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Tag: arteta

  • How Arsenal will deal with players going to AFCON – Arteta

    How Arsenal will deal with players going to AFCON – Arteta

    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that the London club will find ‘right replacements’ for the players who will represent their countries at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

    Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ghana’s Thomas Partey, Egypt’s Mohamed Elneny and Ivory Coast’s Nicolas Pepe are the players the Gunners might release for the African tournament that will be held between January and February 2022.

    When asked about the potential absences of the players during a press conference on Thursday, Arteta said: “Let’s see where we are at that point, which players we have available and which players definitely have to be there and for how long, because there are some question marks there as well.

    “We will find a solution. If they have to leave, they have to leave. We’ll have to find the right replacements for them.”

  • Martinelli needs to swallow his ego and anger – Arteta

    Martinelli needs to swallow his ego and anger – Arteta

    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says Gabriel Martinelli must handle not being selected better.

    Without European football in 21-22, minutes will be hard to come by for the Ituano academy product.

    Arteta has already informed Martinelli of what he needs to do in order to keep himself in his manager’s good-books.

    “He came back in [from injury in December 2020] and he had an impact but there were still a lot of things that we had to work on with him,” the Arsenal boss explained in April.

    “He needs time. He is so willing and so anxious that it can block his development sometimes as well.

    “Sometimes he won’t understand my decisions but the only reason I make those is to help him, so when he gets the chance to sprint, he can sprint and when he falls, he goes again.”

    The Spaniard continued: “I want a long run with him, not just a short one and he’s in a better place now.”

    But Arteta also pointed out Martinelli’s reaction to not being selected for Gunners matches must improve, something he has had to deal with on multiple occasions this term.

    “There are a few things that have to be better and one of those is to manage when he doesn’t play,” he added.

    “You have to know how to suffer when you are on the bench. You have to be able to swallow that, all your ego and anger, all your willingness to play the game.”

  • Arteta confirms Wilshere return to Arsenal

    Arteta confirms Wilshere return to Arsenal

    Premier League club Arsenal has welcomed back Jack Wilshere to train with manager Mikel Arteta’s squad.

    The 29-year-old has been a free agent since his deal at Bournemouth expired at the end of last season.

    He spent a short time last month training with Serie B outfit Como having spoken about his lack of offers and the impact it was having on his mental health.

    Now Wilshere, who played 197 games for Arsenal over 10 years, is training predominantly with the under-23s at the club’s London Colney training centre.

    The PA news agency reports he will occasionally join in with the first team and use the opportunity to study coaching approaches in an agreement that will run until the end of January.

    “What you should believe is that we want to help Jack prepare for his next stage, physically, mentally,” Arteta told the club’s official website.

    “He wants to do his coaching badges again and we are prepared to fulfil all the needs that he wants. That is basically the idea and it is no further than that.

    “I am very happy to have him back.”

  • White and Gabriel chemistry improving – Arteta

    White and Gabriel chemistry improving – Arteta

    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is delighted with the growing “chemistry” between centre-backs Ben White and Gabriel.

    The duo have started four Premier League games together, with the 0-0 draw at Brighton being their third clean sheet.

    When asked if Gabriel and White were gelling faster than he had expected, Arteta told the Evening Standard: “Yes, because they never played together, because Gabi is still a little bit struggling with the language and they didn’t have any time to work together in pre-season.

    “They are getting a really good connection, good chemistry and I think their qualities match and compliment each other really well. I think both of them today were terrific.”

  • Lokonga: Differences between Arteta and Kompany

    Lokonga: Differences between Arteta and Kompany

    Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga is full of praise for Anderlecht coach Vincent Kompany.

    The central midfielder made the switch from the Belgian side to North London this summer and he credits Kompany for his improvement that helped seal the £17million deal.

    Lokonga told Sport Foot: “We had a great relationship, Vinnie and me.

    “He had some players of which he asked for more and I was one of them.

    “In matches, I knew I couldn’t afford to be at the same level as the others. He wanted me always to do more, to carry the team both on the pitch and off it.

    “It’s thanks to him that I got this transfer. He never let me rest and without him I wouldn’t have progressed so much.”

    On Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, Lokonga added: “In real life, it’s not exactly the same style of coach.

    “Of course, there are a lot of similarities in substance. There is the will to find the free man, to function with short and quick combinations.

    “There is also this desire to insist on the smallest details and then, more generally, what their playing philosophy.

    “However, in the form and the manner of putting it in place, it is very different. Arteta is closer to his group.

    “He participates in small training games for example, where Vinnie kept more distance. This is in no way a reproach, just an observation.”

  • I didn’t even speak with Arteta before signing – Tomiyasu

    I didn’t even speak with Arteta before signing – Tomiyasu

    Takehiro Tomiyasu admits he didn’t even speak to Mikel Arteta before agreeing to join Arsenal.

    The Japan international has impressed in his two games since joining the Gunners from Bologna on transfer deadline day.

    Speaking in the match-day programme for Sunday’s win over Tottenham, the 22-year-old defender said: “For me Arsenal is one of the biggest clubs in the world, so there is no reason at all to say no to them. It’s as simple as that – when I had the offer, I just wanted to be part of Arsenal.

    “I wanted to play at a higher level, so I am so grateful to be given this chance by Arsenal. Just could not believe it when I found out.

    “I was very excited as soon as I knew. I didn’t need to call anyone or speak to anyone for advice. It was an easy choice for me, because, well because it’s Arsenal.

