we will have to wait and see whether he's available
00:48and in which condition and the rest.
00:50I don't think there is anybody else.
00:54Martin is the one.
00:55Yeah.
00:55We will see.
00:56We will see.
00:58For the rest, how's Ben White?
01:02How's...
01:02Ben is not available.
01:04No.
01:04Okay.
01:05Max Downman is available.
01:06Max Downman is available, yes.
01:08Max is available.
01:09Okay.
01:10It's better you give me the list so I go.
01:12If not, I forget the names.
01:13We told you not to do that.
01:14Okay, okay.
01:15That's why I brought you the library.
01:16We can go to the list.
01:17With only God, you just said you thought it was a slight problem with his knee.
01:20Yeah.
01:20Will he be all right for Saturday, you said maybe?
01:23That's what I said.
01:24We have to wait and see how comfortable he is to do sales and actions.
01:27Okay.
01:28And the other one was Rice came off, didn't he?
01:30Yeah.
01:30Is he okay?
01:32I hope so.
01:32He was much better today.
01:34Obviously, we haven't really trained because we have only two days to prepare the game,
01:38so hopefully he's going to be better tomorrow.
01:39And the last one on the list was David Ryder.
01:43Yeah.
01:43Is he okay?
01:44Because he worked your way at the end of the game.
01:45David is good, yeah.
01:47Good to go.
01:47A lot of people, Mikel, have picked up on the fact that you have scored corners again.
01:55A lot of people are saying that it's not the football that they want to watch.
01:59A lot of people have said you're stretching tactics, particularly when you're playing against
02:03them tomorrow night.
02:05But you sit on top of that kind of corners league with 16.
02:09Do you think actually every Premier League manager would like to be where you are?
02:15I certainly want to be.
02:16I'm upset that we don't score more and that we concede as well.
02:20So we want to be the best and the most dominant team in every aspect of the game.
02:23And that's the trajectory and the aim of this team.
02:27And as a club we want to be the same, so try to do that.
02:29Does it surprise you that you're doing something so well and yet somehow you're still getting
02:36criticised for it?
02:37I love the job.
02:42You also talked post-match about game management towards the end of the match.
02:47Yeah.
02:50And what have you sort of taken from that Chelsea game in terms of maybe learning from it
02:55and easing some of that anxiety that's kind of palpable, isn't it?
03:00I mean, I was emotionally exhausted and I'm not even invested in this type of risk.
03:04It's so hard to not get drawn into it, isn't it?
03:08For the players to not get drawn into it.
03:09And I guess that does come down to game management in a sense.
03:12We had to do much better with the ball, we didn't finish enough actions.
03:16And then I said as well credit to Chelsea as well.
03:18They got from very, very tight situations.
03:21They produced the biggest chance from a cross that is not a shot,
03:24converted it into a shot and David has to make a big set.
03:27That was it.
03:28So, yeah, a few days ago against the Spurs, the second half when we won one
03:32and the game obviously deserved much better from our side.
03:36We managed to score three goals and win the game more comfortably.
03:39So, all the time we have to continue to learn.
03:42Just finding on that sort of anxiousness,
03:45do you find that actually you avoid talking about it
03:48because it becomes a self-forbilling prophecy
03:49or have you sat down with the players
03:52and talked about that kind of sense of nervousness?
03:54Because they're on the edge of something very, very great.
03:57We talk about every aspect of the game
03:58and managing a game, managing a result, managing a certain contest
04:03whether you are ten men and against eleven is a very important one.
04:07So, we discuss about everything.
04:09Siga from the Premier League.
04:10Hello.
04:12Brighton, tomorrow.
04:14A team is organised, they push up the pitch a lot.
04:16It's been quite sporadic, sometimes inconsistent, you never know,
04:19but they've got quality all over the pitch.
04:21What have you made of it?
04:22Very, very good side.
