Arteta on playing at Anfield, Liverpool and title race (Full Presser part two)

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on his experience playing Liverpool at Anfield, the atmosphere there and the title race
Transcript
00:00 What is it like to play at the press conference?
00:08 It's different because it's different to Old Trafford. Old Trafford is a beautiful atmosphere
00:12 as well and something that historically it's an unbelievable place to go and there are
00:18 a few in this country and the Emirates is one of them as well because a lot of people
00:23 talk about coming to the Emirates, I don't think they enjoy it so much. So that's the
00:28 beauty of it, you have to go to these stadiums and you have to prove as a team what you are
00:32 capable of doing in that context.
00:35 You spoke before on a documentary about when you went there as a player once and you hit
00:39 the 5-1 defeat and it was the only time in your career you felt a bit lost in the game.
00:44 What was that experience like and why do you think that happened now you've had a chance
00:48 to think back on it?
00:50 I think I explained that sometimes when you don't feel at your best or you feel that they
00:55 are on top of you and you cannot get out of that washing machine and try to overcome those
01:03 situations but that's a learning, it happened once, it didn't happen again.
01:06 What can you do on the training ground to stop that washing machine or your players
01:10 getting in?
01:11 The game plan and everything that we discussed, to try to tomorrow be away from that game
01:17 and put our washing machine that is very powerful.
01:19 One of the things Jürgen Klopp said when he was talking about the atmosphere needing
01:26 to be better from his point of view was he shouldn't have to have an argument on the
01:30 touchline to get fans going.
01:32 Have you got to be conscious that if there is anything on the touchline then you might
01:36 be handing Liverpool an advantage by getting involved?
01:39 There won't be any.
01:40 You will be on your best behaviour.
01:48 With local wingers such as Mo Salah and Luis Diaz, do you think one of the crucial battles
01:55 here is their two wins against Sinchonco and Hermoante?
01:59 Could that be one of the crucial factors?
02:02 Whatever we do it is very important.
02:04 Obviously they have players with the ability to create special moments and score goals.
02:12 We have as well.
02:14 In terms of the league table, we have seen City in recent weeks slip up and Liverpool
02:20 are on a great run of form.
02:21 Could this game in some ways, it is early, but could it set an example as to how the
02:28 league could unfold in the second part of the season?
02:31 I don't know.
02:32 It is going to be a really competitive match for sure that we are going to try to win.
02:35 If we manage to do that I think it is going to be a really powerful thing for our team.
02:41 In terms of the Brighton game, you of course received the fourth yellow card on the touchline.
02:45 Are you getting a bit tired of getting booked on the touchline?
02:48 Do you think you are being unfairly targeted here?
02:50 Or is it just that you can't help the expressions?
02:54 I don't know. Let's move on to the next question.
02:56 One thing that was common in your teams last season was really fast starts in the first
03:04 15 minutes.
03:05 How important is that to get an early goal and how does that help manage a game?
03:09 It is always better. Obviously you start winning and you start with the feeling that you are
03:13 on top of them and you are dominating the game.
03:17 We have been better recently again in the last few weeks at doing that and that is always
03:21 helpful.
03:22 But in big matches like that you have to be at a really high level for 100 minutes and
03:28 that is the challenge and the opportunity tomorrow.
03:30 One reason you mentioned that is this season, it is sort of noticeable, one thing else that
03:36 you have to do from kick-off, which goes back to David or Aaron, is that they go long.
03:41 With that specifically, just a general question, what is the advantage of going long from kick-off
03:46 rather than playing short at any level of football?
03:49 We have done it last year as well in many situations.
03:52 Depending on the team's and the opponent's behaviour as well, what they are trying to
03:56 achieve there and what you are going to play in the next few seconds.
03:59 It doesn't always work.
04:00 You can play short as well.
04:03 So it is depending on the opponent more or less.
04:07 Just generally about bookings this season, there have been more red cards than on course
04:13 to have 80 this season.
04:14 Do you think that is to the detriment of the game if referees are a bit too willing to
04:20 give out red cards?
04:21 It changes the game a bit too much?
04:22 Should they try and manage the game a bit more?
04:24 I think they are fair.
04:26 Yellow or red cards, that is how we have to, they have to control the games.
04:31 It is just about the decision and the decision is correct.
04:35 Why not?
04:36 You mentioned earlier on that you regret not having won enough important things.
04:44 Is that actually a regret as much as a motivation for the future?
04:48 Sorry?
04:49 You said you haven't won enough important things, trophies, in your four years.
04:54 Is that a regret as well as a motivation?
04:57 I know the difficulty when I am talking about that is the Premier League and the Champions
05:01 League and how many have we won in the last 50 years.
05:04 But this is what we want.
05:06 We want to be the best team in the country.
05:08 We want to be a team in European competition constantly that is really fighting for it.
05:13 That doesn't happen overnight.
05:15 We made big strikes and we are there.
05:19 What it takes to make that to the next level.
05:23 Elson Benga used to say that fourth place was the equivalent of a trophy.
05:29 Are you saying you need actual silverware now?
05:33 If it was years ago, can you imagine now with the competition of this?
05:37 It is a good achievement to be in the Champions League.
05:41 That is for sure because it is so tough in this league and you see some great teams not
05:44 being there every year.
05:48 We want more and we have to seek for more.
05:50 In order to do that there are certain things we have to do better, some things we have
05:54 to experience before we are capable of doing and we are in that journey.
06:00 Thank you.
06:02 Thank you.
06:03 Good luck.
06:04 Happy New Year.
06:05 I don't see you in my phone.
06:06 Thanks for coming.
06:07 Have a nice Christmas.
06:08 Thank you.
06:09 Thank you.
06:10 Thank you.
06:11 Thank you.

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