    “I didn’t even have time to speak to the manager before signing the contract, and I didn’t need to. I wanted to come.”

  • Arteta salutes Arsenal fans as ‘feel-good’ factor returns

    Arteta salutes Arsenal fans as ‘feel-good’ factor returns

    The sound of Arsenal’s joyous fans chanting his name must have been music to the ears of Mikel Arteta on Sunday in London.

    This was after his youthful side swept aside London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in a 3-1 victory.

    It came a few weeks after some fans were calling for the Spaniard to be shown the door following a calamitous start to the 2021/2022 English Premier League (EPL) season.

    Arteta now appears to have turned things around.
    Three consecutive defeats, in which they conceded nine goals without scoring, left the 13-times English champions bottom of the table in late August — their worst start in 67 years.

    A couple of 1-0 wins over Norwich City and Burnley steadied the ship, but Sunday’s invigorating display had the fans in raptures as Arsenal climbed above Spurs in the table.

    And while 10th place is nothing to get excited about, they appear to be heading in the right direction while Tottenham, whose season is a mirror image, are on the slide.

    Arteta has spoken in depth about rebuilding a squad for the future and in exciting young talents such as Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka, Ben White and Kieran Tierney.

    Now, Arsenal’s fans have genuine hope of brighter things to come.

    Some of their football in a dynamic first half was sensational as goals by Smith Rowe, team captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Saka swept away a listless Tottenham side.

    The fans responded to create a buoyant atmosphere not heard at The Emirates for a long time.

    “This win is for the fans. They were there when we needed their support. We started really strongly and were determined. In the second half we had to do what we had to do,” Arteta said.

    “It’s a special day. Today is one example of what we want to do. But we have to be consistent.

    “We had great determination, great energy and great quality. I really enjoyed it. I see the belief the players have in what we do. They have the quality to put it into practice.”

    The 21-year-old Smith Rowe typified the energy in the Arsenal ranks as he scored the first goal and then set up the second for Aubameyang, while Saka, 20, continues to look a gem.

    “It’s probably the best day of my life. To have my family here as well, it’s a special feeling,” Smith Rowe said.

    “I feel like we’ve worked so hard. We had a tough start to the season. I feel like it’s going really well at the moment, but we need to keep our heads on.”

  • Arteta should never have been appointed – Gallas

    Arteta should never have been appointed – Gallas

    Former Arsenal captain William Gallas has slammed the appointment of manager Mikel Arteta.

    The Spaniard led his side to the FA Cup eight months after taking charge as Arsenal defeated Chelsea 2-1 in the final.

    But Arsenal could only muster an eighth-placed Premier League finish – a position they mirrored once again last season.

    “Last season I said he was not the right manager for Arsenal,” Gallas told Genting Casino. “I said he didn’t have experience to manage a team. And for me Arsenal made a mistake to choose Mikel Arteta.

    “He was Pep Guardiola’s assistant – but an assistant coach is not the same role as the coach because you have to make all the decisions. You have to take all the responsibility.

    “I know the fans were not happy with finishing eighth last season. Everybody wants to see how long Mikel Arteta will stay as manager.

    “The next game against Tottenham is a good test for him. After that game we will know more about his position at the club.

    “Will he be under more pressure or will he be a little bit more relaxed in his work?

    “This season he doesn’t have any excuse because they are not playing in Europe so he will have time during the week to prepare for every weekend game. They need to have a result.”

  • Arteta ‘must learn quickly’ to avoid sack – Arsenal chief

    Arteta ‘must learn quickly’ to avoid sack – Arsenal chief

    Arsenal academy chief Per Mertesacker admits manager Mikel Arteta needs to “learn quickly”.

    Arteta has overseen Arsenal’s worst start to a season in 118 years this term, the Gunners losing their opening three games, scoring zero and conceding nine in the process – but the rut appears to have stopped, at least for the time being after successive wins over Norwich and Burnley respectively.

    Speaking to The Beautiful Game podcast, Mertesacker said: “I hope Mikel gets the time that he needs.

    “When you look at it from a case of ‘first managerial job – Arsenal football club’, where you would hope you have people with experience to know how to deal with these adverse moments, how to deal with successful moments like winning the FA Cup.

    “I think sometimes it is difficult to explain but what Mikel gives you is a hell of a lot of experience as an assistant coach under Pep Guardiola – he wanted to make that next step and people, hierarchies trusted him.”

    Mertesacker did go on to concede that Arteta will be in “trouble” if he oversees another three game losing streak again.

    “He presented himself as someone who wants to lead us into these difficult moments so I could only agree but if I had known, how he reacts to difficult moments – he needs to learn fairly quickly, let’s be honest.

    “He needs to learn super, super quick because in football, and being manager of Arsenal football club – if you lose three games on the spin, you are in trouble.”

  • Wilshere knows we want to help him – Arteta

    Wilshere knows we want to help him – Arteta

    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he’s keen to help Jack Wilshere find himself a new club.

    Wilshere is on the lookout for a fresh start and has trained with Serie B side Como recently in an effort to boost his fitness.

    Speaking at his press conference ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Burnley, Arteta – who was once a team-mate of Wilshere’s – confirmed that he would join the squad at London Colney.

    He said: “We are willing to help him as much as we possibly can. He knows that and that’s the situation.”

    However, when he was asked whether there was a chance Wilshere could make a sensational return to the club he joined aged nine, Arteta was unequivocal in his response, saying: “I wouldn’t take it that far.”