04:23The way they are coached as well,
04:25and they have a sequence of years as well with a very similar style
04:28and players that fit really, really well.
04:31What they want to do, they really believe in what they do.
04:34So, yeah, always a very tough opponent.
04:37You spoke about Eze knowing what he needs to succeed.
04:40You've seen him be amazing centrally,
04:42you've seen his strengths and weaknesses.
04:44Also, you've seen him perform on the left.
04:46I just wanted to get your opinion on what you think he can offer
04:49on the wing or on the left a little bit differently,
04:50maybe from a trossard or anyone you've played there.
04:54Yeah, depending on the position especially
04:56and the relationship that he's got around
04:58because he's a player that needs a lot of movement around him
05:01to activate those spaces, to create a space for himself
05:04and for him in order to be efficient in those spaces.
05:08But it's certainly an option that we have as a team.
05:11Previously I asked you about the conceding at the end of the game,
05:15just closing games out.
05:16Do you think it's as simple as when you don't have an odigo
05:18at the marina controlling and supporting that physicality
05:21or it's, we're tired, there's nine games left, what's going to happen?
05:25There are a lot of factors to that.
05:27As I said, some of them are related to us
05:30and us being more clear and more willing to do certain things
05:34and then as well the opponent, it does well
05:37and it puts you in the back foot.
05:40Ian, talk sport.
05:43Hi, Ian. Good, thank you.
05:45I asked you earlier in the season about set-pieces
05:47when you were starting to score quite a few goals
05:50and you said you've been planning it for five years.
05:54How did it happen?
05:58I'm paying a lot of attention to your question.
06:02I mean, isn't it the fact that others are just trying to play catch-up with you
06:05and maybe now they're mentioning it more because they're trying to play catch-up?
06:08You perfected this.
06:10I don't know.
06:10I mean, you as an opponent or whatever, you get upset when you conceded a goal.
06:14I was really upset the way we conceded our goal against Chelsea
06:17and Chelsea looked at the quality that they had, the amount of set-pieces they scored.
06:20Manchester United is doing so well.
06:22The same, I was at Man City.
06:24I used to work a lot on them.
06:25So, it's something.
06:27And there are phases and there are moments when the team has an opportunity to do certain things.
06:33And the game is evolving and the game is becoming more and more difficult.
06:39Before, when you used to do a game plan and you just invert a full-back
06:42and bring an extra player in midfield or a false nine.
06:45Opponent, Sefini.
06:47Big overload.
06:484v3 inside.
06:492v1 inside.
06:50Time on the ball.
06:52So dominant.
06:5278% of possession.
06:54The other opponent, two counter-attacks or set-pieces.
06:57The game is done.
06:57Now, teams are adapting.
06:59Teams know after every sequence of play, whether it's a throw-in, a restart-off play,
07:03an open-page situation, after direct play, exactly what they have to do.
07:08And everything is almost man-to-man.
07:10So, it's going to be a different game unless we change the rules.
07:13Because the evolution of the game is that.
07:16Liam, I asked Liam Brasini the same question yesterday about set-pieces.
07:20He said Chelsea fans didn't care at the Emirates how the goal went in,
07:24as long as they scored a goal.
07:25I guess Arsenal fans between now and the end of the season don't care
07:28every goal you score is from a corner, as long as you win games.
07:33We're talking about winning football here, aren't we?
07:34We're not talking about necessarily entertainment.
07:37We're talking about winning.
07:38I don't know how you celebrate one goal different to another one.
07:42Maybe for YouTube it's nicer one or another.
07:45I don't know.
07:46But the reality of football depends a lot.
07:48I would like to play with three players extra in my own half
07:52to get some beautiful football and play always against the free man.
07:55This is not the reality of football.
07:57You want to watch that football you have to go to a different country
08:00because in the Premier League for the last two seasons or three seasons
08:03this is not the case.
08:05How much has it changed since you've played?
08:08Because you were a silky...
