Mikel Arteta spoke proudly ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Chelsea, inspired by the news that his young defender Myles Lewis-Skelly had been called up by Thomas Tuchel for the German’s first senior England squad. This was something he felt reflected well on the club and it's staff, as well of course as Lewis-Skelly.
There was also focus on the match, the title race and of the difference between his side and Chelsea who Enzo Maresca took over in a far better position comparatively. Ben White also came up considering his England national side associations and a positive update there.
There was also some encouraging words on Bukayo Saka’s potential return ahead of the Champions League clash with Real Madrid. Here is every word from the press conference as Arteta faced the media:
Just two questions for you today. Do you regret not signing a strike and have you written off winning the league? Just kidding.
[Nothing]
The England squad's been announced, and some good news around these parts, because MLS has got the nod. Your reaction to that?
Very proud. Very proud of him, it's a huge moment for him, and for the club as well. One of our graduates getting the call for England, it's a massive thing, so very happy.
They've been saying the right things, I think, to Thomas Tuchel, that we're concerned about fast-tracking a fast-tracker, but they're going to offer him the right environment. Have you been involved in those discussions at all?
No, but I'm sure that that will be the case. Thomas is a top coach, I know a few people around him, and he's set up in England, and I have no doubt that they will do the right thing with him.
And he's confident. That's not going to be an issue for him, mixing in that kind of company, is it?
He'll manage, I don't think so.
And obviously Ben White, not in the squad this time, because obviously he's not been playing because of injury, but the mood music is good, there's a kind of mending of the parting of the ways, it's healed, he wants to be involved again. Is that good news?
Yeah, well, I heard that there have been some positive conversations around it, so I imagine it will be about timing more than anything else, especially with the amount of time that he's been out with injury.
And no Ethan yet, that's probably just a step too far for him, but potentially in the future, another Arsenal youngster getting involved with England. Do you get a personal pride from that, the role that you've played with Myles and, eventually, maybe Ethan?
Yeah, I think we all do because obviously we are involved in their development and we know that it's one of the biggest dreams that you can achieve as a football player and a really proud moment, so being part of that obviously is a great thing to be.
And a real kind of English core at Arsenal as well now, both in the England side and here at Arsenal. Is that something that is important?
Very important. I think culturally, I think because of our history and we're an English club, to have that DNA that represents us as a club and then having a lot of academy players as well, I think it's something very, very positive, so I'm very proud of it.
Just quickly, before we move on from England, Bukayo Saka obviously not in the squad, injured. Any update on when we might see him back training?
No, he's getting closer, he's stepping up and making a very good progress I would say. So, let's see when we start to throw him in with the team, how he reacts and how fit he can get quickly.
The Supercomputer, I love a Supercomputer, they make you third favourites to win the Champions League behind Barcelona and PSG but ahead of Real Madrid. So you've got to say whether Real Madrid win the Champions League or not. Talk to us about that draw, are you pleased with the draw?
Well a fascinating draw, I think you're going to play against a club with the biggest and more history in the competition and I'm very excited to play against them but before that we have two big matches in the Premier League.
Talking about the Premier League, the same Supercomputer gives you a 0.5% chance of winning the Premier League and a 99.5% chance, I'm not a statistician, of Liverpool winning the Premier League. So you're right, there is still a chance.
Into the next one.
Chelsea, 5-0 this time last year, you'd go for that again wouldn't you?
Well I think it's going to be a very different game and I think the way they develop as a team as well is very impressive. What Enzo has done and the coaching staff, the amount of talent that they have in the squad. So yeah, a really tough match but we are our best as well, a big chance for us to win the game.
Raheem was obviously out of the match mid-week, played well, looked like he was enjoying himself. That could be the start of him maybe getting back towards his best for you, but unfortunately, he can't be involved on Sunday because of the deal with Chelsea. Is that bad for him? Would it have been good for him to carry on that momentum?
I think so but it's what it is, we knew about it. He played, he played well, he was contributing to the attacking goals that we scored as well. So very good, that's what we needed. Players in good form, in good spirit, good confidence and certainly that performance is going to help him.
