TheNewsGuru

Tag: Mikel Arteta

  • EPL: Arteta reveals Arsenal’s new captain, says he has players to match Aubameyang’s quality

    EPL: Arteta reveals Arsenal’s new captain, says he has players to match Aubameyang’s quality

    Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta has revealed Alexandre Lacazette as the captain of the club following the exit of former captain, Pierre Emmerick Aubameyang.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Arteta made the revelation ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League fixture against Wolves at the Molineux Stadium on Thursday.

    Lacazette, who is set to leave the Emirates Stadium this summer when his contract expires, had put on the Gunners’ captaincy armband multiple times in the past.

    Mikel Arteta had mulled over the idea in the past, but following Aubameyang’s move to Barcelona, he finally decided to make Lacazette the captain.

    However, the Arsenal’s manager will once again have to reconsider the captaincy ahead of the 2022/23 season.

    According to express.co.uk, Lacazette’s former club, Lyon, are keen on re-signing him and bringing him back to the French Ligue 1 this summer.

    Arteta had previously created a leadership group designed to bridge the gap between players and the coaching staff.

    The players in that group will act as Arsenal’s leaders both on the pitch and in the dressing room.

    However, there has been an exodus of players from Arsenal; Aubameyang, David Luiz and Willian have all exited the club.

    Granit Xhaka who has worn the captaincy band in the past, is still considered to be one of Arteta’s leaders on and off the pitch.

    Kieran Tierney, Gabriel Magalhaes, Aaron Ramsdale and Ben White will also be in the running for the captaincy this summer.

    Meanwhile, Arteta has officially reacted to the exit of Aubameyang, stressing he has the players to match his qualities.

    He, however, owned up that the importance of Aubameyang’s goals at the club is unquestionable, adding that he is grateful for what he has done at the club.

    Arteta said: “The importance of Auba’s goals at the club is unquestionable but we have other players and we believe we have other qualities in different ways to try to accomplish the amount of goals that we need in the team and that’s what we’re going to try and do.

    “You’ve asked the question directly to me, so I’ll respond. I am extremely grateful for what Auba has done at the club, for his contribution since I’ve been here. The way I see myself in that relationship is the solution, not the problem”.

  • Why I allowed Maitland-Niles to join Mourinho – Arteta

    Why I allowed Maitland-Niles to join Mourinho – Arteta

    Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has opened up on the reason behind Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ move to Roma to play under Jose Mourinho.

    He said the player relished the opportunity to play under Mourinho and wanted to leave Arsenal due to lack of playing time.

    Maitland-Niles struggled for regular playing time at the Emirates under Arteta

    The player was not allowed to join Everton on loan last summer, forcing him to vent his frustrations on social media.

    “Ainsley came to me and explained the reasons why he thought the best thing for him and his career was to move away,” said Arteta on Friday.

    “He felt the opportunity to go to Rome and work with Jose was a good one.

    “Being fair with the amount of minutes that he’s played he was entitled to that opportunity. We wish him the best.

    “We’re very short at the moment [in midfield], but this shouldn’t be the only reason for keeping a player.

    “Ainsley was very straight with me and I understood the situation. Obviously, we’re going to move and look for options as we’re very short there.”

  • Arteta to miss New Year’s Day clash after Coronavirus test

    Arteta to miss New Year’s Day clash after Coronavirus test

    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be absent for his side’s New Year’s Day clash with Manchester City after testing positive for coronavirus.

    The Spaniard is now isolating and will be unable to attend the tea-time kick-off at the Emirates Stadium.

    A club statement read: “Mikel Arteta will miss our match against Manchester City on New Year’s Day after testing positive for COVID-19.

    “Mikel is isolating in line with Government guidelines and we wish him well.”

    Arteta is still expected to do press duties ahead of the game on Thursday.

    He previously contracted the virus in March 2020, which prompted the shutdown of English football at the start of the pandemic.

    Assistants Albert Stuivenberg and Steve Round will be in charge on match day.