08:09Four years ago.
08:10It's a different game.
08:11Three, four years.
08:12Completely different.
08:13Completely different.
08:14So could you play in this current era?
08:16Me?
08:17Yeah.
08:18But as a nine.
08:19Only as a nine.
08:22Watch out, Victor.
08:24Watch out, Victor.
08:25Watch out, Victor.
08:29Talk.
08:32Go, Tom.
08:33Hi, Mikael.
08:34There was a point in the game against Chelsea,
08:36I think it was around when the scores were level after half-time,
08:39and there was quite an energy in the stadium that wanted urgency.
08:42And I remember, and tell me if I've misinterpreted this,
08:45but you turned around and you kind of raised your arms and you went calm.
08:49And I don't know if it was to the bench or to the crowd.
08:51It was to the crowd, yeah.
08:52Can you talk me through that moment?
08:53Because there's this interpretation that we want energy from fans,
08:56but at the same time it's hard to understand the moments
08:59where you need calmness and times where you need energy.
09:02That's a really good point.
09:03I mean, I think when you have the ball,
09:05you need to be able to make those decisions.
09:07If I'm shouting to a player when they have the ball,
09:09pass to him, pass to him, you are not making decisions.
09:12You are just being told what to do.
09:13And what you see maybe and what you feel is very different.
09:17I mean, if we've done three transitions and my heart rate is 180,
09:21the game is required to slow down and to control the game and to dominate it.
09:26If there's an opportunity to run because I'm fresh after a set piece
09:29that I had a minute to rest,
09:30that's a different opportunity to run.
09:32So it's a lot of factors and the players have to make those decisions.
09:36I mean, the crowd normally shoots in this country.
09:38Shoot, shoot from 40 yards as well.
09:40We can shoot all the time.
09:41What are you doing shooting from there?
09:43So I think we'll have a split stadium.
09:45So it's natural that they are pushing,
09:48but we need to understand as well that at a certain moment
09:50we have to take our time to start the attacks in the right way.
09:54Is control and dominance the biggest priority in a way now in a team
09:59to get the most out of games.
10:01If you can get control and you can get dominance,
10:03you have the best chance of winning every game.
10:05Yeah, but especially in which areas we want to be dominant
10:10and we want to control the games.
10:11And what sequences of play we want really,
10:14that are more favourable for us.
10:16That's the objective.
10:18Matt from the standard.
10:19Can I ask you about Martins and Rendy?
10:21Yes.
10:21He played more than any other out-of-the-player,
10:23maybe a bit unusual for a player in a new league,
10:25a new club.
10:26What have you, I guess, seen in him?
10:28I mean, he's ready to play that much football in his first season.
10:32Well, different circumstances.
10:34Obviously the amount of games and competitions that we are involved in,
10:38certain injuries as well,
10:39and the fact that obviously he's doing so well
10:42and for our first year I think he's having a great season.
10:45Do you have any concerns,
10:46obviously it's the first time not having a winter break,
10:47are there any concerns that could start catching up with him
10:50due to have to manage his training or work?
10:53We have.
10:53I mean, we have to do that now.
10:55I think we are late.
10:56We've been doing that for the whole season.
10:58It's an unprecedented season for us.
11:00We've never played that many games ever in our history.
11:03And on top of that,
11:04those guys have said they're going to go with the national teams in March.
11:08And on top of that, we have a World Cup.
11:10So, for sure, that is something that we keep an eye on.
11:13But they're going to break every record that they had in the past,
11:17whether it's in one season, in two or in three,
11:19because the amount of games that they have is inevitable.
11:22James, Athletic.
11:23Hi, Mikael.
11:24I just wanted to ask about Martin and Declan in midfield.
11:28It feels like they've struck up a really natural chemistry
11:32that's really developing as a partnership.
11:34Do you think of them now in your mind as a pair, as a two?
11:39Yes, I do.
