Each word from Mikel’s Pre-Newcastle presses | Press Conference | News

Before heading up to the northeast of our Carabao Cup semi -final other stage against Newcastle United, Mikel Arteta held his press conference before the match at Sobha Realty Training Center.

The boss was asked about team news, the closure of the transfer window, his feelings on his way into the game and his plans for the break after the game.

Here’s all he had to say:

On Team News:
There is no news from the game against City, Ben (White) is still out. Hopefully after the break he will be available, Saka not yet.

On IF Bukayo Saka could be back in March:
I don’t know.

On the mood of the camp in front of the semi -finals:
The next step is a final in Wembley so we know how big it is and you can feel it right away. The boost game against City gave us the way we won it and the fact that it is a game in the competition where we are closest to a final so we will give it a real step.

On having put work into transfers that can help us in the summer:
We had a clear intention, which is always that there is a window open to explore opportunities to improve our teams with players that can affect it. We have not achieved it, so we are disappointed in that sense, but also we are very aware that we only want to get certain kinds of players, and we must also be very disciplined with it and I think we Was it.

At Newcastle is a bogey -team:
I didn’t know that word! They are a very difficult team to play against and there have been different games. We beat them at home last year in a good way, and this season has of course also been different with two very different games. It’s another option in front of us, a big one that can take us to Wembley, so I really look forward to it.

About whom his bogey team was a player:
Barcelona, ​​it was one.

At Arsenal not winning the League Cup since 1993:
In the Domestic Cup we have an incredible record, but historically (the League Cup) have been difficult and tough, so it is a good opportunity to do history again.

By not getting an attacker and being sure we can score the goals we need against Newcastle:
They are two separate things, one I think we are talking very openly from my part and a club perspective about the intention of improving the team if we have the capacity to do so. Then most importantly to continue to improve the team and individuals in the team because they are the ones we have and we love. That’s it, and from now on there is no discussion about it, and we focus on the things that we have continued to do even when the window was open.

On if he gets nervous in a semi -final as manager:
I don’t think it’s words, excited for sure. We are lean, hungry and enthusiastic because we are very close to playing in a final, and hopefully we can achieve it tomorrow.

On Myles Lewis-Skelly’s Rise:
The players will be best (placed) to express how they feel with myles in this particular game because they sit side by side, they share the pitch which is the most important thing. What I have always said is how they feel about these young players when they come in – they trust them, they feel like they are stronger with them and that is the feeling I get when we give them that option. For me they are ready in our eyes, but in the team’s feeling they feel they can be better with them.

About being responsible for Ethan Nwaneri’s development:
Very much, but with each player regardless of their age. Obviously, they each have a different component, especially when they are not even 18 years old and we have other cases in the team. As parents, I can imagine that they are dependent on us to educate them, transfer the right values ​​to them, care for them, especially protect them emotionally and physically. It is a lot of responsibility, but fortunately we share it with a lot of people and I think they are in good hands.

About the difference in self -confidence since first staple:
When you compare the team’s emotional state right after the defeat and the way it happened and how we are, it is very different today because we come from very strong performances, some good victories and especially the last home to Manchester City. So hold this momentum and after that game we get a break so this is the moment to go full throttle, ready to go after it and try to approach it the way we think is the best that is in the final .

Whether he is frustrated that the club was not undermining:
No, because when you try your best and you do things with the right process and you see the people that we all share the same intentions and will and when you haven’t achieved it, there are things to learn from it , there is always, but you have to move on. It is a piece that was important at the moment and now we have to move on and no one knows whether it is better to have done it or not and we find out at the end of the season.

Whether there is more opportunity to sign in the summer:
I don’t know what I mean about it (being disciplined) is in all in that kind of profile, in the kind of player that we think can really make us much better. Economically, there are many ways we have to live in the field that have taken us so far and from there to try to improve.

Whether he is considering nwaneri as a center forward:
We have to be very flexible in the front line, and now the ones we have in our feet make sure they stay in shape and continue to contribute. Leo can play in this position Raheem has played in this position, Ethan I think can play in this position, Martinelli can play there, so let’s see in relation to how everyone is; The moment and the opponent, but at one point we will have to try something else.

Whether he can confirm a Dubai tour after Newcastle:
I think it’s coming!

About how he will turn to the trip:
There are many things that will be the same, the location where we are staying where we train, but of course we will have to change it. We go to another moment of the season with different numbers, and the team probably needs another stimulus, so we’re preparing a few things and hopefully it seems like it has the last few times.

At Nwaneri, approaching the record for most goals that were scored before 18:
I didn’t know about that record. The only thing I want from him is that he continues to do what he has done and plays with freedom and persistence when he is on the field. He has the ability to make it happen and whether he does it or will not be a matter of time.

Whether the right player was not available in this window:
I would not like to go too much detailed. We couldn’t do it for certain reasons and we have to accept it, that’s it. It was a combination of things.

Whether he was concerned about disturbing the balance between the properties of his team:
No, it wasn’t part of it. It was not a problem with any player that we tried to find.

Whether it’s a gamble not to make the team bigger:
It’s not a gamble, it’s reality. We have to meet the reality of what we have. We have the players we have, some of them are on loans, we have never had a team of 35, 40, 45 players. So many other clubs have 45 players on their list, we don’t have that size at the moment. That’s our reality. We have had to do so much in the last few years, that’s where we are. We also have to develop there and have more and have more players from the academy, and those who are here to be fitters longer. It’s a job that is permanent. It continues to develop and we have to be on our toes.

Whether he is worried that he does not have enough figures to compete:
Now I focus on the number I have, how to maximize them, how to make the most of them. With all the problems we have already had, we are in February and I think it is remarkable what the team has done, so I have full faith in them.

Whether Kai Havertz will thrive on being the biggest striker:
Kai has played so many games and been so important when other players, also some big players, were available. So it’s not because a player doesn’t get into his position that he gets more important. In my opinion, it has nothing to do with it.