Every word of Mikel’s pre-Brighton presser

Mikel Arteta spoke to the media in his pre-Brighton press conference at London Colney on Friday afternoon.

He was asked about the clearance of his FA charge, the latest team news, Brighton's quality and more.

Here's everything he had to say on the following subjects...

on his FA charge being cleared and if something positive will come out of it:
It has to be. It was a really good process and gave the opportunity for them to explain how they felt, myself how I felt as well and the reasons behind it. Okay, the outcome is that I’m not charged, but I think we have to draw a line and look for how we can be much more constructive and learn from it and move forward. That’s it. It was good. I felt a lot of sympathy to be fair once I explained how sometimes as managers, with the pressure that we’re under and how important details are for our job, because I love what I do so much and I want to continue doing it, but the reality last year was that 14 managers lost their jobs, which is incredible. We depend on results, that’s it. When the outcome at the end is that important, I’m really emotional about. Now no-one remembers what happens three weeks ago when you lost a game, you lost another one because of a different reason. I think it was a really good process.

on the referees explaining why Kai Havertz’s goal wasn’t given against Aston Villa:
The handball… anything that happens in the box has to be clear. Unfortunately today it’s very difficult to understand what it is because there are many things that can happen, but we’re in the direction to resolve that and we’re all very eager to resolve that in the best possible way and I’m positive that it will happen.

on Rebecca Welch becoming the first female referee on December 23:
I think it’s great news. I wish Rebecca all the best in this new experience. I think the feedback is going to be really positive. What women’s football is on and the diversity we have now is incredibly positive for the league. It’s something that was needed.

on our ability to respond to defeats:
We will try to play our best. We love winning and the team is desperate to do anything it takes to win games. We showed that against Aston Villa when, in my opinion, we were the better team and should’ve won the game. We will try again against Brighton, who will make life very difficult for us for sure.

on what makes Brighton so hard to beat:
They are a really good side. Last year when we had the game under control was when we conceded a goal and then the game completely broke up and we struggled, especially in the last 15 minutes of the game so we have to play better and be very efficient, which is key against them.

on the latest team news:
Martinelli is feeling good. We have no other news apart from Mo. Mo had to be subbed because he felt something with his hamstring. We did a scan and it doesn’t look too serious so he’s going to be with us I think very soon, which is good news as well.

on the importance of a win against Brighton with Liverpool coming up:
Like every week, in the end we have to play against every team. The schedule is what it is right now but we have two big games coming up and then we have as well the 28th and the 31st so this period is vital around this moment in the year. We will try to win every game, that’s for sure.

on what he has made of Brighton’s start to the season:
They’ve been really good. I think they have taken another level, playing European football, they’ve been really successful. You see last night what they did. They’ve done that after selling players, after a lot of injuries, so huge credit for them, for Roberto and the coaching staff for what they’re doing because it’s really impressive.

on the ideas he presented to the FA:
That was a private meeting and I cannot explain what we discussed in there. I’m sorry.

on if players should be more honest about referee decisions:
The players have a lot of things they have to do - let’s not put more on their plates.

on what Brighton have done that has caused us problems in the past:
They are really good - they have really good players and their way of playing is very specific and causes you problems. They were very efficient. Efficiency in football is key and on that day, they were more efficient than us.

on if he would make the comments again that he made after the Newcastle game:
In life, it’s too easy to do that. It was done - I defended my opinion, I expressed my opinion. I say again that I’m fully supportive of how we have to improve the game and the referees are a big part of that. They know that. Managers as well, players as well - everyone is involved. We have the duty and the responsibility to do that. It’s good that we can discuss things in an open and honest way. That’s what I tried to do.

on his and Roberto De Zerbi’s passion for the game:
We live the game as we feel it. When I was a player, it was very similar. Everybody has their own way of being, talking and communicating. I think it’s great. As long as we’re genuine, I think that’s great.

on the job De Zerbi has done at Brighton:
I know him and have spoken to him a few times about different topics. I’ve followed his career since he was at Sassuolo, before he moved to Ukraine. It’s very impressive what he’s done, the way his teams play and what he’s accomplished in the Premier League as well.

on having plenty of fixtures during the Christmas period and if he likes it:
I really like it. It gives us the opportunity to bring family over. When I was in Spain, it was a bit different. I’ve had incredible memories when I was a player and right now, as a manager as well. This year is very rare because we’re going to have the 24th and the 25th without a training session, which is extremely bizarre. But it will be good to spend time with my family. I have young kids and they are super excited about Christmas.

on The FA saying he was charged because he is a ‘high-profile manager’:
We have a huge duty. It’s part of our role to conduct ourselves in the best way and represent the game, the league and our clubs in the best possible way. This is what we try to do every day - sometimes better, sometimes worse - but it’s our intention.

on how Brighton educated Trossard and White earlier in their careers:
I know how good they are in their processes, in the culture they have, in the way they are coached. You can tell they are both very intelligent players who understand how we want to live together, how we want to play the game. Both have a lot of versatility - that’s not a coincidence, it’s because of the way they played under Graham [Potter] as well. They had to understand the game very well to fulfil those roles.

on Reiss Nelson’s performance against PSV - and if he’ll get more minutes moving forward:
I think he had a really good game. As you said, he was really lively and really brave in his decision-making. He generated three or four big situations. He worked so hard and he had to be subbed at the end because he was cramping. I think he had a really positive impact on the team.

on if there is motivation for revenge after last season’s defeat at home to Brighton:
It was a tough day, losing at home and the way we did it with the last goals we conceded. It was painful. It was like the dream was almost over - not mathematically, but a big part of it. It was a really tough day.

on if he will remind the players of that:
They know. They felt it as well, so they know.

on if PGMOL recognise the need to improve:
It’s not about them, it’s about ‘we’. We want to [make] the game better. How can we improve on the touchline to make life easier from the player side, from their side, technology-wise? It’s all about us - we’re all in this together. It’s not about separate people trying to do their bits - [that’s] not going to work. We have to do it together.

on if more ex-players should be involved in officiating:
I don’t know about the solution. They have to find the solution and we have to try to support with other ideas that we have put on the table and try to move the game constantly forward.