11:40I mean, we always talk about these kind of relationships and chemistry,
11:43and there is one, and it's very strong, of the field as well.
11:48That makes it what happens on the field.
11:52I think very, very special.
11:54And when you've got two players like that who are so consistent,
11:57the level of performance is so good,
11:58obviously the physical demands in that position are massive.
12:01You must think about, can I give them a rest?
12:04When do I give them a rest?
12:06Is that difficult to do when they're so valuable to you?
12:10Yeah, it's always like this with any player.
12:14You have to understand which games are more fitted for them
12:17and to other players as well, and that's what we have to do.
12:20And then understand how they are feeling,
12:22because there are moments when you feel that it's the right moment to go,
12:25and I'm in a great moment.
12:28I want to continue to play.
12:29Harry Bibsey.
12:31Hi, Michael.
12:31Hi.
12:31This has the potential to be an amazing season for Arsenal.
12:34The team has established, you've been building it over a number of years,
12:37you've shown tactical flexibility.
12:39Do you think the biggest challenge between now and the end
12:42is managing the emotions that everybody keeps talking about
12:44around the club as you try and achieve all those amazing things?
12:48Yeah, I mean, and those emotions are going to be different now,
12:52but we have managed a lot of emotions the last eight months,
12:56and the deal from here to the end is going to have to do a lot of things
12:59that have nothing to do with emotion as well,
13:02to continue to be here and to hope to win what we want to win.
13:06You talked about how the games changed and adjusted,
13:08and there's obviously some trends in Premier League football now
13:11that maybe weren't there a few years ago.
13:13Do you think Data has played a massive part of this,
13:15and how much of a role does Data play in tactical approaches
13:19and game plans nowadays?
13:20Well, Data and education that we all have,
13:23I think the influence of a lot of countries within the league,
13:28and then we learn from other teams, from other leagues,
13:32from other managers that everybody is implementing it in the system,
13:35so it's a very rich system in the Premier League,
13:38we all learn from each other and the game becomes more and more complicated.
13:42And if not, we have to do something, we have to agree.
13:45There are certain ways that we cannot play football.
13:47You cannot go man to man.
13:48We are going to see tomorrow it will be a different league, believe me.
13:52So that's choices that we have to make.
13:54But if everybody wants to be more competitive because it's more efficient
13:56and this and that, then we have to accept that it's going to be a change.
14:00Finally, we'll go to Daniel.
14:02Good afternoon, Mick.
14:03Good afternoon, Mikel.
14:04There's been a lot to go up to Kaio and his output this season,
14:07but it's clear that when you are breaking down teams,
14:10he's integral on and off the ball,
14:13especially when you guys are playing Victor Rockers and Eze together.
14:18Could you ask how he can use them against Bryant to hurt them,
14:21and how happy are you with his adaptability for the season?
14:24Well, to the first question, no.
14:26And the second one, yes, we know the importance of B
14:29and everything that he brings to the table emotionally to the team,
14:33the experience and the role that he already has in the team
14:36and how this affects us while the position is clear.
14:40And yeah, his performances have been really good.
14:43We can increase the numbers, obviously, that he's producing at the moment,
14:46but I think he's in a good place.
14:48And a lot of people regard your defence as the best backline in the league.
14:51Part of the goal you kept one clean sheet in the last five,
14:54in comparison to the previous five, we kept three.
14:57Isn't it a bit odd that, do you find it a bit odd,
15:00especially the fact that you are so good at set pieces
15:02and you seem to concede from them,
15:03all you have to end up conceding a worldly strike?
15:07Well, yeah, I think there are moments throughout the season as well,
15:10the type of goal that we have conceded lately.
15:12It's not very usual for us.
15:15But as I always said, we want to do our best,
15:17but there is always an opponent as well that is really good
15:20and something that he forces or they do things that you don't expect.
15:24OK, that finishes out live. We'll go to ten times.
Comments