Mikel Arteta was back in from of the media for his pre-West Ham United press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
He was asked about Thursday’s game against David Moyes’ side, the latest team news, the January transfer window and more.
Here is everything he had to say on the following subjects:
on the Christmas period:
Well it’s a beautiful time of the year, especially when you have kids. We had the opportunity this year because of the schedule to have some time off we enjoyed that period in a different way.
on the latest team news:
Nothing has changed yet, but we have Kai’s suspension so we are a bit short but we still have a lot of players available to play.
on seeing players before they go to the Asia Cup:
There is a chance. Hopefully they can evolve in the right way. There is some talks between the clubs and the federations at the moment.
on the feeling at the top of the table:
It feels similar, it’s always a good feeling to have the chance to be at the top of the Premier League, understanding how competitive it is. Tomorrow we’re going to have a really difficult opponent in front of us and we’re going to have to be at our best.
on the January window:
That’s a different matter. We are just focusing on the importance of the game tomorrow, Fulham and then the FA Cup.
on Thursday's game against West Ham:
Very difficult. They are a really good side, really well coached. It’s incredible the success that they had last year. They are again this season showing a lot of consistency. They beat Spurs and Manchester United and that tells you everything about the difficulty of the game tomorrow and we’re going to have to be really good.
on Odegaard’s strengths:
There are certain games that require certain things from certain players and we have used Martin to accommodate the needs that the team had against certain behaviours and challenges opponents put to us. That’s a big quality of his. His defensive part is really impressive and I’m really happy with that. It’s a part of the game that we’re going to transform and keep improving.
on if Martinelli has room for improvement:
Working hard and practicing the situation that you face in the game as much as possible, then I encourage him to do it time and time again and he is one of the best in the world at that.
on the message to the fans ahead of three London derbies coming up:
First of all, thank you for everything that you’ve done throughout the year and the way you’ve supported and inspired the team. For tomorrow, please go to the stadium and get it rocking. Get behind the team, inspire them again and the team is going to try to do everything that we can. It’s going to be the last game of the year in front of you so it’s a special moment so let’s make it beautiful.
on if we learned from being top at this stage last season:
I hope so! But we have to prove it every day and the competition is incredible this season, how difficult it is to win every single game. You see the results and how surprised you get when you see the scores on your app. It’s the beauty of this league. Tomorrow we’re going to have to be so good again to beat West Ham and then we go to Fulham and that’s the demands of where we are.
on David Moyes:
To be in this league and manage for so long and be more successful than him is not easy. The teams that he’s done it at and how he’s done it, obviously I know him and I love him a lot and I’m so grateful for everything that he did for me and the times that we had together but he’s an outstanding manager. He does it in a way that’s, in my opinion, very special. He doesn’t make too much noise, but what he has accomplished at West Ham is remarkable.
on Mikel being the seventh longest serving manager in England:
I’m getting old I think! Well, I’m surprised by that but it tells you how difficult this job is. A few years before that number would have been very different but that’s the context that we live in. Let’s keep going.
on why Martinelli has had more goals and assists in the Champions League:
Sometimes decision making, sometimes hitting the post with a chance, these are details and he is really trying. He’s a massive threat for us with everything that he generates, not only with the ball but without the ball as well. The pressure that he puts on the backline, he’s a key player for us.
on if he is struggling with confidence:
Confidence is not a problem for Gabby! Sometimes the efficiency or putting the brake down and lifting your head up and making that decision for everybody is the most difficult thing to do, finding that composure and timing inside the box.
on squad depth:
At the moment it’s very difficult because we are really short and have been very exposed for the last six weeks. Hopefully we are going to get players back, in what condition and when is the question mark because we’ve had some long-term injuries for certain players that give us a lot of versatility and that’s an issue.
on having plans in place for January:
We have certain targets and ideas if things happen. We don’t know how the squad is going to be and you have to be prepared for that. It’s a very tricky market that shifts very quickly and it’s quite unpredictable as well. We will be prepared and try to make the right calls.
on if he wishes for us to be active in the window:
If there is something that we can improve the squad and needs something that we can’t fulfil with players here then we are always going to be open to doing that because we want to be stronger.
on how to stop West Ham’s counter-attacks:
They open the spaces and combine really well in certain areas and it’s very tricky to control them. The areas where you give the ball away are critical. We will try to nullify the strengths that they have tomorrow and play to our strengths.
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