Every word Mikel Arteta said on Leeds vs Arsenal, Saliba, Timber, rule change and Dowman

Here is every word Mikel Arteta said ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League trip to Leeds United.

Mikel Arteta spoke to the press ahead of Arsenal’s match with Leeds United in the Premier League. There was some good news regarding the availability of some players, like William Saliba and Jurrien Timber, who missed the match with Kairat Almaty.

Kai Havertz also returned to the squad, and there was a consciousness about how his knee would respond after starting for the first time in 357 days. There was also an additional focus on the expansion of Premier League squads to fall in line with the Champions League group.

Arteta spoke passionately on that subject, even begging the authorities to consider this. The Spaniard has been forced to leave several players out of the group.

Here is every word from Mikel Arteta’s pre-match press conference:

Any fresh injury worries after Wednesday night?

No, we didn't have any surprises there, and hopefully we'll be able to train well today and have another one for tomorrow.

Jurrien Timber and William Saliba, of course, were part of that squad in midweek, are they OK?

Yeah, they are okay. Obviously, they have played a lot of minutes, they've been carrying a few niggles, and it was a really good opportunity for us to offload them a little bit and refresh them.

The news that broke this morning, great news for you, Max Dowman signed a pre-contract agreement ahead of his first professional contract, and he'll be 17 at the end of this year. Can you just put into words how happy you are and what message that sends from this football club?

Yeah, it's a proud moment to see him yesterday signing that deal in front of his family and his loved ones, and it would be great to everybody that has been involved in that journey with him to bring him all the way to the first team, and especially in the manner that they've done it. And now we have an amazing talent that day by day I think we need to shape because there's so much there.

Can you just reflect on the past week, because I'm guessing you might have had to have lifted the players after Sunday, I know you've spoken about it pre the Kairat game, how much did Wednesday night help though just to dispel everything that happened last week?

Well, it's just understanding where you are, certainly when you lose a game you have a lot of feelings, because especially this group of players are so competitive and they seek for excellence, and when you don't reach it you ask yourself questions, and we did that, but I think my role there as well is to bring optimism and reality of where we are, and our club has a long, long history, and to find a moment when in February we are in the position that we are is very difficult to find, so guys we are doing so many things so well, and let's focus mainly on that, and for sure we want to improve, we want to be better in every area, but with that sense as well of self-confidence and conviction that we are on the right path.

You said you needed to bring optimism and reality, did anyone need to lift you?

No, in this moment no, normally I'm the opposite, and when we are doing so well I'm there with a stick to say this is not good enough, this is not good enough, the other day no, because I know how much they wanted the amount of games and the demands that we put on those players every day, and those moments they need to understand and feel that we are right behind them, that I'm mainly responsible for that, and that they keep playing with that freedom, with that enjoyment as I discussed the other day, and make sure that that journey is beautiful, because what is ahead is great, and everybody has to be a part of that, but in a good sense and with good humour and with optimism and looking forward to it.

Can I ask you about Martin Odegaard and his form, it's one goal and three assists, I know numbers can say one thing and performance is another, is there any part of you that's concerned and is there any part of you that is thinking about maybe to take him out of the firing line a little bit and rest him?

So, those are the numbers, but we have to give the full numbers as well, that he's played much less minutes than any other season as well, because he's been three times injured, that's the reality, we want to improve that for sure, and we want him affecting the game in the area that we can win football matches, that's for sure, but if you know Martin and how he works every single day, I have no doubt that that will come.

After nearly a year, Kai Havertz made his first start, is he ready to go again and start against Leeds, is he fit enough, is he strong enough?

Yeah, he's ready, obviously he started the day, obviously it's been a long period and now we need to manage that load and the games that we're going to select for him to start, but there was no reaction to that, I think it was super positive, you could see straight away the impact that he can have in the team, so yeah, he's ready.

Just a final one from me, just on Kai, how do you think he's going to help the other strikers in the team, not only just for the load, but also to know that they've got that competition back again?

More than the competition, which I understand we have different characteristics with the nines, but as well Kai can play in different positions and his main quality is that he makes you better somehow, the way he moves, communicates with you, gives you information, moves around, he's a very difficult player to mark and especially he opens up a lot of spaces for the rest of the players, so I think they're going to be very happy to have him around.

Just touching on that again, Kai Havertz and Gyokeres, they seem to have a connection, immediately Havertz turned, ruled the pitch, got the assist, Lloris returned the favour, took the defender away to Havertz' goal. When you signed Gyokeres initially, did you have that in mind to have Havertz behind him in the left centre space? And how much do you think that will change your midfield, because obviously someone will also have to come out, is that something you're comfortable to do?

Yes, so while we knew when we signed Viktor as well that Kai was going to be out for a long period and Gabi Jesus was nowhere near, so we hoped that this relationship was going to build in the right way, but we didn't know when. So the other night we saw a lot of positive things, obviously it will depend on the opponent and how they behave, what formation they use, but there are options that are obviously really, really positive to the team, whether he plays as a line, as an attacking midfielder, and to other combinations, whether it's at the start or throughout the game, I think it's something very good and it can impact the game in a really powerful way.