    The Gunners were without a number of players during their 5-0 win at Norwich on Boxing Day due to coronavirus.

    Calum Chambers, Cedric Soares, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ainsley Maitland-Niles among those infected.

    Their game with Wolves on Tuesday was postponed due to an outbreak in Bruno Lage’s squad.

  • ‘I feel sadness’, Arteta reacts to Luiz exit

    ‘I feel sadness’, Arteta reacts to Luiz exit

    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has opened up about David Luiz’s imminent departure from the North London club, admitting he feels ‘sadness’ at the centre-back’s impending exit.

    The Gunners defender will leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires
    Mikel Arteta has opened up about David Luiz’s imminent departure from Arsenal, admitting he feels ‘sadness’ at the centre-back’s impending exit.

    Luiz will leave the Gunners on a free transfer once his contract expires at the end of the season, two years after he arrived from Chelsea.

    The decision was made after talks held last week and, whilst saying that it was a decision that suited all parties, Arteta is going to miss not having the 34-year-old around anymore.

    Paying tribute to Luiz, Arteta said: “He’s a player who has won everything in football and has earned every right to do so through who he is as a player and as a person.

    “I had the privilege to work with him for 18 months. I really enjoyed it. I think we got on really good. I think we had some great moments together. He’s been really helpful, someone who we really like and appreciate so much.

    “So I say thank you to him and wish him the best of luck in his next chapter because I’m sure knowing David that he will have many more to come as a player and in the future somehow related to the game.”

  • Aubameyang must earn his place back – Arteta

    Aubameyang must earn his place back – Arteta

    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says the internal issue involving Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been “resolved” but has warned that the forward must earn his place back in the Arsenal team.

    Aubameyang was left on the bench for Sunday’s north London derby clash with Tottenham after breaching pre-match protocols, with the Gunners subsequently earning an impressive 2-1 victory in his absence.

    The Gunners boss has revealed that the striker won’t face any further punishment ahead of the Europa League meeting with Olympiacos, but stopped short of confirming whether he will play a part in the second leg tie.

    Asked if he has closed the matter with Aubemayang behind the scenes, Arteta told his press conference: “Yes. We talked, everything has been resolved in a really positive way. So we move forward.”

    Pressed on whether the Gabon international will come straight back into his team, the Spaniard responded: “No, everybody has to obviously perform at the highest level to earn his place in the team and there is no exceptions there.We will try to put out a really competitive team to try and win the game.”

    Goal

  • William slams Arteta over Arsenal usage

    William slams Arteta over Arsenal usage

    William Saliba admits he was ‘hurt’ being frozen out by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

    The French defender, who arrived at the Emirates with much fanfare, was left out of the club’s Premier League and Europa League squads.

    Now on loan with Nice, Saliba says he was surprised by Arteta’s decision.

    “I really, really, really didn’t think that I would be transferred for €30m, to think that I would arrive, where people were expecting a lot from me, the fans excited about me and you find yourself in the reserves,” Saliba told TF1.

    “To play zero, zero nothing in the Europa League or the league. I was in the squad once in the league cup. It hurt me, it affected me.

    “I don’t think I left too early. When you feel ready you have to go. I don’t think I left too early. These things happen. I believe in myself.’”

    Pushed on his future plans, Saliba did not rule out a return to his homeland on a permanent basis.

    He added: “I am just focused on doing the absolute most and best possible for the next 6 months. After that, we will see.”

  • Arteta says Arsenal heading in right direction after United draw

    Arteta says Arsenal heading in right direction after United draw

    Mikel Arteta insisted on Saturday that Arsenal are heading in the right direction following their barren draw with Manchester United.

    The Gunners coach described their draw as a fair result in his post-match interview.

    “I thought it was a fair result,” Arteta said.

    He said this as the London club missed key players such as Bukayo Saka, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Kieran Tierney.

    The Spanish tactician, however, noted that his players failed to capitalize on big moments that could have made them winners.

