Mikel Arteta was back in front of the media for his pre-Bayern Munich press conference at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Our manager was asked for his reflections on our north London derby win, how he’s feeling ahead of Wednesday’s return to UEFA Champions League football and more.<\/p>\n
Here’s everything he had to say on the following subjects.<\/p>\n
on still feeling the energy from our 4-1 win over Tottenham:
Yes, I do, and we have to make sure we carry that energy back to the stadium tomorrow, to each individual, and play with the same dominant aggression and efficiency against a top side.<\/p>\n
on if Martinelli and Madueke are in contention to start tomorrow and who else could be involved:
They are, and we’re going to have a meeting now to decide on Martin [Odegaard]. He was very close for the previous game, so we are hopeful that tomorrow he can be in the squad as well.<\/p>\n
on how Gyokeres and Havertz are progressing in their rehab:
Really good, both of them. In the next few days, they’re going to have a repeat scan to see how everything is and where we can push them for the weekend.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n \n Read more Arteta gives update on Havertz and Gyokeres <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n on how to approach this game: on if he\u2019s looking forward to the challenge of facing Bayern Munich: <\/p>\n \n Read more Everything you need to know about Bayern Munich <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n on if Sunday\u2019s atmosphere was the best he\u2019s experienced at our stadium: on all four goals against Spurs being from open play: on if this is the biggest challenge of the season so far: on if he always thought Vincent Kompany would make a good manager: on the challenge of reintegrating injured players when the levels are so high: on how to keep players calm who are eager to get back on the pitch: on having to decide between such high-quality players like Eze and Odegaard: <\/p>\n \n Read more Eze: “It’s a special day in my life” <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n on if every position in the team should be competed for: on what Gabriel Heinze brings to the coaching staff: on when Gabriel Jesus could be a part of the squad:
We have the same intention to win it, we’ve had a really good preparation again, a really short one, but we’ve been very efficient as well. We know the importance of the match, we are in a really strong position, we want to maintain that for sure and we know that we have a beautiful and very demanding game ahead of us.<\/p>\n
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; they have been as well, and tomorrow is a great test for us to see where we are.<\/p>\n
It has to be one of the best for sure, and the atmosphere, the energy created as well just before the game, I think it was excellent, and it makes such a difference, the players were talking about it, I hope our supporters realise what they bring; the joy, the confidence, the energy to the players, and we have to maintain and improve that constantly because it’s a massive superpower that we have.<\/p>\n
For me, it’s the same value; it doesn’t change. Everything is part of the game, and in relation to the position we play, how we defend, and the options that we have, we have to be very efficient in all departments. I’m upset that we didn’t score on a set piece, I want to score on a set piece as well, I’m upset that we conceded a goal. So it’s being at our best in everything that we do, that’s the aim.<\/p>\n
Well, every opponent brings different challenges. They are in a great moment. The level of consistency they show in resource, performance, in every metric that they have, it’s very, very impressive. We know that, but that’s a massive opportunity as well for us to show what we are capable of.<\/p>\n
My feeling was that Vinny was going to be excellent at whatever he chose to do, and I’m very happy 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\u00a0<\/p>\n
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 to start, ideally, in the camp, it’s great. So they seem to be in a good place, we have to manage that because we have a very demanding week and opponents, but they will manage to bring it in, which is great to see, and the rest are great.<\/p>\n
Well we have to look at the individuals obviously and make sure that they are ready to start a game like this,\u00a0and the second one as well is for how long they can play.\u00a0We need to be very mindful about how many of those players we put on the pitch\u00a0because most of them might not be available to finish 90 minutes, so we need to be conscious about the subs that we need to use,\u00a0how we’re going to use it, the windows that we have,\u00a0in order to be very efficient with our decision-making throughout the game,\u00a0and we’ll plan in regards to that.<\/p>\n
I do because the priority is for the team to be as efficient as possible\u00a0and to win football matches as a priority number one,\u00a0and they’re going to have to deal with those situations. Players are going to have to merit to play,\u00a0and the higher the standards each individual puts in,\u00a0the higher the level of the team is going to be.\u00a0So we’re going to have to live with that in a really positive way\u00a0because it’s something extraordinary.<\/p>\n
It is and it has to be.\u00a0I’m thankful that we have improved the depth of the squad and the quality\u00a0compared to previous years as well\u00a0because it’s going to be more needed than ever.\u00a0Football this season compared to last season is already different. Three seasons ago it was a different league,\u00a0and I wanted to be conscious of that.\u00a0The other teams and the other squads in the league are built in the same way.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His experience, he’s a winner,\u00a0he’s won in many clubs he’s been at.\u00a0He had a very different education as well,\u00a0we’ve known each other for 23 years,\u00a0I’m very close to that, that brings something extra.\u00a0That level of passion Gabriel shows in a way, but others show it in a different way – Molina, or Nico, or I\u00f1aki, and everybody that is around.\u00a0It’s great because at the end,\u00a0what I’m really happy is that we complement each other really well,\u00a0and everybody brings a different insight,\u00a0a different character, a different personality,\u00a0to the table that makes us a much better team,\u00a0it makes me a much better coach as well,\u00a0which is the intention to have the best resources to give to the players.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yeah, he’s quite close to be fair,\u00a0and it’s earlier than we expected,\u00a0in the next few days he’s going to have another step to make,\u00a0with a game that we’re going to organise for him,\u00a0and after that he’s just going to be knocking on the door,\u00a0because he’s Gabriel, a winner, that’s how it’s happened.<\/p>\n