Every word Mikel Arteta said on Arsenal vs Bayern Munich, Odegaard, Kane and returning stars

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta spoke to the press ahead of his side's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich on Wednesday night at the Emirates Stadium

Mikel Arteta faced the media ahead of Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League match with Bayern Munich. The Gunners’ side is very different to the one that was beaten last time the sides met.

The Spaniard faced questions on the challenge his side faces above all else. However, there was positive news with the return of Martin Odegaard.

For so many returning players to coincide their recoveries with such a challenging gauntlet of games, the manager gave his view on just how you reintegrate them in such a difficult period.

Here is everything that Arteta had to say to the press ahead of the game:

Big win against your rivals at the weekend, and to still feel the energy around the place after that win, can you still feel it?

Yes, I do, and we have to make sure that we carry that energy tomorrow again in the stadium, for each individual. And we play with the same dominance, aggression and efficiency against the top side.

Gabriel, Martinelli and Nani Madueke were back on the bench. Are they in contention to start tomorrow? Are they still available and are we going to expect any new players back from injury in the squad?

Yes, they are, and we're going to have a meeting now to decide as well on Martin, who was very close to us in previous games.

Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz weren't out on training today, how are they progressing?

Really good both of them, so in the next few days again I think they're going to have a scan to see how everything is and see if we can push them for the weekend.

This is the second big game in this week, the one you said you prepared for. How are you going to approach this game against Bayern Munich? Will there be squad changes or are you going to look to take momentum from that win against Spurs?

With the same intention to win it, to make a good preparation again, a really strong one but I think very efficient as well, we know the importance of the match, we are in a really strong position and we want to maintain that and we know that we have a beautiful and very demanding game ahead of us.

Bayern Munich first vs second in the league phase of the Champions League, so much attacking talent in their side of the world, players like Harry Kane and Olise. Are you looking forward to the challenge?

For sure, this is the kind of game in the competition that we want to face, and we've been very consistent in both competitions and as you mentioned they have as well. Tomorrow is a great test for us to see where we are.

Just reflecting again on Sunday and that atmosphere, I know you're talking about connection and synergy quite often in your reign here, is that the best you've experienced, that 90 minutes before and after as well?

It has to be one of the best for sure and the atmosphere and the energy was great just before the game, I think it was excellent. It makes such a difference, the players were talking about it, I hope our supporters realise what they bring, the joy, the confidence and the energy to the players. We have to maintain and improve that constantly because it's a massive superpower that we have.

During this season, on a number of occasions, the question that's been asked towards you is about set pieces. So in the spirit of fairness, all four of your goals were from open play on Sunday. Did you allow yourself a little smile, just as you're about to do now?

For me it's the same value, for me it doesn't change, everything is part of the game in relation to the opposition how you play, how you defend. And the options that we have, we have to be very efficient in all departments. I'm upset that we didn't score a set piece, because I want to score a set piece as well. I'm upset that we conceded a goal. So, yeah, it's about being the best in everything that we did in the last game.

A lot of clubs around Europe will probably view Arsenal as the toughest challenge in European football just now. When you look at Bayern Munich, in the context of your season so far, is this the biggest challenge so far?

Well, every opponent brings different challenges, obviously. They are in a great moment, I mean, the level of consistency they show in results, performances, in every metric that they have, it's very, very impressive. We know that, but as well that's a massive opportunity as well for us to show what we are capable of.

You've got Vincent Kompany in the away dugout, you know him very, very well. You coached him when he was the City captain. Did you always feel he would make a good manager? I know it might be an obvious thing to ask, because he was captain of such a big football club, but there are different qualities that are required from captain to manager. Did you notice those qualities then?

Yeah, my feeling was that Vinnie was going to be excellent at whatever he chose to do. And I'm very happy to think that it went so well for him, because he has such a presence, intelligence, love for the game, work rate. So, I knew whatever he was going to touch, he was going to make it really good, so I'm not surprised at all.

Game one of three won this week, a really tough week, of course, of games, and it coincides with you bringing back quite a few of your players that were out injured. Can you just talk about the extra challenge when you're reintegrating players in a week where the challenge is so high and the level is so high?

