Arsenal's Mikel Arteta on Odegaard injury and UEFA Champions League opener with Atalanta
Bergamo, Italy
Bergamo, Italy
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00:00Good evening all. Great to see everyone. Let me know when we're all set. Okay. Perfect.
00:19Thank you so much. So we'll start with questions in Italian, please. Remove the mobiles.
00:30We'll circulate the footage. So yeah, if we can start with questions in Italian, please.
00:56Hi Giorgio. What kind of game are you looking forward to tomorrow and what does it feel like to be back in Italy?
01:07It's definitely going to be a very difficult game against a team that have been doing very well for years and have been playing together for a long time.
01:18They're a very physical team that have been showing their football and winning games.
01:25So we have to be careful because they have a lot of quality and physicality.
01:31It's always great to be back in Italy. It's always exciting to be back here. I like it every time I come back.
01:42Hi Patrick. I wanted to ask you about this new formula, which is a novelty for everyone.
01:51Who do you think you need to pay attention to in Atalanta?
02:00I wouldn't say names because their strength is the team. They're a very strong team and they can do very well in those games.
02:14So we're preparing for a game where they've been playing together for a long time and we have to pay attention to the team and what they do together.
02:29It's something new that we all have to adapt to and we all have to learn how it works.
02:38The safe thing is that we have to try and win games.
02:43Hi. I wanted to ask you about your years playing for Atalanta.
02:51How have you seen Atalanta grow in recent years and if you were surprised when they won the Europa League final?
02:59Honestly, I wasn't surprised because Atalanta have been growing for years.
03:07They've been working together on the same project for years and they deserve to be where they are.
03:21I'm happy with what they're doing, showing that Italian football is strong and has always been and continues to be.
03:37Hi, Giorgio Dusi, Bergamo News.
03:40You said you wouldn't say names and I'll do it.
03:43Reteghi, I don't know if you've heard about him recently.
03:46You've seen him grow in Italy and in the clubs.
03:51Have you seen him improve?
03:55Yes, I think so.
03:58Matteo is a very strong player, especially in the box.
04:04He can see the goal very well.
04:06We have to be careful not to give him space because he's a very dangerous player.
04:12He's definitely growing and improving every day.
04:16Every time I see him, there's always something new, something that improves.
04:21He's a humble guy who works hard and wants to grow.
04:26He still has a long way to go.
04:29I hope the best for him.
04:32Maybe not tomorrow, but in the future.
04:35He's a very good player.
04:42UK media, please.
04:51Hi, Giorgino.
04:52As someone who's won the Champions League with Chelsea,
04:55what do you feel about Arsenal's own evolution in the competition?
04:58Has anything changed since last year?
05:01What do you think was missing last year?
05:06Of course, we've been working a lot and trying to improve every day.
05:11We need to take the lessons that we got last season.
05:14We'll see this season because it's the first game.
05:18It's still a long way to go.
05:21We need to be ready for tomorrow because it's definitely going to be a really tough game to start.
05:32Hi, just a quick question on one of your teammates, Ethan Waneri.
05:35He's someone that's causing a lot of excitement among the fans, as I'm sure you know.
05:40What can you say about him and how excited should the fans be about his talent?
05:44Yeah, he's a young lad.
05:47He's growing a lot and he's improving every single day.
05:55He's a talented player with good skills.
05:58He can dribble, he can break lines, he can find the goal, find the pass.
06:04I think he can have a good future in front of him
06:09if he stays the way he's been training and trying to improve every day.
06:13What's he like as a personality in the dressing room?
06:17As every single young kid, he's quiet at the moment.
06:23With time, he's going to get experience and he's going to come out.
06:27It's just about time.
06:29The only thing he needs to do is stay focused on wanting to improve every single day,
06:35listening and absorbing everything that he can.
06:45Do you find it a bit unfair that you've got Manchester City on Sunday
06:50and you're playing away in the Champions League on a Thursday night?
06:53They're playing at home against you and at home 24 hours earlier.
06:57In fact, all three games this period have been at home for them and away for you.
07:00Are you surprised it's worked out that way?
07:04Of course it might be a little bit more difficult for us, but it is what it is.
07:10We need to do everything that we can to be ready for every single game.
07:16As I said, it is what it is.
07:20We need to make sure that everyone is ready to play and win these games.
07:34In the Premier League in 2024, you guys haven't lost a game,
07:38but in Europe it's been a bit different last season.
