In the second half of his pre-Crystal Palace press conference, Mikel Arteta explained the emphasis his analysts put on performance and circumstance to develop a full-picture of Arsenal’s level, before tackling questions on the importance of silverware and the form of Gabriel Jesus.
Here’s what he had to say…
On what his team’s in-depth analysis of Arsenal’s matches shows him so far…
The sample is smaller, but comparing games, for example, what we did against Everton at home and how we played away against them [last season] and how we did today, we’re much better. Against Fulham, [compared to last season] 10 times better. Against many opposition, much better. The thing is that you need the reward of winning that game and that’s disappointing. In the last six, we won four and drew two. We deserve to win all of them by a mile. And we are not happy because we want to win the six of them because we deserve to win them.
On how deep his team’s analysis goes
I think there is always a lot of noise after a game and a red card. And then probably a few days later, you can analyse the game and say, “Yeah, but you guys played with ten men.” But two months later, when you put all the data together, nobody talks about that. And when you play 45 minutes without a player or two players or three players or seven defenders out, nobody recalls that. We have to because we need to understand a different perspective of the team.
On whether there was always a chance of a dip in form given the strain of the last two seasons…
The chance, if you are not top, to be somewhere down is really high. I wouldn’t say small. The probability is the highest, probably. Because being at the top in this league is the highest thing, the most difficult thing. So after that, everything is going to be behind it. We want to be first, we want to be the best and that’s how it works.
On needing a step back before going forward again…
In relation to points or winning, it’s very difficult to predict. Performance is something else and that’s what we put the emphasis on. At the end, doing everything that we can to end the right to win games and have the highest probability. After winning or not is a consequence of many factors.
On whether he’s heard about the rebranded European Super League proposals…
Today? Yeah. No, sorry.
On many of his squad not yet winning a trophy and the effect it can have…
It gives you trust, belief. The fact that you’ve done it, I think it’s contagious for the rest and it has to be a first time that you do it. And as well, difficult to replicate when you haven’t done it and you have the hunger to do it. That’s a really positive thing as well. So we have to look at it from that perspective.
On how important it is for Gabriel Jesus to break his scoring drought…
I’m very looking forward to that because he does everything in the best possible way. His application, his energy, how he tries, how he wants it and he just needs to be rewarded. Hopefully, it’s going to be very soon.
On whether Jesus is suffering from a crisis of confidence…
I don’t know if it’s confidence, but obviously, he’s got that will, that the ball goes in the back of the neck and he starts to have some momentum in relation to that. At the end he plays in positions where he needs to deliver those moments and he’s really trying.
On suggesting Ethan Nwaneri could play as a number 9 and whether that’s already an option…
No, it’s the possibility of it and I don’t see it now. You’re asking me about ways of playing together, can we play in different formations as well? So that’s it, nothing that’s going to happen now.