You've spoken so highly of Norgaard, you've mentioned another player, his ability to make everyone around him better on and off the pitch, you said his preparation is top tier. He said himself it's a big squad when everyone's talking about his minutes and that will probably help towards this end of the season and everything you're competing for. When you're picking your matchday squad and he's not in it, what is the thought process behind that?

At the moment there are two or three players that have to be out of the squad, that's a reality, I cannot change that, these are the rules of the Premier League next season, instead of 18 outfield players, hopefully, it will do 20, I beg them from here, like it's in the Champions League, because it's much better to manage the squad, to maintain the value of the players, to maintain the mental health of the players, because nobody wants to get out of the squad, so I beg them that if we can, between all of us, help us on that, we can bring them, we can deal with hotels, travels and all that, and that would be very, very helpful for everybody, because that's the worst thing when you need to leave somewhere. But at the end you have positions played, I can play in various positions and you cannot overload certain positions and weaken them, so that's normally the process to make that decision, because it's never about, if, it's about how he trains, how he behaves, how he talks, how he helps everybody, it needs to be in every minute of every game.

Finally, Brando Bailey-Joseph came on, had a debut, another 17-year-old, there's a lot of talk in the Premier League about youngsters, promoting people from the academy, but I don't think people realise how big the jump actually is. In your management style, what are you looking for to separate a youngster who's actually ready?

Another two spots in the squad, that's great as well, so we can bring more young players, more solutions, more happiness there at the right moment, so that's something that's only going to help. So hopefully we can do that, but it's great, at the end they need to understand and especially feel that that door is open, that the dream is possible, and they've been training with us now for a few days, and we find the right moments so that we need to get them that taste, and then we have to see how they behave in that environment. It's the only way to understand whether they can contribute to the team or not.

There’s been a lot of talk about how you don't have a clear scorer in the Premier League, but how important will the return of Riccardo Calafiori potentially be because of his unpredictability and to help unlocking those boards?

Yeah, well, Richy has been instrumental in the way especially that we attack, and he has unique qualities to occupy spaces and to create things that probably the qualities of the other full-backs are different, so when we need them, they will be there. Now he's fit, he's available, and we'll have to wait and see when we can use him.

Congratulations on the Max agreement. We heard previously that he suffered an injury similar to Mosquera, who's since returned to the squad, so I'm curious, what's the timeline with Max's return now?

Well, a little bit more than Mosquera's. Obviously, we need to be, as well, he's growing, and we need to be very careful and a little bit more protective. He has a different schedule as well because he needs to go to schools and that, so we need to respect a lot of things throughout that process, but I think he's quite close. He's on the pitch now, he's doing well, and hopefully we're going to be able to see him soon.

On Martin as well and his form at the moment. I noticed on the field that he drops quite deep sometimes to try and link the play and get the ball. You mentioned earlier how you want him to get into the positions that he's going to affect the game more.

When he does drop into those deeper roles, is that by design or is that as a result of others not doing certain things, and he needs to get into those areas?

It's a bit of his nature, and my nature is to go to the opposite side, but we need to respect as well the qualities and the talent of players, and within that, they need to feel as well the freedom in attack, especially to do what they believe is best there.

You've had a fair few academy players obviously come into the first team, if it made his debut really young too. Where does Max rank in the academy players you've seen come through? In terms of talent or...

Yeah, well, certainly one of the best. I mean, what he's done with us at the age of 15, me personally, I haven't seen it before. Only with a guy that used to play in Barcelona, but maybe not even that.

But yeah, he certainly has, not only that, he has a certain charisma as well and personality that he doesn't get overwhelmed, whether it's by the situation or the stadium or the opposition, and that's a huge quality to have.

When you're sitting down with players like him, an academy player, trying to get them to sign a contract, how important are players like Bukayo as an example, as the pathway is there for them?

Well, the fact that obviously we have very good examples at the club, it is very helpful. Then it's not only the players as well, but the family as well, because obviously they're a crucial part of their education and their development, and we are very responsible of that. But it's been great.

He's got a great family. The communication between us has been very, very productive over the years, and now I think they trust what we're going to do with him, and now it's down to him and us to build an amazing career with him.

Just on the long-pitch relationships and connections with how busy January has been, I mean, a game every three days, no midweek off, how much time have you actually had to figure out those new connections and work on them? Because yeah, it just seems like there's been no time to figure it out.

To work very little, unfortunately, because we haven't had time. And obviously the availability of the players are crucial in relation to that. But yeah, constantly build that.

Now we have some new ones as well, with some of the players that in the last few weeks have been available, and learn quickly. The quicker we learn, the better, because we'll know what is more effective against certain opponents as well, and we'll be better.

And on that, with the first goal the other night, I think the word you've used quite often is vertical, in terms of when Arsenal played well, and that seemed that they were very vertical. How pleasing was that, and would you like to see that type of football more?

