• 4 weeks ago
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says Nwaneri needs to see that he can go and fly and not cut his wings

01/11/2024

Sobha Realty Training Centre, London, UK
Transcript
00:00I would like to talk about the terrible disaster that is affecting my country at the moment.
00:07So I want to send from our side our thoughts, our full support and our sympathy to everybody
00:16that is getting affected, all the families and all the individuals and obviously all
00:21the country that is pulling together to try to find the best possible solution in this
00:27difficult moment and from here I just want to show my full support and ask everybody
00:35in the way that they can to support because it is terrible what is happening.
00:49Can I start with some team news, in particular is it good news on Gabriel?
00:54Yes, so we have a training session today, if he can complete that he will be available,
01:00he hasn't had any training session yet but if he is able to do that today he will be
01:04available in the squad.
01:06And as regarding the others, Calafiore, Odegaard, I know Ben White was sort of left out of the
01:11present game, is that a precaution?
01:13So Ricky and Martin are out definitely and with Ben we don't know yet because he hasn't
01:20trained yet, he could not train, he could not get involved so let's wait and see if
01:26he is available.
01:27I appreciate it is still an extremely early season but with the gap that is starting to
01:32open up at the top of the table, is that a concern at all?
01:36Well you want to be first, you want to win every game, we know the situation that we
01:41have to play with this season but we are right in the mix, we know the tough challenge that
01:47we are going to face tomorrow but we are fully ready for that.
01:50This trip to St James' Park is almost exactly a year after the last trip there, after that
01:56game obviously you had some very pointed comments to make about the standard of refereeing,
02:01when you reflect on that do you have any regrets about anything you said?
02:05It's part of the past and part of the situation that happened, you learn from it, you take
02:10a lot of positives as well and we moved on.
02:14Do you think the standard of refereeing has improved since then, do you think your comments
02:19worked?
02:20My intention is not that the comments worked, I have to say what I feel in the day.
02:25And do you think the standard of refereeing has improved since then?
02:28They are certainly trying their best.
02:30First of all, there was a lot of discussion and debate before the game, how are you going
02:42to cope with the fact that several key players were suspended and injured as well.
02:46Overall it was a good performance, do you think after the Liverpool game you have learned
02:50something new about your group?
02:52Unfortunately a lot of things happened that we didn't even plan for them.
02:57I was suspecting with the size of the squad that we had to be very adaptable in the season
03:03and that's something we worked on from day one in pre-season.
03:06But obviously not to be that adaptable especially in certain scenarios but for sure the team
03:12showed an incredible capacity to compete, to be better than the opponent in many moments
03:18but it's true that in the second half very early against something happened that affected
03:23the rest but we are there.
03:25Question please about Ben White, he obviously played in a position,
03:28not his natural position, great partnership with Gabriel, Gabriel went off as well
03:33very early in the second half and that lovely assist to Bukharu Saka,
03:36how impressed have you been with what he gave you on Sunday?
03:38That's Ben's quality, he can play in those two positions, within those positions
03:43he can adapt his role and play in different heights as well especially in ball possession
03:48so we're demanding against a very difficult, tricky opponent with very particular duels
03:54especially in that section of the pitch to do that job when he hasn't played there
03:58for over a year and I think he was really good.
04:00I was wondering about Jumacofe and Lucas at the start of the season,
04:03on one hand we saw them against Chelsea a few days ago in the league cup,
04:05they did well, on the other hand if you look at their league position
04:08it's not really ideal.
04:10I mean the league position after nine games is very tricky and you see the features
04:15that they have as well and some situations that they've been through as well
04:18but they are a fantastic team, they are really well coached,
04:21they are super intense, a great stadium to play,
04:25you know the energy you're going to face there so looking forward to it.
04:32Hi, can I start by asking you about Ruben Amerin who's going to be joining Manchester United,
04:38he's 39, you know what it's like to be a Premier League manager
04:44at a massive club when you're under 40, you were 37 when you started here.
04:48Yeah, but I cannot talk about these kind of situations.
04:52No, I just wondered what it was like to be a young manager coming into the Premier League.
04:56Fantastic, great, yeah.
04:59Fair enough, OK.
05:03You were to go to Newcastle this weekend,
05:05one of the big talking points after the mid-weekend was Ethan Manieri
05:09who you described as a real super talent with your hands,
05:12can you tell us how good you think he'll be
05:15and the job he's done in the last two years
05:18because when he made his debut at 15 there was probably a lot of pressure on him
05:22to go on and succeed?
05:25Well I can't talk how good he is right now
05:27and at 17 years old to be in the position that he is in one of the biggest clubs in Europe
05:32I think sums up really well the level that he has.