07:40Of the five games, you won one, lost three and drew one.
07:44What do you think the differences are between playing in Europe and in England?
07:48In England, you can't be beaten, but in Europe it's a bit different.
07:54It's a bit different and it's something that we need to learn.
07:58We're all trying to work together to get to know the competition a bit more as well
08:04because not many players have played this competition before.
08:08I think we are getting better every single day.
08:13As I said, this will be the first game of this season in the Champions League
08:19and everyone is really excited to play this game and try to win.
08:24In general, away in England, you guys, as I said, in 2024 haven't lost a game.
08:29What are the factors behind that?
08:30Is there anything in particular that you do on the road that makes you so formidable?
08:34I'm not sure if there is anything in particular,
08:37but I'm sure that the hunger is there and the willingness of winning matches
08:44and everyone sticking together, trying to help each other,
08:48all the work behind the scenes that we put together from the staff, from everybody,
08:53helps the players on the pitch as well.
08:56I think all the things that we've been doing all together is kind of the key to what is happening.
09:08Hi, Jorginho. You mentioned earlier the new format when you were talking in Italian there.
09:12Obviously, there are two more games now.
09:15I'm just wondering, do you think it's fair to be putting such extra load on the players?
09:19Obviously, you were playing the Euros in the summer, straight away into the new season.
09:22You've got a big summer coming up next summer and all these extra games.
09:25Do you have an opinion on whether it's fair and whether we're asking too much of players?
09:30The situation is how it is, as I said.
09:34If the games are there, at the end of the day, we worked so hard to be here at this level
09:43and we dreamed to be here.
09:46If the situation is this, we need to play these games.
09:51We always try to do our best to deliver.
09:59Hi, Jorginho. You've played in a lot of very successful teams.
10:03I wondered how the team spirit of this particular team compares.
10:07They haven't won big trophies yet, but it seems like there's an incredible unity and toughness together,
10:13a collective vibe. Is that how you see it and do you think they have what it takes?
10:19Definitely, it's how it is.
10:24The spirit of this group, the energy, the atmosphere in the changing room and the training ground,
10:30it's absolutely incredible.
10:34Every day we go to the training ground and we are happy to be there because it's an amazing atmosphere.
10:42We enjoy being there and I think it's really important for what we do.
10:48It's no coincidence that the results are coming as well.
10:54We just need to stay on this path and keep working the way we are doing
10:58and enjoy every single moment the way we do.
11:03One more question with Jordan, please.
11:06Hi, Jorginho. You mentioned about the away form, but last season in the Champions League
11:11you lost away to Porto and you lost away to Bayern.
11:14Was it a case for this young group that the pressure maybe got to them?
11:18And this time around, has that changed?
11:20Do you think you're better equipped to deal with those high pressure moments?
11:25I don't think it was about pressure, to be fair,
11:28because the pressure we had on the games in the league as well.
11:32There's a lot of pressure on that as well.
11:36I think it was more about putting games together and keep going and learning more about it.
11:45With time you just get better and better and I believe that's what's happening.
11:51Thank you very much, everyone.
11:52Bye-bye.
11:58See you later.
12:20Hi, everyone. Hope everyone's well.
12:23If you have a question, I'll come to you.
12:26Who's already at the back? We'll kick off with John.
12:29Hello.
12:30Can I just kick off by asking, do you find it's a little bit strange that you're playing
12:34the first game of the Champions League, the new format and competition,
12:38with all the splits and glamour, on a Thursday night?
12:41Well, it's different. Here we are, playing on a Thursday night in the Champions League,
12:45which is different, but really happy, motivated, very enthusiastic.
12:51First game, a really tough place to come.
12:55They built something amazing here and it was a beautiful story what they achieved last season.
13:00But for us as well, it's a new season and we really want to kick on the right way.
13:06Does it give you a disadvantage, though?
13:08Because it's quite out of the ordinary, isn't it, for Thursday?
13:11And then you're going to Man City for such a key game on Sunday.
13:14They're playing tonight at home. Does that affect...?
13:17Hopefully not.
13:18Hopefully we have so much energy for what happened on Sunday as well.
13:21It was great. We have recovered a few players, which is very important for us as well.
13:26And we play a competition that we absolutely love tomorrow.
13:30So we look at the positives.
13:33Hi, Mikel. I think the question that a lot of Arsenal fans want to know is,
13:37is there an update on Martin and how long he might be out for?
13:41Yeah, after a recent scan, the scan showed there's got some damage,
13:45especially in one of the ligaments in the ankle.
