Arteta on Jesus season-ending injury ahead of North London derby
14/01/2025
Sobha Realty Training Centre, Colnery, Hertfordshire, UK
14/01/2025
Sobha Realty Training Centre, Colnery, Hertfordshire, UK
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00:00Yeah, we know more now, and it's not looking good at all, but we need to review one more
00:15specialist.
00:16So probably we'll have details and information this afternoon.
00:34I don't want to confirm anything again until we have the final report this afternoon, and
00:38I think it's the doctor's job to do that, but we were very worried straight away after
00:45the game, and we are very worried today.
00:47I don't want to be pessimistic, but there's a chance it could be a season-ending injury.
00:52Well, again, let's wait till this afternoon.
00:55Any other players who have been injured who might be available for you tomorrow?
00:59We have one more training session, and there are a few that can be closed, but again, this
01:05afternoon we'll have the full info on the squad and who is available and who is not.
01:09One of the ones who is nearest to you, like Calafiori, is he one of the ones who might
01:13be available?
01:14Yeah, his thing is not too much, but again, we need another day or two.
01:19You're playing every three days, and 24 hours become really important because they are not
01:24long-term injuries in that case, for example.
01:26So we'll have more understanding this afternoon.
01:29Do you know if he's been going off for the rest of the season?
01:33He was cramping, honestly.
01:34We played extra time.
01:35Durian was exactly the same, so we had a few players struggling to finish the game.
01:40And he's fine?
01:41He's fine, yeah.
01:43Obviously, with this injury to Jadon, it's potentially quite serious.
01:49Does that change your thinking about the transfer window?
01:53I think you're asked about bringing in an out-and-out striker more often than Tyson
01:57Fury announces he's going to retire from boxing.
01:59Can I ask you again?
02:01Yeah.
02:02But my answer doesn't change.
02:04My answer remains the same.
02:05We are actively looking in the market to improve the squad, and that's been since day one.
02:11We will be naive not to do that because it's an opportunity always to evolve the team,
02:15to improve the squad, and especially with the circumstances that we have.
02:19So, yes, we are looking and we are trying, and let's see what we are able to do.
02:24You said that until after the game it might have been not what you meant, but you said
02:29it wasn't in your hands.
02:31What did you mean by that?
02:33Well, you have to recruit a player.
02:35There are three parties, and you have to agree to that.
02:39And we have our limitations as well, like any other club.
02:42So we can do what we can do, and we plan our squad, and we have our limits to what we want
02:48to do, and that's it.
02:50So the fact that I love a lot our players doesn't mean that we cannot think about improving.
02:56I'm not that stubborn, and we all want the same, that we use every opportunity to improve
03:01the squad daily, and when the market comes in, we can do that to make sure that we have
03:06the best resources and the best capacities to compete in the manner that we want to.
03:11Let's talk on the pitch, because it's a big game, you love London Derby.
03:14In London Derby in 2024, I think you played 11, unbeaten in all of them.
03:19Keep that record going with a win, hopefully.
03:23Probably the nicest game of the season to watch and to play, certainly.
03:28Because of the atmosphere, because of what it means to our people, what it means to us.
03:33Everybody is involved in the game.
03:35So this is something that is in our hands, for example.
03:38And let's create the best atmosphere that we have played at the Emirates.
03:44That's an objective.
03:45That's something that we control.
03:47Players, staff, and all the supporters that turn up tomorrow.
03:50So this is something that we can do.
03:52So let's do it.
03:54It's something you can't control.
03:55I hesitate to mention it because we don't want to give these idiots the oxygen of publicity.
03:59But there's been some beyond pale social media activity towards one of your players since Sunday.
04:07How sad is it that this happened in football, that it shouldn't be a sport that we all enjoy?
04:12It's incredible, honestly.
04:13And we really have to do something about it.
04:17Because accepting that and hiding this, I think has terrible consequences.
04:23And it's something that we really have to eradicate from the game.
04:26Because it's so cynical as well.
04:29And it's so dependent to a result of inaction.
04:33And there is no other story like this.
04:35When we played, it was 27th?
04:3727th of December at home.
04:40We win 1-0.
04:42Kai Havertz scores a goal.
04:44And the whole stadium after that is singing the Waka Waka.
04:47That's 20 days ago.
04:50Guys, what is the perspective?
04:53So we are all responsible.
04:55And all means you guys are responsible.
04:57Everybody is responsible for the narrative.
05:00Everybody is responsible for how we talk.
05:02And we cannot look somewhere else.
05:05That's a really serious matter, guys.
05:07And it affects him.
05:09And it affects me.
05:10It affects everybody that is in the industry in a way.
05:12And we can accept.
05:13And we say that's our job, yes.
05:15But there are certain limits.
05:17And the line has to be drawn.
05:19And we put a lot of attention on that about technology and what is next.
05:23What is next in football.
05:24The next in football might be that this is prohibited.
05:27It cannot happen.
05:30That's it.
05:31That's what we should aim for.
05:34We'll go to Nick from the Premier League.
