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00:21Good afternoon everyone. I hope everyone's well. As always we'll kick off the live as live session and then we'll
00:26go into a 10.30 tonight.
00:28If we're all ready, we'll kick off with Damesh from Sky.
00:30Hi Damesh.
00:32Any fresh injury concerns after Tuesday?
00:35No, not for now. We have another training session tomorrow so the ones that are in contention hopefully can give
00:43us good news.
00:44You mentioned on Monday that Martin Odegaard and Julian Timber were days away. Are you hopeful they'll be available?
00:50Yeah, we have another session tomorrow so let's see if they can make it.
00:53You've got to pick a 20-man squad for this game, Mikkel. Where will that rank among the most challenging
01:00and difficult decisions you've had as an Arsenal manager?
01:04Yeah, especially because everybody's been involved in the competition and in the last day when you have the option to
01:11be at Wembley and not to give the opportunity for somebody not to be there, difficult.
01:17So, yeah, something to think about.
01:19Kep has started all your cup games in the FA Cup and the Caravan Cup. Will he keep his place?
01:26Will he start?
01:27We will see how everybody's tomorrow and make their decision.
01:29OK.
01:33Just because Pep says that James Trafford is starting.
01:36Good try.
01:39Mikkel, there's been a feeling among the pundits that this is more than just a final in that it can
01:47lead to maybe bigger and better things for the winners of this game.
01:52Do you see it like that? Have you thought about that or is this just something, an individual game, let's
01:58try and get a trophy?
01:58Yeah, that's it. For me that's it. And all the preparation and all the enjoyment in the next 48 hours
02:04to get to Wembley in the best possible way
02:06and really prepared and confident that we're going to make it happen is focus on that, basically on that and
02:12that's it.
02:13I'm not sure if you're aware of this stat. You've played for Arsenal at Wembley four times. You've managed Arsenal
02:22at Wembley four times.
02:24You were aware of that?
02:25Yeah, Dan just mentioned that.
02:28It's a spoiler, isn't it?
02:31And you've never lost. What is it about you, this club and that stadium?
02:36I don't know but let's keep it that way. So make sure that in a few hours we can do
02:42the same.
02:43Just on the man in the other dugout, known very well Pep Guardiola, you've got a fantastic relationship with him.
02:49He says that his relationship with you may have changed over the last five or six years, compared to five
02:56or six years ago rather.
02:57He had to, no? He's in Manchester, I'm in London. We are managing two different clubs. The feelings from my
03:05side hasn't changed at all.
03:06How would you describe how it has changed?
03:09Well, the fact that we are never together. We cannot spend time together and that's important in our relationship.
03:15But it's not the most important thing because what I feel about him and the time that we had together
03:21and what he did for me.
03:24And the inspiration has been since I was little for me, that's never going to change.
03:29Thank you very much.
03:30Ian Tuttle.
03:32Hi, Michael. How are you?
03:33Hi.
03:34Very good, thank you.
03:34Nervous?
03:36No.
03:38Today, no.
03:39Not today, I mean just in general.
03:41No. Excited, enthusiastic, positive, yeah.
03:46Victor Jokeres, 16 goals this season, but is Sunday the real reason why you bought Victor Jokeres to keep you
03:54over the line with a trophy?
03:56Our players, they have to perform daily at this level, but when it comes to the crucial moments and when
04:02it comes to the moment to attack a trophy and take it and bring it home,
04:07that's why you need players to step up and make a difference, that's clear.
04:10And for your team, I mean, still in with the chance of winning four trophies, never been number four.
04:16It's been a fantastic season, but does Sunday become kind of a little bit the moment of truth?
04:22You've got this far, now going the final step and lift the pot.
04:27It's one of the defining moments because at the end is whether you win the trophy or not, and that's
04:32the most important thing once you get to the final.
04:35But in order to be there, you have to do a lot of things and earn a lot of things
04:39that the team has done so far,
04:40so we need to prove that point, that's clear, and that has to be done on the pitch.
04:44Finally, still young, still no grey hairs, you're the apprentice compared to the master in terms of Pep Guardiola maybe
04:52in some people's eyes,
04:54but someday the day, the apprentice becomes the master.