13:47So we're going to miss him, yeah.
13:50Can you give us a rough guideline?
13:52I don't want to do that because I'm not a doctor,
13:54but it's something quite significant, so we're going to lose him for a while.
14:00Months, not weeks?
14:01Hopefully not months, but we'll see.
14:04OK, thank you.
14:05Gary from Sky.
14:07Hello. Hi.
14:12We saw images of the training.
14:15Is there anything that's changed?
14:17Players who trained who haven't travelled,
14:19or players who didn't see train who have travelled?
14:22Ricardo, he was able to train today, so he will be available.
14:26He's in the squad, and it's great news
14:28because, as we all know, we've been quite short the last few weeks.
14:33You've got decisions to make, obviously, with a massive game coming up
14:36and you're playing on a Thursday night away as opposed to a Wednesday night at home.
14:39Will you have to rest some players? Will you have to tweak your squad?
14:42Use your squad a little bit?
14:43No, we're in September.
14:44We have to put the players that we believe are the best to win tomorrow,
14:48and that's the most important and the only thing for us.
14:55Hi, Mikel.
14:56What is it about Arsenal and on the road?
14:58In 2024, especially in the Premier League, you guys haven't been beaten.
15:02It's a bit of a different story in Europe last season,
15:04but what is it about on the road that you guys do so well?
15:07Is there anything in particular that you do before games at all?
15:10Well, because if we want to be at the level that we want to be,
15:12we have to be really good on the road and at home.
15:15There's no other choice.
15:18So we have to continue to be consistent, get the results,
15:22especially get the performances that are going to get us the result.
15:25And in Europe, as you said, it's extremely tough.
15:28It's in the Premier League to win,
15:30but hopefully we can be more effective than we were last season
15:35because, especially in this competition,
15:37small margins define results, and we have to be really good at it.
15:41Of the five away games in Europe, there were three defeats.
15:44What do you think are the nuances between playing away in England and in Europe?
15:49Well, there are, but obviously you don't know the opponents that well,
15:52and then boxes become crucial.
15:54I think at this level, there are small details, small moments
15:58that define the story of the competition and define the story of a game.
16:03And in the Premier League, it's a bit different.
16:06But in Europe, the teams are ruthless,
16:08and you better be at your best and be very, very effective.
16:12Hi, Miguel. Just a bit more on Odegaard, please.
16:14Obviously, it's a big miss for you,
16:16but are you confident that you've got the players to fill in for him while he's absent?
16:21Yes, but we have to show that, obviously.
16:23He's our captain, he's one of our biggest players, without a doubt.
16:26He's been one of the most consistent players in the last two or three seasons.
16:31And this is who he is.
16:33And our identity as well is very related to his way of playing and his way of behaving.
16:39We're going to have to deal with that.
16:40And that's a great test for the team as well,
16:42how capable we are to show maybe a different face.
16:47And the fact that we have other players and other options,
16:50that can be still very effective.
16:53And in terms of last year's Champions League,
16:55how much do you think this team has learned from their experiences of playing
16:59in the Champions League last year?
17:00And do you think you can take that into this campaign?
17:02I hope so. That's the aim.
17:05It was a great campaign for us.
17:08We got to a place that we didn't as a club for 16 or 18 years.
17:12And we weren't satisfied and happy at all because we want more.
17:15So they showed that hunger.
17:17I think we have the ability, we have the quality, certainly.
17:21And now we have to prove it.
17:23Hi, Miquel. Just picking up on what Ed said,
17:25that was this team's first campaign in the Champions League together.
17:28Did it change your thinking at all,
17:30especially maybe the quarterfinal against Bayern,
17:32on how you approach Europe?
17:36I don't know if it's going to change, depending on the opponents,
17:38depending on the moment that we are in,
17:40we learn certain lessons, certain aspects that we can do better.
17:46And as well, being very conscious that these are the top elite clubs in Europe
17:50and they know how to play and they know how to compete games really, really well as well.
17:55Hi, Miquel. You lost those two big away games against Porto and Bayern Munich as well.
18:01Do you think this team is now better equipped to deal with the pressure
18:05and those atmospheres of an away day?
18:07Because you'll get another one here tomorrow night as well.
18:10Yeah, as I said, hopefully we have learned as well
18:12and we can show that composure as well, that determination
18:16and that belief that is very important in these stages.