05:36Hello.
05:37You've been the Arsenal manager for five years.
05:39The amount of injuries you're dealing with this season, missing key players,
05:42is it toughest to experience?
05:44And from your perspective,
05:45does it mean you try to be more creative with the style of playing?
05:49Yeah, for sure.
05:50Obviously, it's the most challenging period that we had,
05:52especially because we lost very, very important players in crucial moments.
05:58But I don't know.
06:00Things happen for a reason in this life.
06:02We have to adapt.
06:03With everything that happened, still look how the team performs.
06:07Okay, we didn't win the other day.
06:09But you have to go in a competition.
06:11Let's go out like this.
06:12When you win, infinitely better than the opposition.
06:15Again.
06:16And on Wednesday, we have another one.
06:18Probably the best timing to play
06:19because we know what it means, that game, for all of us.
06:22So, let's face it.
06:24The circumstances are what they are.
06:26Let's embrace them and let's get the best out of that
06:29because even with all that, look how the team plays.
06:31I remember previously when I asked you about it,
06:33you mentioned a big respect for the style of play,
06:37for his team, for his principles.
06:39Can you imagine this respect?
06:40He's been bigger now because he's been with City as well.
06:43He's been very, you know, stepping with City
06:45and trying to find solutions and trying to be competitive as well.
06:48That's our job.
06:49And it's very difficult to predict that those things are going to happen.
06:53But about how we react, again, this is something that is in our hands.
06:57You can feel sorry for yourself and start to find excuses.
06:59Or face it.
07:00And I think Angie's done that.
07:01And Lazio, I think they have some difficulties as well.
07:04And he dealt in the same way.
07:06So, I really respect that.
07:08Until last week, you haven't lost at all for nine months.
07:11Now you've experienced two defeats in less than a week.
07:14How important is it for the Emirates to be in fortress again tomorrow
07:17with this great atmosphere and great support?
07:19Yeah, for sure.
07:20Understanding that it was a long period
07:25and it's something that gave us so much confidence
07:28and obviously the fact that we lost two games
07:31in the manner that we've done it is painful.
07:35Hi, Antonio.
07:36Good.
07:37You mentioned two words interestingly earlier,
07:40narrative and perspective.
07:42I think the narrative this year was that this was your time to go and win the title,
07:46especially with Manchester City not playing well.
07:49But do you think your fans have got the right perspective
07:52around how difficult that is?
07:55Well, I wasn't mentioning about the narrative of that.
07:57And the narrative from the beginning is that the top four, five, six teams,
08:02because of what we've done in the market and historically,
08:04have now the ambition to win it.
08:07But this has not changed, regardless of what happens,
08:10regardless of the injuries or whatever.
08:13It remains the same.
08:14Because of the injuries, do you think now,
08:17and you said you've only been bringing players,
08:19but you've improved the squad.
08:21Do you believe now that you have to bring in
08:23what would be considered an out-and-out striker
08:26through to middle number nine?
08:30Well, we have to believe that if we bring something,
08:32it's going to make us better.
08:34But in that position in particular?
08:36No, but it's in any position, because we have other issues as well.
08:39So, we need to understand that a player can bring a lot to the team
08:44in different ways, it's not just about one.
08:46Because nobody can guarantee you nothing.
08:48There's no one player in Denmark can guarantee you coming today and do that.
08:51We're going to hope and we're going to believe
08:53and we're going to try to work on somebody that we believe that he can do that.
08:57But that's what we are trying to do.
09:00And finally, a week can be a long time.
09:02You can have two bad results, but you win tomorrow
09:06and suddenly everything is rosy in the garden again.
09:09Is that how you go into this game, thinking,
09:11right, we've had two setbacks in inverted commas,
09:14but if we win tomorrow, suddenly the crowd are right behind us again,
09:17suddenly I'm the best manager Arsenal have ever had?
09:20What's the word that you use, rosy in the garden?
09:22Yeah?
09:23Rosy in the garden, you said.
09:25Everything is rosy in the garden.
09:27Rosy in the garden because I win two days ago in a way that I didn't merit
09:32or because we won two games in a row the next day is rosy in the garden.
09:35This is about what is the next day in the garden.
09:37This is our job.
09:38I don't want to play every three days, especially that.
09:41What is in the garden the next day?
09:42That's the important thing.
09:44Yeah?
09:45OK, to Jonathan from the top.
09:47Mikel, Los Angeles is obviously a city that we've got a strong connection with
09:51over the past few years, going through a devastating time
09:54with all the fires there at the moment.
09:56How do you feel about the support that's been placed over there?
09:58Yeah, well, our condolences.
10:00Obviously they are suffering a lot when you look at what is happening
10:03and the time that all this has extended to and how many people are affected.
10:09We have obviously ownership there and a lot of friends
10:14and people that are big Arsenal supporters because we've been there now
10:18for a few years together.
10:19So really sad.
10:22We try to understand the situation and try to help as we can.
10:28We'll go to Simon from the fan.