04:57It's not about that. In this profession, you are constantly learning, constantly evolving.
05:04I had the incredible privilege to work with Pep for four years and all the staff and an amazing club.
05:10And that remains part of me because it was part of the journey and what I am today as a
05:15manager.
05:16But that means that you have to continue to evolve and improve constantly.
05:20Good luck on Sunday.
05:22George, BBC.
05:22Mikel Olo, Arsenal won the FA Cup and you were in charge in 2020.
05:27It seems a while ago now, but obviously there were no fans there.
05:29It is, a while ago.
05:31But just in terms of obviously you won that with no fans.
05:34Yeah.
05:35What would it mean to win with all your supporters there?
05:39Because loads of them had to miss out watching it on the TV.
05:42So what's your memories of that final and what's the contrast potentially to what could happen on Sunday?
05:47Let's leave it on Sunday and then I can probably answer that question better.
05:50I've done it when that stadium has been full and been part of that and it's exceptional.
05:56One of the best memories that I have as a player is playing those type of games.
06:00So, yeah, that's why we are all very excited because we know what is at stake.
06:04We really want it and we know what it's going to mean for our people as well.
06:08When you say you really want it, is this the start of a new era potentially for Arsenal?
06:14Because 20 years ago they were winning everything, the unvincibles.
06:19What you've got on the line and what this team could potentially achieve is quite huge of it.
06:24From your sense, what do you sense that this is the start of something big potentially?
06:28There is a lot to do, to start to talk and use those words in my opinion.
06:33But we are very excited about what we are doing and we need to continue to make the right strikes
06:41and especially performing the right way when those moments come to achieve what we want
06:46to start to build the momentum that we want as a club.
06:48Just in terms of finals, obviously you made Champions League semi-final last year.
06:52How much is it about the players that these finals become habits rather than unusual moments?
06:58Well, this is what we want and the fact that we are at the end of March and we are
07:04in four competitions
07:05tells a lot about the team.
07:06But as I said, now it's about the next step, the next game and the defining moments.
07:11At the end you need certain moments to go your way and especially you have to make it happen
07:17in the way you approach those games and make decisions that obviously are going to impact the game.
07:25When you were with Pep at City, I think Carabao Cup was the first trophy you won together in 2018.
07:31A few months later that team won the Premier League and went on to win a great deal of course.
07:36Do you think that experience that they shared at Wembley, winning that final,
07:40was important in helping them take that step and go on and do more in the future?
07:45Certainly yes, because winning always helps and winning a trophy helps more for sure.
07:51It gives you confidence, it gives you the feeling that when it comes to that moment you can do it
07:57and you have enough resources to achieve what you want and then you still have to do all the other
08:03things
08:04that that team did back in the day.
08:07And just on the goalkeepers, I mean, logic suggests in a cup final you pick your best team,
08:13your number one choice.
08:15Is the goalkeeper position a little bit distinct from that?
08:18Because you've got a player there who otherwise they won't play a number of games.
08:22Is it a little bit different from the consideration within our team?
08:25Especially if you talk to the goalkeeping coaches, they are very special because they are always different.
08:30And they are different. It's a position that is very specific.
08:34There is a lot of history about that as well that is very related to how people have made decisions
08:39in the past
08:39and when something different happens, it sounds different at least.
08:45But we don't know how it's going to be in 10 or 20 years' time.
08:48Matt Sneddard and Mikal, on that 2018 final you and Pepsi system, City obviously won 3-0 that day.
08:54But in general, how big was the gap between the two teams and the two clubs
08:58and how much work has been required to get Arsenal to the NL?
09:02Yeah, I think both clubs were in a very different stage in that moment.
09:06You could sense not only in terms of the squad but in many other situations how far we were.
09:13And you just have to see as well what that club won before we were there as well,
09:19which was already very successful.
09:21And at the time Arsenal was in a different period because of the history as well
09:27and some of the things that happened.
09:29At what stage rate in the last six years since you've been here
09:32did you genuinely believe Arsenal has been in a position where they could compete with Man City
09:36for the biggest prize in British Liga?
09:39Well, I mean, all the work that has been done from day one because that's the level.
