Following Arsenal's match against Everton, head coach Mikel Arteta held a press conference ahead of the Carabao Cup fourth-round away fixture against Fleetwood Town. The remarks are now available after the media embargo lifted.
Reporter: How will you approach this game? Facing such opponents is always challenging. Is it similar to your situation against Mansfield Town?
Arteta: Let them see the Arsenal shirt we're wearing, let them see what we represent. We need to go away and win the game—it's that simple. Our reputation, our pride, everything is on the line. Every time we step onto the pitch, especially against opponents from lower divisions, we must respect the sport and respect every opponent, because they deserve it. Then we must strive for victory and demonstrate a higher level of play.
Reporter: From your experience as a head coach, you haven't encountered a major upset. But during your playing days, did you experience painful moments like Arsenal's League Cup loss to Bradford?
Arteta: Every one of us has experienced such lessons at some point, and we know the dangers. In football, once an opponent can compete with you in certain aspects, the situation becomes extremely balanced. Therefore, our fundamentals and tactical discipline must be at full intensity to ensure we win.
Reporter: Mikel, regarding Viktor Gyökeres—was his performance last game a good foundation to build on? How important is this upcoming match for him? Do you think once he breaks his scoring drought, he can truly find his form? After all, he scored 21 goals last season.
Arteta: Yes, I think he was a bit unlucky. He had two or three chances in front of goal where he got between the center-backs, but the ball didn't quite reach him. However, he did excellent work, and that's been the case today as well. We need to maintain this resilience. He also made a fantastic contribution when he came off the bench in Munich, helping us change the situation. That's what we need from every player.
Reporter: Many fringe players are waiting for opportunities, but obviously it's difficult to change a winning lineup. Will this match be an excellent chance for them to prove they deserve a starting spot?
Arteta: We'll see. We'll assess the physical condition and recovery of each player tomorrow because we've placed extremely high demands on many of them from a personal standpoint. We need to consider how we manage games next week.
Reporter: Another question about Cristhian Mosquera. He's a very promising young player, but he currently has key players like Ngoyo, Saliba, and Gabriel ahead of him. Is it quite difficult for him right now? Those key players' performances are nearly perfect, and although he's learning from them, it's really hard to get playing time.
Arteta: But when he does play—including in previous matches—he performs exceptionally well. When he's on the pitch, we've won some crucial difficult matches, and we really need him. Lewis-Skelly is the same in another position; look at his performance. And Max Dowman came off the bench today and looked very comfortable in that role. We will definitely need everyone, and I firmly believe that.
Reporter: So could Max be eligible to start?
Arteta: Which game? Tuesday? We'll see.