Beijing time (CET+7) 23:30 on May 10th, Arsenal will challenge West Ham United away in the 36th round of the Premier League. Before the game, Arsenal head coach Arteta attended the press conference. This article is the second part of the press conference.
[Arteta: Celebrating the police? I respect every point of view and put them where they belong]
This weekend will usher in a major London derby. Is it fair to say that this is a game with huge risks for both sides?
Considering the background of these two clubs, this is obviously very important. We know the process, we know what we want, and what we must do to win the game.
This week couldn't have been better for you. Before you played in the Champions League, Manchester City dropped points against Everton, and then you advanced to the final. Please tell us about your mood at that time, or have you been in such an excited mood ever since, unless you are still in that excited state now?
After the game, I was obviously in a very excited mood because we knew what it meant to everyone, to the club. You can see what it means to everyone—our fans, players, coaching staff, just after the game. But you have to believe me, after that, my attention, my focus, my energy immediately turned to West Ham United. What do we need to do psychologically, physiologically, tactically, and technically, to be prepared in the best way to go there and win the game, that's it.
But you are so close now, can't you give yourself a little time to enjoy the final parade of this season?
I enjoy every day, I enjoy every day with the guys and the coaching staff. I love what I do, so I feel very honored to do what I do. I enjoy it, but those times are very short. I really enjoy preparing for the game against West Ham United, understanding what we have to do, trying to pick the right topics, trying to understand our players very thoroughly, understanding the situations we create in the game, and how we can change the situation if necessary, that's what I like.
So, for your group of players, if they win the Premier League and the Champions League, the next three weeks may be life-changing, as a coach, is this more significant than anything you encountered as a player?
Yes, but that's if, if, if. In football, "if" doesn't work, we have to do it. What we have to do today, what we have already done today, that is the fact, that is the most important thing at the moment. Tomorrow we will have to do everything we can to stay in the best mood physically and mentally to prepare for Sunday's battle.
This week Declan Rice summed up the professionalism in your squad, and he said some very decent things to his former club, and on Sunday he might relegate that club to the Championship, I think, it’s not surprising to you that this kid you brought back from West Ham United has grown into a man, is it?
Yes, I would say he has developed very well. He has always been excellent for us. He is one of our leaders and one of the core players. There is no doubt that what he has done for the club and the team is very powerful.
Regarding Viktor Gyokeres’ Rice's ball protection, is this something you have trained? Have you noticed this difference yourself?
Yes, but from the beginning, some of the things you see, some of the player's progress, maybe this work is not one day ago, two days ago or a few months ago, maybe it started a few months ago, it won't happen overnight. Viktor has been working very hard, he has incredibly high standards for himself, he always wants to learn, always asks questions, always wants to do more. He is always trying to find ways to connect with his teammates, whether in the cafeteria, the locker room or on the field. Ultimately, when you have that kind of behavior, you get rewarded.
Also, regarding some of the major decisions you made this season, especially in the sprint stage, you brought Eze back to the left winger position against Manchester City, which was the most important game of the season at the time, and then let Miles Lewis-Skelly appear in midfield against Fulham and Atletico Madrid, has this always been your plan?
No.
Is this something you learned from the previous title race?
No, I think some things have to do with your intuition. What the game needs, the state of the players, how you imagine the game and where the players can have the greatest impact. Then you might be right or you might be wrong, you never know. But if you follow your feelings, at least you can be sure that you have prepared and thought, and when the results are delivered, that is another matter.
It's been a while, can I ask you again about the "five-stage plan"?
Can we talk about this at the end of the season?
Then can you tell me what stage we are in now?
I don't know, I'm lost. It doesn't matter, the stage...
The only reason I keep bringing this up is that many coaches work with a blueprint, they have their own vision of what to do, and then they get fired and things get worse, but you seem to be only four games away from realizing what you laid out six years ago. It's an incredible journey, right on the verge of completion, isn't it?
Yes, but again, to answer that question, it doesn't matter at the moment. Let's live in the moment and we can talk about it when there is time. Whether we seized the right timing and made every right decision, the most important thing is what the result will be by the end of May.
As far as David Raya is concerned, I think it has now been confirmed that he has shared the Golden Glove award for at least three consecutive seasons. From this season, many of his saves have come at crucial moments, so whether the game is 0-0 or 1-0, he can really get involved and stay focused throughout the game. In those moments, when he makes those saves, what is going through your mind? Are you surprised every time? Or have you gotten used to it?
First of all, obviously he has been performing very well. Since joining the club, his level of stability has probably exceeded everyone's expectations. I think he has reached a very high level, and sometimes we take some of the things he does for granted, but that is not the case, he responds at critical moments. Obviously, I think the team also deserves a lot of credit for this, because everyone's efforts to achieve this goal for three consecutive seasons are extraordinary.