Press conference

Wenger on Alexis, Mesut Ozil and Jose Mourinho

As soon as the whistle went at the end of our thumping win over Huddersfield, Arsene Wenger turned his attentions to Saturday’s meeting against Manchester United.

The boss updated the media on the latest injury situation, gave his thoughts on United’s approach and spoke about Mesut Ozil’s commitment.  

on Lacazette’s injury…

Look, we have offensive weapons, you know. We have Welbeck, we have Giroud, we have Wilshere who all came on. They are all offensive players. I will see what I do for Saturday but ideally you wanted him there.

on other injuries…

Everybody else looks to be OK, yes. Alexis had a little hamstring problem – that’s why I took him off but I think he will be alright.

on Jose Mourinho…

It is a game between Arsenal and Man United at home. I just want to focus and to prepare well my team, and give my team a good chance to win the game. Man United is doing well at the moment, we are doing well at the moment, so it looks to be a promising game.

on whether Mourinho will ‘park the bus’…

No, I don’t expect anything special. I just expect us to be ready to recover now. Man United is a strong team and I expect us just to cope with the problems they will give us. They will attack as well. They will not only defend.

on the approach taken by Mourinho’s United …

I haven’t seen them a lot and it is not down to me to judge the way they play. I have just to look at the way we play and to prepare well for the game. They are a dangerous team, they have made fantastic results so to beat a team like that you need to be at your best and that’s what I want to focus on.

on Mesut Ozil being linked to Manchester United…

Look, that’s all speculation. You cannot interfere with that. There is only one way to show how much you are committed – your attitude on the pitch. When you see him play, one thing you cannot question is the way he wants to play for the team.

on Alexis and Ozil possibly leaving in January…

Well, let’s first go towards Saturday, then in January we’ll see what happens. But I just spoke about that in the last press conference and nothing has changed.