Yeah, it depends what the game needs. You can be vertical when the opponent behaves in a certain way, when they have ten players inside the box, you cannot be vertical. You can maybe shoot from the edge, or create chaos in the box, or do something different, or generate set-pieces.

So if they want to defend there, make sure they defend there, but with six, seven players inside the box. So it depends on how the opposition behaves, and the opportunities that you have in relation to space and time.

We talk a lot about the fine margins in the title race, I just wondered what your reaction was when City signed Guehi and Semenyo this month?

That's business, I don't know. I know what they're going to do, and what they've been doing over the last 10, 15 years, so obviously no surprise. They want to win, and they will do everything to win.

They look like players to win now, signing players who know the league. Does it make you look at the last few days of the window any differently?

Not because of them, because if we have any issues we need to be on top of that. But that's not a surprise, they did as well last year, very aggressively when it was needed. We have our ambitions, but as well we have our own restrictions, and we need to know that we have to do what we can do, and what we believe is the right thing to do.

Pep's called Arsenal the best team in the world last week, he's also talked about how they have the sort of know-how to win the title, so I'm implying there's a difference there between City and Arsenal. Do you think he's playing mind games with you a little bit?

With me? I don't think so.

Do you still talk, even though you're rivals?

Yeah, I don't talk [with him] like with my wife every three days, but we talk generally, and I think he talks about how he feels, and that's it. If there are mind games, there are mind games, but I don't pay too much attention, because at the end you have to go on the pitch and deliver.

Do you think people would find it surprising that you can maintain that relationship and yet be rivals at the same time?

For me, the surprising thing would be to not to, and I think it would be a really bad example for sport. I think in sport you have to learn, and probably the biggest lesson that sport has given us is the relationship, for example, that Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer had, and I'm not at that level at all, but one of the best in the history, or the two best, one of the sportsmen, the relation they have between them when they have to play final, one against one, against each other. So how the hell am I not going to have a great relationship with someone that I admire, I work with, and he's a colleague?

But the same with any other opponent. When it goes to the court, or to the pitch, that's for the winner.

You spoke quite a bit after last weekend's game about the need to enjoy the position that you're in as a group. It seems from the outside that there was a bit of a psychological reset. Have you spoken at all about maybe a tactical reset? Is that something that you think is required?

Well, depending on the game, three days before Manchester United, no. In the first half an hour against Manchester United, no. The way we give the ball again against Manchester United, big yes.

So, depending on the action, depending on the moment of the game, and the way we can see the two goals, big yes.

Declan Rice is about to make his 300th Premier League appearance tomorrow. How proud are you of him for reaching such a proud milestone?

Yeah, especially at the age that he's doing that, I don't know how many players they've done that so early. So that shows the consistency, the professionalism that he has, because to be able to play only at this level is already a big thing. But as well, the manner and the performances that he's put in throughout those 300 games.

And the second question is, only Arsenal and Chelsea have scored more set-piece goals than Leeds in the Premier League. How do you nullify that threat tomorrow?

Well, first of all, understanding what they do. Conceding very little, that's the best way for sure. And if we do concede, it's just to defend with your lives and good organisation to try to prevent that happening.

Just picking up on your relationship with Pep, do you think it sort of shows that maybe times have changed? Because obviously back in the day, say, Arsenal obviously didn't have a very good relationship with Pep, but really at each other's throats.

Do you think that's just a sign of the times now that there's maybe less rivalry in sport than there once was?

I don't know about in that relation, it was different. I've known Pep since I was 15 and I live four and a half years with him every single day. So it is different, but I'm sure that Pep had great relationships as well with Enzo [Maresca], which I'm very aware of.

And they work and they can be rivals, because what is the type of person that you have and the relationship that you build? But the same will happen with a player. I have players here and then I have to play against Granit [next weekend] and I love Granit to bits.

And if I have to play on the pitch, we go to war, because I know how it is as well. But outside that, if I can help them with anything, I'm there for sure.

Just picking up on something else you said earlier about him, to expand the Premier League and how this affects players' mental health if they're not selected. What do you mean by that? Do you see firsthand that it's quite damaging if a player isn't selected?

Because we have a really unique job, which is we have the ability to transform somebody's life, career, which is great. But as well, every week we have to tell somebody, tomorrow you don't do the job. You're not even allowed to travel with the team.

So tell me a job that you do that. I cannot go to the kitchen tomorrow and say to two of the chefs, today you don't cook, just go there and see how they cook or go home. It's really tough.

So someone that wants to feel part of that, he needs to be there. He needs to travel, he needs to be there and he has to have the feeling that he has a chance. When you take that chance away, you have to leave that player because he feels that he's not good enough.

Because at the end, your decision is clear. I choose another 20 players in front of you. And I think this is something I worry about.

Why? Because the demands on games are bigger. So we need bigger squads.

So it doesn't make a lot of sense to restrict that, in my opinion. So I think we need to expand that and give the possibility to allow everybody to be part of that. And then we can make the right choice in relation to the game.

And then we can manage better the minutes, the psychological and emotional moment, and then how we want to change the game. And I think it's better for absolutely everybody. That's my opinion.