There were plenty of talking points when Mikel Arteta addressed the media on Friday, ahead of Saturday’s Premier League match against Brentford.
The boss was posed questions on subjects including the latest team news, Folarin Balogun’s form and the need to reset after back-to-back defeats - and a full transcript is now available below.
On the team news…
The ones that were long-term - like Emile, Reiss and Gabriel Jesus - they are closer and they’ve started to do some activities and have been outside. But they are not ready yet to be considered.
On speculation around Smith Rowe being ready for Brentford…
Not for this weekend.
On an update on Gabriel Jesus…
Gabby is doing really well. He’s already been outside a little bit but it’s still early stages. He keeps pushing everybody every single day, but we need to respect some timelines and processes. He’s doing really well.
On a date for his return…
It’s still too far off that. You have to see how he reacts now when you start to put some load to the knee and get some movement and actions that are not controlled as the ones he’s been doing and where he’s comfortable as well to go to the next stage.
On an update on Saliba and Saka contracts - and if they will ‘take care of themselves’…
They will do in the same way that we dealt with Gabi, we’ll deal with the rest. Things need some time sometimes but we are delighted with the news of Gabi, obviously.
On using losing two matches as a reboot…
Absolutely. It’s not about a comfort zone but in football, you’re going to lose football matches. The match we lost at City was very different to the one we lost against Everton. Losing brings a lot of opportunities to look at other things and the reaction of the team. The reaction of the team has been superb this week and tomorrow we’re going to put in a great performance in front of our crowd to try to win the game.
On why Arteta did not celebrate Man City goals against Arsenal when he was there…
Just for respect, because of the feeling I had for the club. If I had scored as a player, I would have done something similar.
On his view on the allegations against Manchester City…
I’m not going to make any comment on that, I’m sorry.
On if there’s a worry the medals he won there would be devalued…
I can’t respond to that because I would be responding to part of the previous question. I don’t want to do that.
On if he saw anything untoward going on during his time with Man City…
No.
On the challenge Brentford will pose…
Many different ones - the ones they put in every week to every single opponent. The level or where they are sitting in the table doesn’t matter - they are extremely efficient at what they do, with a very clear way of playing and generating advantages, overloads and sequences of play. That they want to do. That will be the game tomorrow and we’ll need to be at our best in every single phase, because they can create issues from anywhere on the field.
On if the Man City game will have an impact on his team against Brentford…
No. Our only focus is on Brentford tomorrow. The preparation has been on that. Let’s go into tomorrow’s game with the right mindset because we’re going to need to be really good to beat them.
On the reaction of the players after losing at Everton…
Really positive. We sat together, discussed the game and what happened. The opponent played their part and you have to congratulate Everton for what they did on the day. It’s true that there were things we didn’t do like in other games and that’s the reason you lose football matches. There’s always an opportunity to bounce back, show the character that we have and how much we want what we are fighting for.
On what it’s like being involved in his first title race as a young manager…
As a young manager? A lot of energy. I’m an energy giver. I don’t like energy suckers - I just like to give it. I like people who give energy in many different ways. That can be through body language, tone of voice, looking for solutions and not excuses. [I bring] energy - a lot of energy.
On Odegaard’s piece challenging anyone who has a meeting with Arteta not to believe everything he says…
It’s great that the players believe in what we tell them and that we convince them of the best way to play and win football matches. In the end, it’s completely up to them because they have the more difficult job to make that happen.
On Gabriel’s form…
Not only his performances, but the way he’s evolving. I think he’s just getting better in every phase of play and everything we demand him to do. His leadership skills, his importance to the team, his mentality as well - I think he’s come a long way since he joined the club.
On Balogun being the top scorer in Ligue 1…
I’m so happy for him. He’s a boy that has a really clear idea of what he wants to do with his career. He’s really ambitious, really committed and really brave. We discussed a lot before he made that move whether it was the right place to go and the other choices he had. He was so convinced. I’m really happy for him because he deserves what he’s getting.
On Arsenal needing to capitalise on any potential Man City slip-ups…
We have enough to look after our own garden. That’s what we do - look after our own garden.
On whether he is surprised by Balogun’s form…
I am very pleased and when you look at the numbers and what he is doing it’s just incredible. It’s very rare to see that. But he’s got something special, that’s why we decided to give him a long-term contract and have faith in him and give him the long period that he needs now, because the one (loan) he is having now is really different to the one he had before at Middlesbrough. But that one was very necessary to see the outcome of what he is having now.
On whether the players will take their eye off the ball this weekend…
No because for us it’s impossible to think about City when we have Brentford (first), for us the only possibility is to look at them.
On what he wanted from Balogun’s loan in France…
He had some scars from that period (at Middlesbrough) there were moments when he suffered, moments when he played, and when he didn’t. Moments when he played in what he believes is not his best position. He threw all those excuses out and go onto the next experience and that’s what he did. He put that behind him, but using exactly what worked for him, what didn’t work, look in the mirror and move to the next one. He’s done that really, really well.
On his plans for Balogun’s future…
The plan is now he finishes his loan period, we assess the situation, where he is, where we are. We sit down and plan the next chapter in his career.
On the revamped ideas for the European Super League…
Another topic that I cannot touch, sorry.
On how determined he is to win the league, regardless of points deductions…
Let’s focus on what we have to do and win enough football matches for that to happen. We have to earn the right to win it, that’s for sure.
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