Mikel Arteta faced the media ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Old Trafford, discussing squad selection, tactical adaptability, and Manchester United’s unpredictability. While much of the conversation revolved around the team’s preparations, moments of humour and light-hearted exchanges made for an engaging press conference.
Odegaard’s quiet influence
Martin Ødegaard has received criticism for his lack of goals and assists this season, but Arteta emphasised his contributions beyond the numbers.
“Obviously, when you isolate data and you’re looking at certain aspects of the game, that cannot reflect the overall performance of a player,” he said. “It’s about what he does in that phase, how he arrives in great positions, and how he provides for others. He has proven that many times.”
Managing aggression without losing edge
The conversation moved to Arsenal’s midfield, particularly how young players can balance their physicality while avoiding unnecessary bookings. Arteta was asked whether he worries about restricting a player’s natural style in an attempt to instil greater control.
“Control, it’s all about control,” he said. “You must dominate the situation rather than let the situation dominate you. You need to understand the space, the exposure, whether the opponent is facing you, and what the probability is of winning the ball.”
Exploring new attacking options
With injuries affecting Arsenal’s preferred wingers, the team has been forced to adapt. Arteta acknowledged that this period has led to new tactical ideas.
“We need to look at threats from other areas,” he said. “We have lost very important wingers who provided a lot in the final third, so we are looking to explore other options. The team has this capacity to adapt. We saw actions and combinations that are very difficult to defend.”
From goal drought to seven-goal rout
Arsenal failed to score in two consecutive matches before hitting seven past PSV in midweek. Arteta was asked how such a dramatic turnaround occurred.
“That’s football. You can’t predict it, and that’s the beauty of it,” he said. “One moment can change everything. If they score early, it’s a different game. But we were ruthless in the box, and that made the difference.”
England selection and young players’ development
With international call-ups approaching, questions were raised about whether Arsenal’s young talents will feature in Gareth Southgate’s squad. Arteta offered a measured response.
“If they go, it will be a great experience. But that’s not my decision,” he said. “Our job is to help them develop here. What happens beyond that is out of our hands.”
Avoiding controversial topics
A question regarding recent refereeing decisions was quickly dismissed.
“That’s not something I want to talk about,” he said. “We focus on the game, not on things we can’t control.”
The unexpected question in the live session
As the live session began, the first question caught Arteta off guard.
“Haha, did you really ask me that? Alright, I’ll try to answer…”