After seeing his side thrash Bayer Leverkusen 4-1, Mikel Arteta headed to the Emirates Stadium press room for the first time this season to tackle questions about the game.
He was asked about his internationals coming back into the fold, the youngsters in the squad, transfer rumours, his goalscorers and much more.
Here is everything he had to say:
on tonight’s impressive performance:
We can take a lot of positives from the game as well as the result. The way we performed, there were lots of positive aspects, collectively and individually. I think we’ll take a lot from it. A lot of things to learn from it as well. I think we can improve, especially in the second half when we made seven changes. But again, a really good test, a really good team who are really well coached and it was a good performance.
on the absence of Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber:
Jurrien had a little discomfort in his foot in the last few days and obviously after the amount of time he’s been out we didn’t want to take any risk with him. In regards to Riccardo, so much happened to him in one week! He’s come into a new environment with a different methodology and different training so we are managing him and we want to do it slowly and in the best way possible. Hopefully he will be available to play some minutes on Sunday.
on the involvement of Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice:
The season starts in nine days so they have to be ready. This is the demand that they have right now so we will look after them every day they are with us. When we have the ability to give them days off we do, and we give them days off before the Euros. We have given them the rest that they needed. The best thing to do is look at their faces and see the spark in their eyes. Because they don’t want to miss it. They know how hard it’s going to be to come back.
on whether he’ll ease them in:
They will tell us! You throw them in and we will see how they deal with everybody. But they certainly want to be involved.
on seeing more of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly in the first team:
If they continue like they are doing right now. There is no difference whether they come from the academy or we sign them from Germany or Argentina or Italy. If they are showing the quality that they have, the personality they have to play at this level... let’s see. Why would we put any restrictions? If they deserve minutes, they get minutes.
on what was said to Lewis-Skelly after the game:
There were a few actions that he did really well, a few he has to understand a bit better – especially the focus and attention these games demand. He really wants it.
on the understanding developing between Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz:
I think it’s something you can see coming. It’s natural, it flows, there is good chemistry between them – and as well with Leo. The three, they have that false nine profile. I really like what I saw today.
on Kai and Leo dovetailing effectively:
You have to be very sensitive to read the information that the players are giving you. Individually, the chemistry they have within the unit, how things flow, one side and the other. It’s certainly something that we can still develop, especially on our left side. Those combinations are giving us options. They are all really, really good players so the competition is quite big there.
on Jesus looking back to his best:
I said from day one, the first feeling when I saw him after talking to him at the end of the season is that he was something different. I could sense it. His energy was different, the way he looks is different, the way he’s moving is different. He really wants it. Now it’s about finding that consistency and doing it in any context, against any opponent, against any formation, any day, every three days, for 90 minutes, for 30 minutes, for 70 minutes. If you are produce in those circ*mstances? It looks good.
on Oleksandr Zinchenko’s role this season:
Obviously he has played in midfield. But the main focus for him right now is playing as a full back and the options and solutions he provides in that part. He knows the quality that he has, he knows the things he needs to improve. He’s another one that is really at it.
on Eddie Nketiah being linked with a move away:
We cannot talk about things like that. He played some minutes today, he’s a player that has given so much, we really like him and at the moment there is nothing to discuss.
on whether he’s had conversations with Aaron Ramsdale around playing time:
It’s the same situation with all the players, everybody wants to play. I have to give those options, they have to earn it and there is no difference [to Nketiah].
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