Watch and Learn - Mikel Arteta on Arsenal's Premier League title hopes

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ML, good to see you as always. Um,

ML good to see you as always Um

obviously every game is is an

opportunity. Every three points is

opportunity Every three points is

massive between now and the end of the

season, but Arsenal versus Liverpool,

season but Arsenal versus Liverpool

>> the league leaders versus the reigning

champions, you know, coming to your

champions you know coming to your

house to the Emirates Stadium. Is this a

house to the Emirates Stadium Is this a

game where you circle weeks in advance

and go this is a big one?

and go this is a big one

>> Yeah, it is special. It is different.

>> Yeah it is special It is different

It's just after all the Christmas period

as well. Uh, is against the champions

as well Uh is against the champions

and uh it's a massive game for us and uh

we're really excited. We're looking

we're really excited We're looking

forward to it. We know what we have to

forward to it We know what we have to

do. We know the atmosphere that we're

do We know the atmosphere that we're

going to have in front of our supporters

as well to generate an an incredible

energy in this stadium and um it's a big

opportunity for us.

opportunity for us

>> Yeah. You often speak about the context

>> Yeah You often speak about the context

that your team has to go through. And

that your team has to go through And

how much does this game drive you with

the context that this is Liverpool, the

the context that this is Liverpool the

the trophy that you want, they have it

the trophy that you want they have it

right now?

right now

>> How much does that drive you and the

team?

team

>> It's driving us every single day because

that's that's the aim. That's the

that's that's the aim That's the

objective. That's the dream. And uh

objective That's the dream And uh

we're working towards that uh for a lot

of months. Still so many to go and you

of months Still so many to go and you

have to take that daily and and

tomorrow's game is a is a really

important one obviously.

important one obviously

>> Yeah. on this very day last year you

>> Yeah on this very day last year you

were six points behind Liverpool. Now

were six points behind Liverpool Now

you have a six-point lead yourself. Does

you have a six-point lead yourself Does

this season just feel that little bit

difference or how different does it feel

compared to one year ago?

compared to one year ago

>> Well, it is different. Obviously, you're

>> Well it is different Obviously you're

talking about uh just the table, but

talking about uh just the table but

there are a lot of things that are

different that hopefully we have

improved. uh we have shown a huge level

improved uh we have shown a huge level

of consistency throughout the the league

and in all competitions with a lot of

issues and different aspects that we that

we have and challenges that we had

around it and u yeah now we need to we

need to continue to do what we're doing

>> yeah let's go through some of those

differences so normally at this time of

year the Christmas period December early

January has been in the last couple of

years when your team has slightly

dropped off in terms of points in terms

of attacking quality but this season is

very different. You you scored seven

very different You you scored seven

goals in in two games and things seem to

be really clicking in attack at the

moment. What what do you put that down

moment What what do you put that down

to?

>> Again, there are moments and the more

>> Again there are moments and the more

you win and the more players are with

with the right level of confidence. We

with the right level of confidence We

have recovered a lot of players in the

front line apart from Kai. Uh they are

front line apart from Kai Uh they are

all in a really good moment. They are

all in a really good moment They are

contributing with goals with um threat

with assist where they are starting or

finishing games as well which is very

very positive as well. So, we have very

very positive as well So we have very

good options and um and yeah, as you

good options and um and yeah as you

said, the team is clicking.

said the team is clicking

>> Yeah. Does that then this form set you

>> Yeah Does that then this form set you

up really well for a different transfer

window that you've had? Does does the

window that you've had Does does the

transfer window feel different compared

to a year ago?

to a year ago

>> Well, we have some really bad news last

>> Well we have some really bad news last

year in this period. We lost Gabi Jesus

year in this period We lost Gabi Jesus

with an ACL for one year and then we

lost Kai Havertz for four months. Uh that

lost Kai Havertz for four months Uh that

was a a huge blow that you have to deal

with for u for many many months and uh

obviously that put a lot of pressure on

the team.

the team

>> Yeah, your man management has actually

>> Yeah your man management has actually

been praised quite a lot recently in

terms of squad rotation. For example,

terms of squad rotation For example

Declan Rice not rushing him back to play

against Aston Villa and maybe taking a

risk there but maybe in previous seasons

you you might have done Bukayo Saka

starting on the bench against

Bournemouth. Are you almost learning

Bournemouth Are you almost learning

from previous seasons in terms of how to

rotate these players?

rotate these players

Yes, but as well are the options that

Yes but as well are the options that

you have available. Sometimes you do

you have available Sometimes you do

want to do to do that and you are not

available to do that. And this season

available to do that And this season

for example, we we had games that we

for example we we had games that we

wanted to rotate in the backline and we

didn't have options to do at the

beginning of the season. It was with the

beginning of the season It was with the

front line. Now the team is more stable.

front line Now the team is more stable

Uh the availability is much better as

well and and the options are there. And

well and and the options are there And

then the players are giving us and

giving me every single um uh

message that we need to trust them and

they can play in any context and perform

really well and and win games.

really well and and win games

>> Yeah, it was interesting you say last

>> Yeah it was interesting you say last

week that you have to change your

protocols with regards to Biyo and and

sort of how many minutes he has to play.

sort of how many minutes he has to play

What did you mean by that?