10:30Mikel, just on Kai, you talk a lot about the culture of his club
10:34and his family feeling a bit.
10:36What's it been like in the past few days after he's had a week like that?
10:40Just how is he first of all?
10:43Well, it's not about individual.
10:45I mean, I think there is a big lesson here to learn from us
10:47is how we have conducted, reacted and supported players
10:51when they have been through a difficult time.
10:53And you guys just notice sometimes when it's just a professional issue.
10:59But there's a lot of personal issues as well going on in the camp.
11:02And the club and the people here have been exceptional
11:06because every time there's been an issue, everybody has supported him.
11:09And the outcome is always clear.
11:11The more support you have, the better it is.
11:13And with Kai in particular, we explained what was the beginning
11:15and when everybody started to support him.
11:17And they were talking about him being one of the best knights in Europe.
11:21And that's it.
11:23So the best medicine is that the people really love the club
11:25and love our players.
11:27Support them.
11:28That's what I would like to see.
11:31Just as well, obviously, you've got that clear weekend now
11:34because you're out in the FA Cup.
11:35I know you've spoken before about the desire to try and have a break or get away.
11:40Is that something you're looking at now?
11:43Yeah, we are looking now.
11:44Okay, this is gone.
11:45So how can we optimize the situation using the best possible way?
11:49So we're looking at options.
11:50I think the calendar and the fixture is a bit there
11:54depending on what happens with the Champions League as well.
11:56So we are looking and trying to plan the options.
12:00Art, Athletic.
12:01Hi, Mikel.
12:02Just on that potential week for a break,
12:05last year was one of the big things,
12:07almost just having that time to go through things
12:11you wouldn't have the time to in a week like this
12:13where you're playing Tottenham on Wednesday
12:15and then Aston Villa on the Sunday
12:17and there's almost no time to think.
12:19Yeah, well, we knew that.
12:22When we are involved in all the competitions
12:25that the schedule was going to be like this,
12:27we are prepared for that and we're going to face it.
12:29That's it.
12:30And on the point about Kai,
12:32I know you mentioned support,
12:34but with perspective, that word you mentioned,
12:36how do you, as a manager,
12:39bring that perspective to a player
12:41when they're in a difficult time?
12:43Well, in terms of the goals, it's very easy.
12:45You look at the last 10 years,
12:47any play in Europe, apart from Ronaldo and Messi,
12:50expected goals and finishing quality.
12:53There is not a single player there that has been stable.
12:56It's very volatile.
12:57Expected goals and goals is a very volatile thing.
12:59You want to have the ambition to be there
13:02and score a lot of goals,
13:03make sure that you are prepared to be volatile.
13:05If not, you go and be a defender.
13:07That's it, it's part of your job.
13:08Volatility in expected goals and goals is really, really high.
13:12There is a lot of smoke,
13:13a lot of things that you cannot control.
13:16So the only thing that is better,
13:17increased probabilities, more expected goals.
13:19More situations, be more there.
13:21Then it's higher.
13:22The finishing quality, every single play,
13:24apart from those two, up and down.
13:28Okay, last couple in the live section.
13:29First, it's Tom from Football London.
13:31Just a quick one on the transfer window.
13:33Of course, since Edu resigned a fair few months ago
13:36and Jason stepped into that role,
13:39has your role had to change at all
13:41after Edu kind of stepped away?
13:43Or has that been filled completely by Jason?
13:45No, Jason completely filled it by him
13:47and obviously all the team that is behind it
13:51and the board that we are in constant communication.
13:53We continue to act in the same way,
13:55the same process that we had before
13:57and Jason is in charge of that.
13:59And just on the derby as well,
14:01Andrew's obviously received quite a lot of perspective
14:03on how stubborn his approach to games can be at times
14:07and sticking to his beliefs on things.
14:09When you're preparing for a team
14:11that has a very specific style of play,
14:13has that changed your approach to setting up for a team like that?
14:18No, I mean, there are a few things.
14:20At the end, almost every team in certain phases,
14:24some of them can insist more than others.
14:26But in general, every team has very clear intentions and patterns
14:30and they can change the system.
14:32But the outcome that they are trying to achieve
14:34is very, very similar.
14:36So it's just sometimes the way we verbalise our feelings
14:40and how we go about our jobs more than anything else.
14:46With characters like Jack Wilshere
14:48and some of the HLN boys, Emil Smith-Rose or Gon,
14:50who is in the cap now to explain to the new players
14:54what the match against Tottenham means to them?
14:57Well, we have a few now in our squad,
14:59with Ethan and Miles as well.
15:01Obviously, all the players, a lot of the staff,
15:03you know that you can feel it when you're in the building
15:06that the big one is coming up,
15:09and that excitement is around the building.
15:12So they can feel it and they know about it.
15:14There's not much time that's ever built up
15:16from the last game to this game,
15:18but have you got anything special planned,
15:20motivationally, for the game?
15:23I'm not there yet, but it's better,
15:27especially when you've been knocked out of a competition
15:29to play as quick as possible.
15:31I think that's positive.