09:43I mean, just being the Arsenal manager and not believing that you can compete
09:47at the highest level in the competitions, I think it cannot be aligned.
09:50Then obviously there are a lot of factors and the fact that I was there,
09:53I know in my opinion where the gaps were and the difference was.
09:57But not accepting it, being that it's part of the reality and try to change it as quick as possible.
10:18I don't know, I think it's that, but the fact that at the end you have to win a lot
10:23of games
10:23and you have to be very consistent if you want to maintain those wars or the project continuously.
10:32People believe in it and at the end I don't think it's never going to end up.
10:35Regardless of what happens and how much we win in the next few years,
10:38it's always going to be something for the next two or three years.
10:42And honestly, we'll plan that and the club will plan that in every department,
10:46not only in terms of the first team winning football matches, it's part of it.
10:51And this competition is often talked about a little bit as a springboard
10:54or something to push you forward to those final games because of how early in the scene that it is.
10:59Is it difficult sometimes to view it in isolation without thinking of what it could do further on down the
11:04line?
11:05I don't know, but you leave the moment and the present that much,
11:09that's the only focus that you can put in.
11:11Obviously, you can imagine how nice it would be on Sunday when you win it
11:15and we are all together and sharing with other fans.
11:18It will be a massive energy boost and belief for everybody and that's why we won it so much.
11:23James, you did.
11:24Michael, you've heard the quadruple word probably more times than you'd like from us.
11:29Have you heard it from the players before yet?
11:31Or anything that makes you think there?
11:33No, because we know that we need to go game by game and trophy by trophy.
11:40Just going back to the keepers quickly.
11:42In the 2014 FA Cup final, Arsene, when the group was Fabianski, Robin Wojciech,
11:46you were obviously captain that day.
11:48As a player, do you think this would make you feel any different when you're playing without the keeper?
11:53Why do you consider you a number one behind you?
11:57No, because we don't have that feeling amongst players.
12:00We really trust our teammates and in that case, especially when you work with the quality of the keepers
12:06that we have right now at the above international.
12:09They play at the highest level, higher clubs and they have the experience to deal with any kind of situation.
12:15Does motion come into it at all?
12:18Because Kepa has played such a huge part in this run.
12:20If you were to go with David psychologically, that could have quite a big impact on Kepa.
12:25Does that play into your decision as well?
12:27Yeah, every decision that you make has an impact.
12:30When you have to pick between two players, normally it's positive for you and negative for him.
12:35So, the other way around it can be.
12:37So, you need to weight everything, every decision, try to be as fair as possible as well and sensible.
12:44That's it.
12:45OK, last couple of minutes live.
12:47Phil from here.
12:48Hello, Phil.
12:49Earlier this season you said you were still speaking to him quite regularly.
12:52Have you spoken to him this week?
12:55No, not this week, no.
12:56Do you intend to speak to him before the fire?
12:59Yes, on Sunday.
13:00It's this week, no?
13:01So, on Sunday I will speak to him for sure.
13:03Is there a specific reason why you haven't spoken to him?
13:07No, no specific reasons, no.
13:09And just on the final, obviously it's been six years since the FA Cup final.
13:14Arsenal have had so many new misses in that period, having a great season.
13:18Do you still think that that sort of paces the pressure a bit more lasting to get this trophy over
13:23the line than it does City?
13:25Well, when you have been in this position and years without winning a trophy,
13:29obviously it adds more necessity but as well more drive because you really want it.
13:35And that's something that we have that is something really important for us
13:40and something that we've been trying to achieve for a while and I know we have the opportunity to do
13:45it.
13:48Good afternoon, Mikel.
13:50It's your first final with a lot of these players and what mentality do you present before?
13:54Do you use the occasion to motivate them?
13:57But these players have been playing football their whole life.
13:58You just say that it's another football game and just do what you usually do.
14:02Well, I don't think you need a lot of motivation to play a final and to play a final in
14:07Wembley
14:07and anybody that has been involved knows that.
14:10There are other elements that are very important to manage and to dominate in a final
14:14that we will discuss for sure.
14:17OK, guys, I've finished your live. We'll go to 10.30 tonight.
14:20We'll kick off with Sam.
14:21Hi.
14:21Hi.
14:22Every time you play against...
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