Especially because they've been out for a long period of time, six, seven, eight weeks, and that's quite a long time. But to be fair when I see them training today as well, and how willing they are, all of them, to play a part, ideally, if they can, it's great. So, they seem to be a good player. We have to manage that because we have a very demanding week and opponents, but the other day we managed to bring Noni in, which is great to see and the rest are ready.

What is that challenge like when the players are so keen to come back from injury and there's that real energy that they want to get back onto that pitch, and how do you temper and calm them to say, we know what's right for you and we need to introduce you in the right way?

Well, we have to look at the individuals, obviously, and make sure that they are ready to start a game like this. And the second one as well, for how long they can play. We need to be very mindful how many of those players we put on the pitch because most of them are not going to be able to finish 90 minutes. So we need to be conscious about the subs that we need to use, how we're going to use it, the windows that we have, in order to be very efficient with our decision-making throughout the game, and we'll plan in regards to that.

Mikel, you're going to have some big selection decisions now when you get these players back. An example being, obviously, Eberechi Eze, who's literally just scored a hat-trick in the position that Martin [Odegaard] normally plays. How do you see that battle, and is it something that you enjoy when you're going to have a decision between two players like that competing for the same position?

I do, because the priority is for the team to be as efficient as possible and to win football matches. That's priority number one. And they will have to deal with those situations. Players are going to have to merit to play, and the higher the standards each individual puts in, the higher the level of the team is going to be. So we're going to have to live with that in a really positive way because it's something extraordinary for the team.

Is that the sort of message that you want, that from literally Raya in goal to whoever plays up front, every position in the team is being competed for?

It is, and it has to be. And thank God that we have improved the depth of the squad and the quality compared to previous years as well, because it's going to be more needed than ever. Football this season, compared to last season, is already different to the seasons ago. It's a different league, and we need to be conscious of that. The other teams and squads in the league are built in the same way, nothing different.

Can I just ask you about Gabriel Heinze? He's joined your staff, and from the outside looking in, he looks extremely passionate, looks like he's got great energy. What would you say, from a technical aspect, he's brought to your coaching staff that you didn't have before? What is it about his specific qualities?

His experience, he's a winner, he's won in many clubs he's been at. He had a very different education as well. We've known each other for 23 years. I'm very close to that, that brings something extra. That level of passion, he probably shows it in a way, but I always show it in a different way, or Moli, or Nico, or Iñaki, and everybody that is around.

It's great, because at the end, what I'm really happy about is that we complement each other really well, and everybody brings a different insight, a different character, a different personality to the table, and that makes us a much better team. It makes me a much better coach as well, which is the intention, to have the best resources to give to the players.

It's great to see Gabriel Jesus back on the training pitch. We've all seen the videos online of him putting the ball in the back of the net. Is there any idea when you think he'll be ready to be a part of the squad?

Yeah, he's quite close, to be fair, and it's earlier than we expected. In the next few days, he's going to have another step to make with a game that we're going to organise for him, and after that, he's just going to be knocking on the door, because he's Gabi, and we know that's what's happening.

How good must it feel to lose a star player in Gabriel, and then having Hincapie come in and not miss a beat in the biggest derby of the season?

Yeah, well, big credit to Piero, because that's a massive challenge, to have your Premier League first start against your biggest rivals on a really special day, against top players up front, to replace Gabi. It's not easy at all, he did it in a really convincing way. That's his personality, as I said before.

He's a warrior, he's somebody that faces any challenge, and he certainly did on Sunday.

Do you think Arsenal is ready to be considered one of the elite European teams, or do you need to make a set like beating an already established elite European team like Bayern Munich?

I don't know, if you talk about performances and consistency, hopefully yes, but to consider that in terms of the trophies at that level, I mean, we have never won the Champions League in our history, and Bayern Munich have won it six times. So, we are not there. We compare with Real Madrid, they're a different universe.

Obviously each win for the club brings a new set of belief, and how much would beating Bayern Munich be a statement that Arsenal can challenge on all fronts this season? Because obviously there's a lot of optimism around the club, the fans and everyone.