What did you mean by that

>> Well, we have to be very very smart. You

>> Well we have to be very very smart You

know, the amount of minutes that he's

know the amount of minutes that he's

played, you know, the load that he's

played you know the load that he's

going through as well. Um it's unique at

going through as well Um it's unique at

his age I would say and since he started

with us and u I wanted to protect him to

get the best out of him which is the the

ultimate goal.

ultimate goal

>> Yeah, because you have Noni Madueke there

>> Yeah because you have Noni Madueke there

now he scored twice against Club Brugge

and then was an unused substitute for the

next three Premier League games. Now you

next three Premier League games Now you

have Eboué the last four games he's he's

not been able to get off the bench. What

not been able to get off the bench What

do you say to those players during those

moments where you know they've come to

the club but they haven't been able to

get the minutes that maybe they would

have thought they had before? Well,

have thought they had before Well

because we are looking a very short

period of time, but Noni has played a lot

period of time but Noni has played a lot

of games. EPS has played more games with

of games EPS has played more games with

us now than he ever played before

January, you know. So again, if they

January you know So again if they

have any doubts, give them clarity,

have any doubts give them clarity

paint the context, the reason why

paint the context the reason why

they're here, the way they are

they're here the way they are

contributing and they've been incredibly

good to handle and to manage uh because

they want it so badly and they know that

with the squad that we have, they're

with the squad that we have they're

going to be moments for for all of them.

going to be moments for for all of them

When you have it, take it and that's

When you have it take it and that's

what they've been doing. Yeah, obviously

what they've been doing Yeah obviously

Victor Okore has taken his time to to

settle into the Premier League and

Christian Nørgaard's maybe another player

who hasn't played as much minutes as

maybe he would have won. I just wanted

maybe he would have won I just wanted

to ask when you're a new player joining

Arsenal, what do you think the biggest

Arsenal what do you think the biggest

challenges are both on and off the pitch

because it seems like such a complex

tactical setup with players who've been

there for years and years and years, but

there for years and years and years but

also at the same time you have to deal

with the pressure for playing Arsenal

for as well. Well, depending on who you

for as well Well depending on who you

are. I mean, if you are Victor, so you

are I mean if you are Victor so you

said um I always do that exercise with

the players or you come to a new

country. Do you speak the language? Yes

country Do you speak the language Yes

or no? What is your family situation?

or no What is your family situation

Because then he was very protected. He

Because then he was very protected He

comes here and he's exposed on his own.

comes here and he's exposed on his own

He needs to leave five months in a

hotel. Then you start to come here and

hotel Then you start to come here and

the schedule changes. You have to play

the schedule changes You have to play

every three days in the most demanding

league in the world that you never

played before.

played before

uh then is a different system, a

uh then is a different system a

different methodology, different

different methodology different

teammates that are nine needs that

synergy and that chemistry um with them

and then becomes the environment, the

and then becomes the environment the

pressure and the expectation. So it's a

pressure and the expectation So it's a

lot of factors to

>> to handle and they are really young men

uh but they all have an amazing attitude

towards it. they understand that it's

towards it they understand that it's

part of the journey and the fact that it

doesn't or it goes really well in the

beginning doesn't mean that it's going

to stay like this as well for months of

years. So, it's something that you have

years So it's something that you have

to earn and tweak constantly and um and

it's like shaping a pencil every single

day and and we are here and we are

responsible to help them to do that to

get the best out of them. when when when

get the best out of them when when when

you have players who maybe aren't

playing as much or maybe are not playing

as well as as as they like more players

such as Keera Balaga as well. He's had

such as Keera Balaga as well He's had

to be patient and wait his time

alongside Nani alongside EZ. What do you

alongside Nani alongside EZ What do you

see from them in the training ground

when they're not playing so well?

when they're not playing so well

>> Well, my judgment on a player is

>> Well my judgment on a player is

understanding how he's fulfilling his

role. Kea

role Kea

>> 10 out of 10.

>> 10 out of 10

>> Yeah.