    “It was a big battle, both teams wanted to win, and it was a really competitive match.

    “They had some moments in the first half, and we had the biggest moments in the second half.

    “But to make the difference you need to score when we had the big chances we had.

    “Both managers probably think we should have won it. It was a big game and we played face to face against each other.

    “Three of our best players were out and that probably has an impact, but I’m really happy with the players today.

    “It is a sign of progress. Considering the circumstances and all the players we don’t have, it was a big test for us, and I think the team turned up and showed how much they wanted to win the game”.

  • Mikel and I have spoken to Ozil – Arsenal chief

    Mikel and I have spoken to Ozil – Arsenal chief

    Arsenal chief Edu has hinted they’re trying to reach an agreement with outcast Mesut Ozil.

    World Cup winner Ozil has been left out of Arsenal’s squad for both the Premier League and Europa League despite being the club’s highest earner on £350,000-a-week.

    Edu admitted it would be a quiet January market for Arsenal but Ozil’s contract expires in the summer and they have held talks with the German midfielder looking set to leave at the end of the season.

    Edu said: “I talked to him, Mikel talked to his agent, I talked to his agent about some possibilities, not fighting, just some things to try and help each other. The way we see his future at the club, the way we see him here. It’s quite clear.

    “What makes me feel comfortable, which we treat the situation, man to man, no-one hides anything, and Mikel explained to you guys a lot.

    “People might start to ask: ‘what are you going to do in the winter window?’ Of course we will try to do something but, listen, we have the responsibility to change it. Don’t wait for someone outside to come inside and be a magician because that’s not going to happen.

    “Or if you can sign 20 players – which we’re mot going to do – but that’s not going to work anyway. So the main problem, the main thing for me, is that we, as a club, has to understand our problem. Here. That’s it. Believe, because we believe. I believe.

    “If you see our squad, to be fair, we have a strong squad. A fit Thomas, if Willian starts to perform like he always performs. If Lacazette, Aubameyang. If you see our squad, we are strong, but they depend on us.

    “Why people have to expect a magician to go ‘boom! Come here, Messi! Boom!’ No. It depends on us. No, we have to take this responsibility, it’s not about me, not about Mikel, it’s not Leno, it’s not Laca, it’s our responsibility to change it.”

  • Arsenal captain Aubameyang not undroppable – Arteta

    Arsenal captain Aubameyang not undroppable – Arteta

    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is not ‘undroppable’.

    The Gabon international has endured a tough time since signing a contract extension with the Gunners, having scored only twice in 11 Premier League appearances.

    “No one is undroppable,” Arteta said about Aubameyang before Thursday’s clash with Dundalk.

    “At the end of the day, we have to find the right players to win football matches.

    “But we cannot forget what Auba has done for this club and what he has done in recent months, not years ago.

    “As well, I see how he’s training and how he’s behaving, how much he wants to turn this situation around.

    “When I see that type of hunger, it’s about supporting the player as well as the status he has in the team because of the performances he has provided for this football club.”

  • Mikel Arteta speaks out on Luiz, Ceballos fight

    Mikel Arteta speaks out on Luiz, Ceballos fight

    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has played down reports of a fight between Arsenal team-mates Dani Ceballos and David Luiz in training – saying incidents happen all the time behind closed doors.

    The Athletic revealed on Thursday that Ceballos and Luiz had clashed after the latter had taken exception to a challenge by the Spaniard during a training ground match at London Colney.

    It was reported that Luiz hit his colleague in the face, leaving the midfielder with a scratch on his nose, although Ceballos, who is on loan from Real Madrid for the season, labelled the story as ‘fake’ on social media.

    However, Arteta reveals that there is now ‘no problem at all’ between the pair, who could both feature when the Gunners take on Leeds at Elland Road on Sunday.

    “I have got a really bad vision from far,” Arteta said with a smile. “That is why we train behind closed doors.

    “Training is very competitive and issues happen a lot of times. Those things get resolved immediately within the team and there is not much to say.”