Arsenal will host Leeds United in the sixth round of the Premier League. Ahead of the match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta attended a press conference. This article covers the first part of the press conference.
I've been waiting for this opportunity because this major news surrounding Man City has been very difficult for everyone involved. We're trying to ask all Premier League managers. Obviously, you are an experienced Premier League manager. What is your response to the current situation? The appeal is still being processed, but so far, the ruling is guilty...
Alright. Yes, I completely understand the question, but obviously, I think it is very important that we respect the entire legal and judicial process. I believe it is important to respect the relevant procedures and timelines, particularly because this remains an ongoing, unresolved matter and an appeal has been filed. My position, and the clear position of our club, is that we will not comment further on this matter until it has been fully and finally resolved.
Regarding the football itself, I'll ask one last question—not about the legal issues, but about the competitive side of football. Obviously, they still appear to be your biggest rivals for the Premier League title. Does all this noise and external distraction surrounding a football team make the title challenge more difficult, or does it inspire them to perform better?
I don't know; that's not something we can control. What we can control is how we've prepared since all the international players returned, working to get into the best possible shape to perform better than Leeds United tomorrow and beat them. That's where all our focus is.
Congratulations on these big weeks for you, including your new contract—you could potentially be managing here for over 10 years. We haven't had a chance to ask you about it in person yet; how do you feel about it?
Well, I feel incredibly honored. My family and I are very grateful to be able to continue this incredible journey, which began almost seven years ago. I really enjoyed the entire process—not just the final outcome of signing—because both sides need to reach a consensus and resolve issues, and, as I said from the beginning, the club and I want exactly the same things. But I particularly appreciated the professional way it was handled, which I think is very important.
I always say that when you're negotiating and trying to plan for the future, the most important thing is at the moment you're about to sign the contract—to look around at everyone in the room and see the smiles on their faces and the excitement in their eyes. This is especially what I felt from Stan Kroenke and Josh Kroenke, and then Richard Garlick, our CEO, James, Andrea Berta, our Sporting Director—who was also present—and of course the coaching staff and players. That's it; now you have to re-earn this qualification every day to continue to maintain this level, stay in this position, and make the most of it.
If all goes according to plan, you will be here for at least 10 or 11 years. There's a lot of talk about the word "dynasty" now—do you see it that way, too? It's an ongoing process...
Yes, but as I said, it is something you have to earn every day through hard work. We understand the level of competition now, we know what the standards are, and we know what is expected of us. But the beautiful thing is that our passion, enthusiasm, and energy levels are even higher than before, and this is what we all want to achieve together. It is a huge opportunity in front of us.
You've already won one major trophy and come very close to another, but what are you most proud of—especially regarding the changes made to the club and how the fans see it? Someone—though not you—once used the word "broken" to describe the club's situation when you first arrived, and you fixed it. Is that your proudest achievement?
Yes, what I'm most proud of is how we all did this together. Now everyone feels part of a very tightly connected whole, and the club has a clear identity and vision, along with a clear path forward and a shared understanding of where we are going. I think that's extremely important.
Following up on the contract question: you could potentially coach for a very long time. For example, after 10 years, you would still be younger than Emery is now; after 20 years, you would be only one year older than Mourinho or David Moyes are now and younger than Ancelotti. After 20 years, you would still be three years younger than Wenger was when he left. So, Mikel, another 20 years?
The focus is on today and, hopefully, tomorrow—that's how we approach this job. As I said, I think the most important thing is to enjoy the journey, and it's the biggest lesson I've learned over the past seven years. During this time, the greatest gift I've received has been the people around me, who have stood by my side, made me feel loved and allowed me to enjoy what I do.
Now comes the part you also dislike: injury updates! The injury list seems to be growing, which is concerning. I believe some players are fine, but in Rice’s case, his playing time has been managed, and his leg condition is being monitored. Is he fit to play tomorrow?
Yes, we have to manage him properly because he's had some minor injury issues since returning from the World Cup. We're aware of the number of matches he's played in the past three years, so it's a wise decision to do so. Yes, hopefully he can play tomorrow, and there are a few other players whose availability is still in doubt.
Konsa, Havertz and Tzolis all returned early. What’s the latest on those three?
Well, regarding Havertz, because he had a muscle injury, I spoke with Jürgen Klopp, and they immediately sent the player back, which is normal practice. Konsa also had some minor injuries, and we had good communication with the England training camp about them. Who was the other one?
Tzolis?
In terms of him, due to muscle injury, I suppose he might be absent for a few weeks.
So, is his situation the worst?
Yes, he cannot play.
What's the situation with Hincapié and Mosquera?
Yes, both of them are available. They worked incredibly hard to be ready for the game against Brighton. We ultimately decided not to play them, particularly given how we needed to play in the final minutes, but they are both available now.
Is Ben White also available?
Yes.
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