18:19Because tomorrow, here, we know what we are going to be facing
18:23and it's going to be tough, but the team is ready and prepared.
18:28Hi, Miquel. There's obviously a new format in this season's Champions League
18:31with two extra games and you've spoken in the past about
18:33needing to protect the players when it comes to the fixture list.
18:36Do you think that's being done with these extra games?
18:39Do you think it's fair on the players, the demands that are being put on them
18:42with all these extra games?
18:43Well, I think that the reason why we changed the format
18:47is obviously for all the football fans
18:51and all the people that love the sport, you know.
18:54And to give a better product, more entertainment
18:58and now we have to deliver it, especially the players have to deliver it.
19:01So, let's see how it goes.
19:03Hi, Miquel. Have you been pleasantly surprised almost
19:06by how the players as a group have responded to coming close last year
19:10and having a disappointment?
19:11How big of a test is it to start a new season with a lot of determination and resilience?
19:16Yes, well I think this team has always reacted that way
19:19and the fact that obviously we weren't satisfied and we wanted more
19:23and we knew that we could be there and we have the level
19:27and we lost a few things on the way that didn't allow us to be there.
19:32That has to be in the tummy, you know.
19:34And a new season, a new opportunity and that's the beautiful thing about sports.
19:40Just quickly about Bakayo Saka who had a slight injury concern at Tottenham.
19:45Is he fine?
19:46Yes, he's able to train today and he completed most of the session.
19:51So, he's available.
19:55Hi, Miquel. Just talking about your away form,
19:57you're yet to actually trail in any game in the Premier League away from home in 2024.
20:04What has changed and when did you notice that change
20:06and how can that benefit you in Europe?
20:10Well, I noticed game by game that the team is able to compete,
20:15to perform and to actually get results in very, very difficult stadiums
20:21in a really consistent way and winning matches in different ways
20:25which I think is very important if you want to be consistent,
20:27especially playing away from home.
20:29And now we have to put those learnings into the Champions League,
20:32as you said, and show tomorrow that we are capable of doing that.
20:36OK, I think we have some questions from Italian media.
20:38Buonasera, benvenuto, Andrea Riscassi, Rai Sport, benvenuto in Italia.
20:41Oggi Gasperini ha detto che non vi conoscete personalmente,
20:44ma apprezza il suo gioco.
20:45Volevo sapere come valuta invece il gioco dell'Atalanta.
20:48Spesso si dice che l'Atalanta gioca all'Inglese.
20:50Visto la sua esperienza, come valuta il gioco dell'Atalanta?
20:52Prima, una storia bellissima.
20:54Come club, come squadra e quello che lui ha fatto.
20:57Admirazione per come ha fatto il suo lavoro.
21:02Non solo qua, ma le altre squadre che ha fatto.
21:05Forse sì, possiamo conoscere.
21:07Apprendere tanto una persona con tantissime esperienze,
21:10che ha vinto quello che ha fatto l'anno scorso.
21:15È stato incredibile.
21:16Domani vediamo.
21:20Buonasera, Michele.
21:21Giorgio Dosi, Bergamo News, La Gattata dello Sport.
21:23Hai citato Gasperini, lo avevi già affrontato
21:26quando eri venuto con Manchester City.
21:28Che ricordo hai di quella partita?
21:30Facilissimo.
21:31Sempre con loro.
21:32Hanno una forma di giocare molto particolare.
21:35Sono abituato a giocare così ogni settimana.
21:38Per l'adversario non è facile adattarsi.
21:41È vero che le ultime due o tre stazioni
21:43ha cambiato tanto.
21:44Anche la Premier League.
21:45Avete tante squadre che fanno cose molto pareci di loro.
21:49Forse abbiamo preso tante cose.
21:52Domani ci vediamo bene.
21:56Buonasera, Michele.
21:58Calafiori ha detto qualcosa.
22:00L'anno scorso ha bottato l'Atalanta due volte.
22:02Volevo chiedere che Atalanta si aspetta
22:06visto che è una squadra italiana
22:09ma gioca molto all'europea.
22:11Riccardo ha parlato con lui e con Giorgio.
22:14Conoscono molto bene la squadra e i giocatori.
22:18Questa è sempre informazione molto importante.
22:21E loro?
22:22Stessa cosa.
22:23Non penso che cambiano tanto.
22:24Hanno giocato grandissime partite
22:26contro grandissime squadre negli ultimi anni.
22:28Si hanno comportato sempre in maniera molto simile.
22:54Grazie.