Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is obligating Saka to take a break!
17/01/2025
Sobha Realty Training Ground, London, UK
17/01/2025
Sobha Realty Training Ground, London, UK
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SportsTranscript
00:00Hi.
00:01You also have Ian Sterling back from injury,
00:03who played the last couple of games.
00:05It's obviously still early days,
00:07he's probably still getting into the flow of things.
00:09What will be made of the performances of later?
00:11What more do you expect to do going forward?
00:13Obviously, he's increasing in the front line.
00:15Yeah, for sure, we can get a lot from Rash.
00:17We are getting much more than we used to get a few weeks back.
00:20Obviously, his involvement has been much higher
00:24and he's going to be capital.
00:26Obviously, now he's got more rhythm and more minutes.
00:29He had an injury that he's coming back from,
00:31but overall I think he can give us a lot.
00:35We've seen with Big Gabi, especially from set pieces,
00:37he scores once again.
00:39In terms of centre-backs across this country,
00:41and just football in general,
00:43how much of a threat is he as a centre-back
00:45in terms of scoring goals?
00:47At the present time, very much,
00:49when you look at his numbers and the type of goals
00:52and the occasions when he has scored the goals,
00:54very important goals as well.
00:56He will be right up there.
00:58Jordan?
01:00It must be really hard to balance what you now need to do in January
01:04with what you want to do in the summer.
01:07Have you been given assurances that if you spend money in January
01:10that that won't affect your budget in the summer
01:13or what you plan to do in the summer?
01:16Assurances in this industry I think that nobody can give you
01:19because it's related to performance, what we achieve,
01:23how we finish the season, a lot of things.
01:27It's clear, it's not easy,
01:29and I think that's probably the most difficult part
01:32because a player that is injured at the end,
01:35what can you do?
01:37He has no value, he cannot perform,
01:39so it's a really difficult scenario.
01:41On top of that, you have to add somebody else on that,
01:43so it's not easy.
01:45Is it something you've spoken about in terms of getting that balance
01:48right between this month and the summer?
01:50Yeah, for sure. We never plan a window.
01:52We have a plan, we look at the squad,
01:54how we're going to evolve it, what is in the academy,
01:56how we're going to change it and adapt things.
01:58And from there, then you go.
02:00Because from what you plan actually
02:02and the picture that we have today,
02:04or we are really bad at planning,
02:06or nobody could see that we were going to have that many injuries.
02:09So you're going to have to adapt whatever the plan is as well.
02:12Gary?
02:14Is it as simple as money to get the top issue on this month?
02:19I don't think so.
02:21Obviously it's a factor because at the end
02:23when you want to recruit a player and the player wants to come,
02:26you have to agree to a certain fee,
02:28but that player has to be available,
02:30that player that we believe can be the solution
02:33short and medium and long term,
02:35and then we have to be able to afford it.
02:37It's not easy.
02:39When you're looking at the players in January,
02:41it's a lot harder for players to necessarily settle
02:44as opposed to players playing permanently.
02:47Would that be part of your thinking,
02:49that if you bring someone in,
02:51you have to get the ground running,
02:53otherwise the pressure is already there on them?
02:55For sure, with every player.
02:57You have to understand the context as well.
02:59So which player do you bring?
03:01What are the expectations?
03:03How is this player going to fit in on that door
03:05when everybody's asking,
03:07OK, we need to sign that kind of player,
03:09and then how do you deal with that?
03:11That's always a big thing.
03:13Darren?
03:15We've still got players coming in,
03:17but Kai Hammond's at the club at the moment.
03:19You've been with him the last few weeks,
03:21not great for weeks on the pitch for him.
03:23Dr Reston, I'm sure...
03:25I enjoy to work with him, honestly.
03:27I wish that you could spend some time with him
03:29and the players around him
03:31and the people around him.
03:33That's why we all love him,
03:35because he just looks forward.
03:37He takes it in the chin, he works harder,
03:39and he tries again.
03:41Like him, anybody else.
03:43Because about football, what you've done today
03:45or three weeks ago, it doesn't matter.
03:47It's still what we can produce.
03:49We're going to be judged on that, that's it.
03:51Let's look forward to that.
03:53And finally, John.
03:55You mentioned the crowd had a different fight
03:57and a different body language.
03:59Like yours, you know, you are like this.
04:01LAUGHTER
04:03I love that.
04:05LAUGHTER
04:11Let's go.
04:13LAUGHTER
04:21Hopefully no.
04:23Hopefully that's the standards and we maintain it
04:25and we go from there to better.
04:27Sorry?
04:33I don't know.
04:35They have to watch the press conference.
04:37It would be difficult on me shouting and lifting my arms.
04:39What else can I do? I will try my best.
04:43You're leaving a break.
04:45Does that mean you can go on holiday?
04:47Yeah, yeah, he needs to.
04:49He's obligated to go.
04:51Yes.
04:53With his girlfriend, with his family,
04:55he can choose on his own.
04:57But he needs to get away for a few days
04:59and refresh.
05:01He can still do a lot of things on the rehab
05:03because it's the perfect stage right now.
05:05But I think it's going to make him really good.
05:07Does he deserve, also,
05:09a desire to stay part of,
05:11stay close to everybody,
05:13the most important part of the season?
05:15Yeah, but he is,
05:17and he's been every single day there.
05:19But there is a moment, especially when we plan
05:21and we're going to be away for a few days,
05:23that he needs to, that's very important for him as well.
05:25And we need to look after our players.
05:27So he can send you a postcard?
05:29Sorry?
05:31Yeah, a nice picture or a present or something.
05:33LAUGHTER
05:35OK, everyone?
05:37Thanks very much. Thank you.
05:39Good luck.