>> Yeah

>> For his role, what he has to do, why

>> For his role what he has to do why

he's doing unbelievable. Christian,

he's doing unbelievable Christian

unbelievable. Victor very good. Okay, he

unbelievable Victor very good Okay he

can score more goals. But all the other

can score more goals But all the other

aspects is extraordinary, you know. And

aspects is extraordinary you know And

uh and the thing that are nonnegotiable

are the attitude, the energy, the

are the attitude the energy the

willingness to to win, to support the

willingness to to win to support the

teams. All this is is it has to be done.

teams All this is is it has to be done

The rest is just moments as well because

it's football.

it's football

>> Yeah. We've spoken about Nani and and

>> Yeah We've spoken about Nani and and

Eberz not playing as many minutes, but

Eberz not playing as many minutes but

then there's a flip side to it because

then you see Biyoka in great form.

then you see Biyoka in great form

Martin Ødegaard seems to be back to his

very best. How much are they impacted by

very best How much are they impacted by

those guys being around the building and

place compared to what you had in

previous seasons?

previous seasons

>> Well, that's a reality as well when you

>> Well that's a reality as well when you

talk about those players and the way

they are playing. It's um yeah, it's

they are playing It's um yeah it's

difficult to to find the right moment to

to play that much. But the same with

to play that much But the same with

Declan, you know, Declan is doing

Declan you know Declan is doing

incredibly well, but he's playing a lot

incredibly well but he's playing a lot

of minutes, but somebody else is playing

of minutes but somebody else is playing

less minutes.

less minutes

>> Yeah. Uh the fact is Mikel when he hasn't

>> Yeah Uh the fact is Mikel when he hasn't

played that many he has to play as a

nine. He was extraordinary. That's what

nine He was extraordinary That's what

we need.

we need

>> Yeah. But have you seen a difference in

>> Yeah But have you seen a difference in

Biyoka and Martin this season because

there's been two people who are more

closer to their level than than previous

season?

season

>> I know those two they've been quite

consistent to be fair the last few

years. But uh yeah it's always positive

years But uh yeah it's always positive

because it always raises the bar

>> and training the standards are are

higher. I think you learn as well from

higher I think you learn as well from

your teammate with all the qualities

that they bring, the way they operate,

that they bring the way they operate

the way they do all the things and uh

and that's uh really good.

and that's uh really good

>> The next 12 days, you've got four

>> The next 12 days you've got four

competitions, five games and four

competitions five games and four

competitions. Do you as Arsenal manager

competitions Do you as Arsenal manager

have a priority for which competition

sits?

sits

>> Yeah, the next game.

>> Yeah the next game

>> Yeah. And that's the only way to look at

>> Yeah And that's the only way to look at

it because you can start to think and

plan okay in three games in four games

the reality and and what this league

shows you as well is is today is now and

what we can predict

most of the time is pretty different to

to what we have to face as well. So

to what we have to face as well So

>> take it have an overall idea I think is

very important because at the end we

need to plan certain things but uh then

there is a moment as well that you have

to follow your gut.

to follow your gut

>> Yeah. You're not going to give much to

>> Yeah You're not going to give much to

date too much detail into the overall

idea, are you?

idea are you

>> No.

>> No

>> No. Perfect. Uh at Anfield, you lost

>> No Perfect Uh at Anfield you lost

against Man City. You drew. Now, a lot

against Man City You drew Now a lot

of people say that in order to claim

Premier League titles in the second half

of the season, you have to claim those

of the season you have to claim those

big big wins. Is that how you see it?

big big wins Is that how you see it

And also, is tomorrow one of those

And also is tomorrow one of those

games?

games

>> Depending on the league. With Man City,

>> Depending on the league With Man City

we won the league without winning those

games,

games

>> you know, but and sometimes winning all

>> you know but and sometimes winning all

of them. So, at the end, you're going to

of them So at the end you're going to

you're going to need a certain amount of

points um to win it. Uh what we really

points um to win it Uh what we really

want is win tomorrow.

want is win tomorrow

>> And finally, if you had a message for

>> And finally if you had a message for

Liverpool who are coming to your house,

Liverpool who are coming to your house

who are coming to your stadium, 60,000

who are coming to your stadium 60000

people at the Emirates Stadium, what

people at the Emirates Stadium what

message would you give to Liverpool?

message would you give to Liverpool

>> No, my message to is to my players and

>> No my message to is to my players and

and to our supporters, which is

and to our supporters which is

tomorrow. Uh bring all the energy that

tomorrow Uh bring all the energy that

you have, bring all the passion that you

you have bring all the passion that you

have and and go for it.

have and and go for it

>> Perfect. Good luck with it. Thank you.

>> Perfect Good luck with it Thank you

Thank you.

Thank you

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