Arsenal are back in Premier League action this weekend, as the Gunners host Southampton at Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Head coach Mikel Arteta spoke to the media at Sobha Realty Training Centre on Friday afternoon ahead of the clash with the Saints.
Jurrien Timber and Ben White were both absent from group action during the week, something Arteta provided an update on from the outset. The Arsenal boss commented ‘We had to modify training for a lot of players. We’ve done the same today because of the load that they had, so it’s a decision to make this afternoon, whether to involve them, yes or no. They are close, and Tomiyasu as well is quite close to being involved, so good news.’
Embed from Getty Images‘We had to be different’ to fill Ødegaard hole says Arteta
Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard is still missing from the action, as an ankle injury sustained during the international break set the Gunners skipper bound for an extended spell on the sidelines. Providing an update on the key midfielder, Arteta expressed ‘Martin is very difficult [to tell], I expected him [to be] still with the boot and a lot of things, but he’s working so hard and is feeling good and is pushing it, so it’s difficult to give a timeline.’
Ødegaard’s injury came at no worse a time for the Gunners, as the side geared up to face both Tottenham and Manchester City away from home, as well as a Champions League meeting with Paris Saint-Germain. Arsenal managed to draw 7 out of a possible 9 points from the trilogy of challenges without their captain, something Arteta said ‘was very difficult to handle’.
Arteta continued, ‘We had to be different. The impact that Martin has in everything we do, it was too big to try to replicate it with one player. We tried to do it in a different way, adapting a few things, and using players’ qualities, players that can play in the right position, with the right chemistry around them. Maybe it took a game or two, but then it started to flow a bit better but we have found a way. But we still miss him because he’s one of the most important players for us.‘
Embed from Getty ImagesArteta ‘grateful’ for former Gunner Aaron Ramsdale
Former Gunner Aaron Ramsdale returns to N5 on Saturday, after signing with Southampton over the summer transfer window. When asked whether he is still in contact with Ramsdale, Arteta confirmed “I called him straight away when I got the news [of his transfer] and he was really happy. He is a player that we loved a lot, very charismatic and he really put his fingerprints here on the club with the way that he was. It’ll be very good to see him.‘
When asked more specifically on Ramsdale’s departure from the club, Arteta expressed that he ‘was very grateful for what he [Ramsdale] did‘ during his time with the Gunners. He continued, ‘When we signed there was a lot of noise around him. We helped him to create an environment that he needed because we believed in his potential and he showed it. He won the respect and admiration of all of us. Then the circumstances changed because this is elite sport and that can happen. It was difficult to deal with that situation in a natural way so we decided to part ways and hopefully he is grateful as well.‘
Arsenal not underestimating ‘quality‘ Southampton says Arteta
Speaking on Southampton more generally, Arteta expressed that he believes Russell Martin’s side have been ‘very unlucky not to have more points’ so far in the Premier League. The Arsenal boss assured that his side will not be complacent against Southampton, expressing that ‘we know the significance and difficulty of the match.‘
He elaborated, ‘Last week the tough schedule that we have was proven and any opponent can cause you problems. When you think the game is under control, it can get out of your hands immediately, so it was probably a good thing to happen the way it ended up. We know the quality of Southampton and in my opinion, they’re a team who are extremely well-coached. They have a very clear philosophy, and they’ve been very unlucky not to have many more points because there were moments in the games when they were far better than the opponent and in some moments the results got away from them. It will be very tough.’
Embed from Getty ImagesKai Havertz’s firing run of form
Kai Havertz has been seen to be in firing form as of late, having scored in six of his last matches at Emirates Stadium. When asked why fans may be seeing such a shining version of the German striker recently, Arteta answered simply: ‘First of all, because he’s so good.’
He then continued, ‘He wants it so much and because he’s surrounded by great players around him. The fact that he’s gone through some difficult moments just made him a better player, and a great person I think.’
Arsenal will host Southampton in the Premier League this Saturday at Emirates Stadium, with proceedings set to head underway at 15:00 BST.
