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 first part of the press conference.
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After Tuesday's game, do you have any new injury concerns?
No, everyone finished the game well, and I don't think there's anything to add.
Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are of course out. How likely is it that one or both of them will return this weekend?
No chance this weekend.
Are you optimistic about seeing them play again before the end of the season?I don't know, there's still quite a lot of work to do, so if they want a chance to play even a few minutes, everything has to go very smoothly and quickly.
Before talking about West Ham United, I would like to ask you about the Champions League final. Now that you know that Paris Saint-Germain will be your opponent, of course, last season was the semi-final. That was one of the moments of "what Arsenal could have been". Has this been on your mind all the time? Does this make Arsenal welcome an almost perfect final?
That's how things are. Whether the opponent is Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain, we know the level of the opponent we will face. We know the strength they have, that's all. But obviously, we are very confident that when that moment comes, we will deliver the level we need to show.
You said you've never experienced an atmosphere like Tuesday's. Can you put into words how strong that emotion, that solidarity, is for the last four games of the season?
It is crucial, huge, and indispensable, because when the audience enters that emotional state and establishes that level of connection with the players, everything they can provide is simply incredible. The players described this feeling: they are the most important people, they described that they had never felt that way in the stadium, and the fans made them better.
In that atmosphere, the "celebration police" were dispatched after the game and in the following days. I don't know if you are aware of this, but in some circles, some people criticized Arsenal's way of celebrating at the end of the game. What do you think of these criticisms? Do you care?
First of all, I didn't know about this, I really didn't know. I think you have to respect every point of view and put them where they belong.
Where would you put them?
Put them where they belong. I don't know, that doesn't matter.
You said last week that there is a "siege mentality" in your character. Does all the noise or criticism make you, the players, and even the fans stronger in solidarity?
I assume that there are both positive and negative criticisms. I assume that's the case. I won't talk about the criticism itself. It is both positive and negative. It is these things that make you better. When you want to set higher standards and performance levels, so that you have the opportunity to compete for the two most prestigious events in Europe, you must be prepared for it, because you know the challenges and difficulties involved. It does make you better, that's for sure.
I'm sure that after everything that happened on Tuesday, now the atmosphere around the training ground will be very active. Do you need to do anything to refocus the players for Sunday's game, or are they already on autopilot and know what the next task is?
We had a conversation immediately after the game, which was great, such a wonderful moment. This is what we have won, and we will have time to prepare and prepare for that final. But now, the focus, attention, details, energy, everything must be invested in the game against West Ham United. There is nothing else besides that game. We have made this clear.
Mikel, one last question. Every week when I talk to you, there is one less game to play, and one less game to play. You are now so close to your goal...
Thank God, because if there were more games...
You are now so close to your goal, with four games left in an extraordinary season. This may be a historic season, because the club has never done it before. What are your feelings? What is the message you want to convey to the players and possibly to the fans?
Stay in the moment, live in the moment, be prepared, and show the same level of energy, hunger and desire that we have shown throughout the season, or even more. Because, as you said, we are getting closer and closer, and everything we do now will determine whether we can win the championship.
Can I ask about Lewis-Skelly's performance against Fulham? This is the first time you have let him start in midfield , and he also performed well in the game against Atletico Madrid. Can you walk us through the timing of the decision and how confident you were in him in that position before these games?
I think it's a process of potentially understanding him better, while he's also understanding the standards required when you're on or off the pitch at this level of the game, to understand the reasons why you're on or off the pitch. And then he's been outstanding all the time, his attitude, the way he trains, the way he supports the guys when he's not playing. He gave us all the indications that we thought when we gave him the opportunity, he would respond in that way. But after he did it - which is not easy, especially when you haven't played that many games - it was amazing to see him play so fresh, so confident, so energetic, with that determination.
Saka scored a goal on Tuesday. It hasn't been easy for him in terms of injuries, but overall, you and Bukayo have worked together for many years. How enjoyable is it to work with Bukayo as a player and as a person?
A joy. I feel very lucky, I've said from the beginning, to find someone you can rely on at any level of the club and know he's going to respond, know his heart's in the right place, know everything he does transcends certain values, certain education and certain principles, it's always been a joy. On a human level, I think we all understand him; on a football level, what he has provided for this club, and how he performed the other night was extraordinary.