05:36What is going to happen in the future mainly is going to depend on him
05:41and how much he wants it, at the moment he wants it a lot
05:44and he's surrounded by the right people
05:46and the crystal ball to see what he's going to be in a year, two years, three years
05:51my prediction is going to be very positive.
05:55In terms of very positive,
05:56rise up over some of the best players that you've seen come through
06:00at this age group and moving forward?
06:04Well it's rare to see a talent like this at 17 years old,
06:07that's true.
06:08When we made him his debut in the Premier League
06:13there was a lot of talk about it
06:16but we didn't do it because it was a gift,
06:18we did it because we knew the pathway that we wanted to build with him
06:21and we wanted to send him a really strong sign
06:25about how much we trust him and how much we wanted him to stay with us
06:29and we are delighted to have him.
06:33You've had some injuries, maybe other clubs have had more,
06:36other clubs have had less.
06:37Why this season are we seeing so many clubs suffering?
06:41Man City apparently have only got 13 fit players this weekend
06:45and you've been battling to get seven halves on the pitch all season.
06:50Well I think there are two aspects,
06:52one I think we've been quite unlucky with some of them
06:56and especially to happen in very similar positions
06:59and then obviously the demands that those players are having every week.
07:04If you put that into perspective,
07:06that as well you have a smaller squad
07:08because all the restrictions that are hitting all the clubs
07:11that you cannot have 30 quality players in the squad,
07:14the moment that one player has to play more minutes
07:17affects the knock-on and the domino effect for the rest of the squad
07:21is quite difficult to manage.
07:25Hi Mikel, there's been a lot of talk around Ethan
07:27since he made his debut like you said
07:29and it's happening again now because he's had good performances.
07:32Do you have to protect him when there's so much talk around him?
07:36I think the biggest thing is to push him
07:38and then when he's pushed just always grab him from behind
07:42to make sure that he's always stable and protected.
07:45But this talent, you have to push him.
07:48The protection is necessary or keep an eye on him
07:51and be always in the right distance
07:53but he needs to see that he can go and he can fly
07:57and don't cut any wings.
07:59How helpful for him is it to see the Kaiosakos
08:02have the same journey come through
08:04and one of the best players in Europe?
08:07Is it helpful to have someone who's come through the same journey
08:10in the same team?
08:11I think that creates belief in the building,
08:15through all the academy, all the young players,
08:17the players that we signed as well at a very early age
08:20that there is a pathway that is clear
08:23that we're going to give them opportunities
08:25and if they earn it they're going to be treated like the rest.
08:29Nick from Haters.
08:32Thomas Partey talked about adaptable players,
08:34he's played in different positions this season,
08:36he's also played more Premier League minutes this season
08:39than the whole of last season.
08:41Can you just talk about his contribution to the team?
08:44One thing that obviously we needed from Thomas
08:48to be at the level that we want to be certainly.
08:51He's working so hard to do what he's doing at the moment,
08:55I think he's playing really well, as you said,
08:57in different positions, with different demands
08:59and he's coping with it in a great way.
09:02He's a big player for us.
09:04He's only 31 but he's out of the contract at the end of the season,
09:07is there any plans to talk to him?
09:09I love what you said, he's only 31,
09:12and he's in a really good place and we'll have these discussions.
09:19You mentioned that you haven't seen many players late in that 17,
09:24you yourself looked quite talented at 17 when you started.
09:27No, not with that level.
09:29I was really lucky as well because somebody trusted me at that age
09:33and gave me the opportunity, which is what they need as well.
09:36The talent to emerge, somebody has to give you the chance,
09:39the belief, and then you have to be surrounded by the right team,
09:43the right players, and if you do that, you have a chance.
09:46Is there anything from your personal experience
09:48where you think, oh, I shouldn't do that,
09:50based on my experience, or this is good for a player at 17,
09:53or is there anything from your experience that you think you can use?
09:56Yeah, probably individually a lot of things that I should have done
09:59and probably learned, so if we can give him advice, great.
10:04What I like about him is that he really believes that,
10:08he has the ability to do it, he really believes
10:10that he's more than capable to take anybody's place
10:14and his teammates.
10:16He's earned the right of the trust of them,
10:19which I think is vital for a teenager coming through.
10:22And he was cramping at the end at Preston,
10:25is that a physical side maybe the reason why we haven't seen
10:27so much in the Premier League?
10:29It's a huge jump, you know, and in the past as well.
10:33We need to understand where he's coming from,
10:35if he's had any issues in the last three, five years,
10:38in his growth, in his development,
10:41on the physical part, as the mental part,
10:44the tactical, are really important to take care of.
