Press conference

Every word from Mikel Arteta's pre-Bodo presser

Mikel Arteta faced the media shortly after landing in Norway ahead of our Europa League group-stage clash with Bodo/Glimt on Thursday night.

The boss was asked about the challenge of playing on an artificial pitch, rotating his squad and the importance of us finishing top of the group.

Read on for a full transcript…

On whether the pitch will influence the team selection…

What we think about is how we are going to win the game. That’s it. How we win every three days, in different conditions, in different contexts, in different weather, in different competitions, and that’s the only way we are approaching it.

On whether there is a chance of injuries…

We don’t know, a player can get injured on an artificial pitch, he can get injured in a training session. Obviously we do what we have to do to protect the players as much as we can, but at the end of the day, tomorrow for sure we are going to have 11 players on the pitch

On whether it will affect selection…

Our selection is based on how we think we are going to win the game, nothing else.

On why Gabriel Jesus has been left behind…

We felt that with everything he’s been through in the last few weeks that it would be better for him to stay at home.

On Roma’s 6-1 defeat here…

I think I mentioned it before the home game, that what this team and this coaching staff has done in the last few years is remarkable. Especially in Europe, because it’s got more headlines to the rest of Europe, but without a question of doubt, the scores that they’ve had here explain themselves.

On the Bodo supporters…

They were really loud, really passionate and I spoke to Martin about it. He mentioned to expect a great atmosphere here and it’s great. That’s why you travel into Europe as well.

On whether he has been able to practise on an artificial pitch…

No.

On whether Arsenal are a target now we are top…

I don’t know how other coaches play their games against us, obviously Gaby (Jesus) is a player who gets involved in a lot of physical contact. That’s in his nature and it's down to the referees to protect the players.

On whether he is happy with the players’ protection…

I’m really happy with how our players are performing, and that’s the most important thing. Then it’s up to the referees to protect them.

On the incident in the Liverpool game…

It’s something I don’t want to touch. It’s in the FA’s hands and I’m not going to get involved in that.

On whether he supports his players…

One hundred per cent.

On Martin Odegaard being a wonderkid…

It’s his journey. He started in the spotlight very, very early in his career, and probably that’s why he’s so mature at the age he is at now. He’s been around for so long that we forget how old he is. But it’s his journey, he could not pick it. He was so good at that age, he got a lot of attention and he dealt with it in a really positive way.  

On his role tomorrow…

Probably on the pitch at some stage! I don’t know, hopefully he can have a good time, it’s obviously a really important moment for him, he loves coming to his country. You know how much it means to him and it’s a good opportunity for him.

On whether the pitch or conditions could become an issue…

No, even if it’s windy, or rainy or snowy, that’s not an excuse. Our focus is to win every three days and find a way to do it every time.

On whether being in Europe is a help or a hindrance…

In terms of sharing minutes, that’s for sure [it has helped us]. It’s something really positive because there were players that didn’t play a lot, especially in the first few weeks and our job is managing that. It’s up to the players to perform and give us the right reasons to play and win.

On how Kieran Tierney reacted to not starting against Liverpool…

Like any other player. We know that we make the decisions always based on the best possible preparation to win the matches and Kieran accepted that like any other player.

On starting games quickly…

Every manager wants to start quickly and score in the first minute, but obviously that is something that is not always possible. Our aim is always to attack, be dominant in the game and get in the lead as quickly as we can.

On how Bodo compare to the other teams in the group…

They are one of the contenders to be at the top of the group for sure at the end of the games. Tomorrow again we will have a difficult test.

On Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang saying he doesn’t like big characters…

People are free to discuss what they want.

On the mood in the dressing room…

Phenomenal. I have never been in a better dressing room. More enjoyable, more hardworking, better relationships with the staff to players and it’s an absolute pleasure as a coach to be a part of this group.

On if the incident at the end against Liverpool will be resolved quickly…

I don’t know. It’s something that I don’t decide, timings are really difficult to predict. The FA now is in charge of the situation and we will have to wait and see.

On whether it’s like a different sport playing on an artificial pitch…

Obviously, everybody is aware that there are a lot of things that are different. The speed is different, the way you can use the grass is different and we will have to adapt to it. We know that, we are here to win the game and tomorrow night for sure we are going to play on an artificial pitch.

On how important it is to win the group…

Yeah, that’s why every game is crucial. Looking at the group, tomorrow’s result is going to be really important because we can eliminate playing an extra two games and the opponents that you will be facing after that, so we know that we want to be top of the group.

On whether other players haven’t travelled…

A few players that were injured. You will find out tomorrow.

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