Press conference

Every word from Mikel's pre-Brentford presser

Arteta press conference

For the final time in 2024, Mikel Arteta held a pre-match press conference before we head to Brentford on New Year's Day to tackle the Bees.

The boss was asked about topics such as squad rotation during this busy period, Leandro Trossard's form and what Thomas Frank's team will pose.

Here is everything Mikel had to say:

on how the team can grow to continue to be competitive:
We’re going to have to prove it. What we’ve proven already this season, playing the amount of games that we’ve played with 10 men, all the injuries that we had in this squad, for sure we weren’t in the position that we are today in all the competitions. So the team has made another step, the team is evolving and is adapting to new circumstances and now we have another one which is more games with less players so, let’s face it.

on Raheem Sterling’s hunger to play:
He was gutted because he had a good game against Palace, he could’ve scored two goals, he made an assist and in the end he got injured after one of the training sessions. That was his opportunity because naturally, he would have played in that position but, knowing Raheem, I think he will be back quite soon

on closing the gap on Liverpool:
That doesn’t depend on us, we have to continue to be like a hammer, be there every day, every day, every day. If someone wins all the matches, congratulate them and let’s go to the next season but, if they don’t, which, in history, hasn’t happened, we’ll be there.

on the squads New Year's resolution:
Keep everybody fit, that’s it.

on Trossard’s personality:
They all want to play, always want to play. Leo, I think in the last 12 months, a lot more consistency, he’s deserved that. He’s had a lot of competition in his position so, that’s it, raise the level. He plays at that level, he will play like anybody else but he has the capacity to do something special in the final third.

on Trossard’s role in the team:
With us he’s played as a left winger, he’s played as a left attacking midfielder, he’s played as a 9. He’s a player I value a lot and we value a lot because he’s very versatile, very competitive and he’s always a massive goal threat for the team, so really happy for him.

on Trossard’s positive attitude: 
Leo, naturally, is a little bit of a moaner but I like that because he’s very competitive! You have training sessions, always busy with the referee’s decision because he wants to win and that’s what I love. He always wants to be the best and when he’s not there, he’s not happy but that really pushes him. That’s why he comes on the pitch, he can make an impact because he’s got that drive and hunger of ‘I’m going to show you’, but I love that about him.

on preparing for Brentford in a short space of time:
Full focus. Our minds have to be on what we have to do and recover because not now only, but in the next three to four weeks there are so many games in different competitions and we need to be right there.

on Brentford’s challenge:
Very tough. They're a really, really good team. When you see their record at home until last week, it’s remarkable. They've evolved and adapted as well. The qualities in their team are because of the players they have right now, so I'm very impressed.

on whether the team will need rotating:
I don’t know. We will watch the [Ipswich] game back and then I will watch the training session that we always do, and feel it and have a feeling of what is the best team to start and what is the best team to finish the game, in relation to what the position is as well and individual moment of each player.