00:00Is today a good moment ahead of the Arsenal game?
00:02You haven't been asked in five attempts.
00:05You haven't been asked in four attempts as a manager.
00:09Is today that the only thing that can change?
00:11I'm not sure.
00:13We've done well against Arsenal.
00:15I remember some top performances where I remember playing a load of kids at Wolves.
00:19A load of kids and we did unbelievably well.
00:21I think it was 1-0 until the very last minute and they scored again.
00:25We gave them a bit of a scare at the Emirates once.
00:30I think Cunha scored.
00:32So, Arsenal are tough to beat, even if you do everything right.
00:36I'll make some changes to my team.
00:38I'm sure Mikel will make changes to his team.
00:41But it's a game we want to win.
00:43I want to get as far in the cups as we can.
00:45So, we approached the game on Tuesday.
00:48Going to give it our best go at home against the Andal of the Lights.
00:51I think we missed that opportunity against Liverpool.
00:54We played well against Liverpool, but it was already 2-0.
00:57We missed the opportunity to use the energy of Portman Road under the lights against the big side.
01:03So, on Tuesday, we can correct that.
01:05We can start the game well.
01:06We can take the fans with us on an attempt against beating one of the best sides around.
01:11When you look at Arsenal, I think everyone in the Premier League will agree they have the best squad.
01:16The strength and depth that Mikel has is unmatched.
01:20He could make 11 changes and still have a really strong team.
01:23How do you prepare when you've got a situation like that where he can literally pick on anyone of a
01:30number of players to build a really strong side?
01:32Yeah, no, I guess we prepare for a top side to come.
01:35You know, we know whether it's Saka or Maduake, for instance, they're going to be good on the right wing.
01:41And the same with the centre-backs.
01:42You know, whichever ones he goes with, they're going to be good.
01:44Midfield, the same.
01:46So, they have a consistent structure, at least.
01:49One of the positives of playing Arsenal, they're very, very consistent in what they do.
01:53So, prepping the game from a tactical point of view will be fairly straightforward.
01:59Stopping them and stopping what they do will not be straightforward.
02:02So, there'll be some work that goes into that.
02:04But we'll also have a strong side.
02:05We've worked our socks off in the transfer window to give ourselves a strong squad.
02:10Of course, different level to Arsenal at this moment.
02:12But we'll be strong on Tuesday and we'll do our best to win the game.
02:17Arsenal, potentially, Premier League is going to be number one, Champions League.
02:22This might not be one of their key things that they're looking at.
02:25Does that represent an opportunity for you?
02:28Maybe.
02:29But like you said, the squad is so strong that, you know, if they play their starting XI,
02:35they'll have all their best players on the pitch.
02:36If they play their second XI, they'll have a fresh XI on the pitch that are still strong.
02:41So, it'll be a tough game for us, definitely.
02:44But one that we can look forward to, especially off the back of this.
02:47You know, the club has worked so hard to have these moments.
02:50And, of course, it's a cup game.
02:51But to have Arsenal and Liverpool come in to Portman Road a few days apart,
02:56a week or so apart, is what everyone has worked so hard for in recent years.
03:00So, we're going to enjoy it.
03:01We're going to have a right go.
03:02And then the worst thing that can happen is we lose to Arsenal.
03:05And then we pick ourselves up and we get ready for Everton.
03:07So, we're looking forward to the week.
03:18And to be honest, they don't really need to.
03:21Like, I have massive respect for all of them.
03:25Really tough leaving out Darnell and Anis from the Matchday squad today.
03:30They came.
03:31They were unbelievably positive around the group.
03:33They've gone and got their work done after the game.
03:35Like, doing things like that to good people is tough.
03:38It's one of the toughest parts of the job.
03:40So, but I have faith in them.
03:43Like, they're just everyone's fit at the moment.
03:45And we've had to recruit a strong squad to get us through an unbelievably challenging season.
03:50So, there's going to be moments.
03:52Tuba missed out last week, but he's back on the bench today.
03:55So, there's going to be spells, I'm sure, where I have to speak to every single one of them
03:59and leave them out from something.
04:01But they're all ready.
04:02Like, they're definitely ready to go on Tuesday.
04:04Whoever I pick, I have 100% faith that they're ready.
04:06And they're going to represent what we do and how we go about it.
04:10And, yeah.
04:11And then we have a big game at Everton.
04:12And then we get ourselves a little break.
04:16Thanks, guys.
04:17Thanks.
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