10:48Because the load goes through the roof straight away
10:50without you knowing, and then you look back and say,
10:52look what he's done in four months compared to the last 18 months.
10:56So, yeah, we need to keep an eye on that.
10:58Jordan Atletic.
11:00Mattel, I know life as a Premier League manager
11:02can be high intensity, a lot of pressure.
11:04It was interesting the last few weeks to see you speak
11:06about meditation becoming part of your everyday life.
11:09I just wondered when we're asking about refereeing decisions,
11:12et cetera, and the pressure of dealing with that,
11:14does that actually help you?
11:16On the touchline, I haven't got to that point
11:18to go on meditating.
11:20Yeah, maybe it's something that I have to happen.
11:24I just want the best for the team,
11:26and I want to give the team the best chance
11:28to be as competitive as possible
11:30to win the majority of the football match.
11:32So I know that, obviously, when they change the rules
11:35and certain behaviours towards the touchline,
11:38we need to adapt to that and we need to evolve.
11:41And that's what I try to do.
11:43You talk about that, and I think this season
11:45you're one of five managers not to have a yellow card yet.
11:48When you look at yourself,
11:50do you think you have evolved in managing your emotions
11:53better than maybe the last few years?
11:55Well, I don't want to miss any games, that's for sure.
11:58I cannot promise you that if we score a goal
12:00I'm going to be jumping up and down the touchline.
12:04I cannot guarantee that.
12:06Hopefully, as well, they have adapted,
12:09and they have understood as well
12:11that emotions are a big part of that.
12:13I cannot control myself, certainly,
12:15in one square line.
12:17So, so far it worked.
12:21Can I check on Ben?
12:23He was struggling with a groin injury.
12:25Is it the same issue that's come up now to keep him out?
12:28No, that was...
12:30This is really more to a joint.
12:32And on Tommy Assu,
12:34is there any chance that he's back before the break?
12:37If not, do you know when you think you might have him back?
12:40No, I don't expect him to be available
12:42before the break now, unfortunately.
12:45Hi, Miquel.
12:46Hi.
12:47You said he's out for Saturday.
12:49Has he got...
12:50Is Milan a possibility?
12:52Well, now is the stage
12:54when he's going to start to do certain work with us
12:57and just see how he deals with pain.
13:00Is his movement natural enough?
13:02Is he physically now at the level
13:04that requires him to compete?
13:07Yeah, with the work and the hours that he's put in,
13:10I will be surprised if the moment that he starts training with us
13:13you don't say he looks ready.
13:15So, hopefully soon.
13:16And just on Newcastle,
13:18when you've done your video work this week,
13:20presumably you watched the game from last season up there,
13:23did you have the same emotion when you saw the goal?
13:27I didn't stop on that sequence.
13:29I didn't want to go through that.
13:32It's already in my hard drive,
13:34so I didn't want to go through that again.
13:36How sometimes do you think the club
13:38have received maybe a bit harsher treatment
13:40from referees since that game?
13:42Do you give any credence to that at all?
13:44No, that's on purpose, you mean?
13:46Yeah, or whether there's some sort of
13:48subconscious thing against Arsenal?
13:50No, because every club at the end of the day
13:52has its history and they have games
13:54and situations and comments
13:56and that's part of the game, I think.
13:58We have to understand it as it is.
14:01It's every decision that when I make
14:03I'm going to get criticised
14:05or nobody's going to understand
14:07or if they're going to understand, I praise it.
14:09They are part of the game,
14:11so we're always going to have opinions
14:13about their jobs, that's normal.
14:15Do you think there's any lasting consequence
14:17from that whole episode?
14:19No, hopefully we talked through it
14:21in depth and that's done.
14:23It's a year in football,
14:25it's a long, long time.
14:27OK, and there's a question from Mel in Spanish.
14:29I know you've started with this topic
14:31but I'd love to know if you have words
14:33of support for the people of Valencia
14:35and the fans of Arsenal
14:37and of football in general
14:39and everything that's happening there
14:41with them and the suffering they're going through
14:43right now.
14:45Yes, as I said at the beginning
14:47of my press conference,
14:49to show all our love, all our support
14:51and the suffering
14:53of seeing what's happening,
14:55the disaster, how it affects
14:57our country, all the families,
14:59all those of us who are not close
15:01but who feel the pain
15:03of what's happening.
15:05And on the other hand, to see how
15:07the country responds, how people respond
15:09in moments of difficulty,
15:11which I think is also very nice
15:13and to ask everyone, wherever they are,
15:15to try and help so that
15:17the situation is resolved
15:19as soon as possible.

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