Your players have spoken about how effective you've been getting the team into the right state of mind mentally. How has it been for you though mentally as a coach to go through the seasons, develop the project, keep the boys resilient, hungry for more and the different challenges you've faced. We're nearly at the end of another season, it's gone quick.
Day by day, try to surround yourself with the right people that have the right expertise and can advise you to make the right decision. After that, predictability is a big factor in this industry and you have to adapt to it. You can have an understanding or a way of doing things and from there for sure things will happen and you're going to have to adapt but go into the next day.
Ben White, he returned to start 122 days after his injury and one year ago today he signed his new long-term contract. How do you think in this closing stage of the season he can really help the squad, even just being around them more and training?
Very much, and he's been now involved for the last two weeks almost, and he's not reacting so that's very positive, and Ben is a really important player for us. He brings something very different to the team dynamic, and that's ready to happen.
Your players have also spoken about how meticulous and knowledgeable you are when you do your analysis against opponents. It's very, very detailed, apparently, very similar to Enzo Maresco, who likes to be very analytical. Chelsea next, big London derby at home. What sort of match-up do you expect, like you said it would be different to the 5-0, there's been a lot of change in their squad, injuries both sides?
Well, let's see, I think two teams that want to be very dominant in the way of playing and very aggressive on the high press and the way we have to have the ball, a lot of individual quality on that pitch. It's about imposing what you want and the direction that you want to take the game and keep them very far from their strengths. I think that's going to be a key thing as well.
Mikel, you touched a bit there on having a sort of British core. I think you were here in 2012 when there was that famous photo, I think it might have even been here when Arsene was there with Aaron, with Alex.
All the new signings.
Yeah, with all five of them together. I just wonder what your sort of memories of that and why that importance of having that British core is in the club.
I think that's great, I think it attaches people to the football club, it makes them proud. I think everybody wants to see academy players and English players driving and being the face of the football club, I think it's really important. I think it has to happen organically; you cannot force it, especially with those two. Now it's really good news because they deserve to be where they are, they are doing great and there's a bright future ahead of them.
And I know you'd like to sort of recreate that. Are there more behind Ethan and Myles that we maybe don't know about yet? Is there excitement for what's to come in the future?
Hopefully, there are many more, but again, it's something that time will tell. And as Gary used the word fast-tracking players, if they are good enough, there is no problem to that, but at the same time they really have to earn it to play at this level.
Ahead of the Youth Cup game we spoke to Adam Birchall and he talked about the importance of keeping Ethan and Myles separate and not thought of as a pair, because they've come from the same time and we naturally tend to think about them as a pair. Myles has obviously got that senior call-up, Ethan hasn't. Do you think that in some ways will help them individually develop apart from one another into separate teams?
Yeah, any comparison there I don't think is right. I think they have a very similar pathway because obviously they've played so many years together, but after that they're going to have different moments and each career will be unique and individual for them and they're going to have to earn it. And what one does is not going to reflect or affect the other one in a positive or negative way, so that needs to be totally independent. It's great, it's a luxury to have someone that you spend so much time, trust and love next to you on that journey. Use it in that way, that's it. And the rest, throw it away.
And ahead of the weekend it could be an opportunity for Gabriel Martinelli to get his first Premier League start since coming back. We've seen with the absence of a number of forwards, Mikel Merino used as a centre-forward. With Martinelli back it gives you more options to change the front line. Do you see that front line structure kind of returning maybe to something more that we've seen in the past? Or do you still see Mikel very much as a centre-forward option for you?
No, now we have more options, but it's true that we have to really manage the load and he's been a little bit ahead of schedule and that's what we didn't want to take and we don't want to take any more risks with him loading in with more minutes.
I know you said you weren't involved in Myles’ call-up but I was just wondering because Thomas Tuchel said he kind of felt the vibe was very parental around how he was selected. I was wondering throughout this season have you kind of felt I guess a similar vibe of being almost a parental figure with not just Myles but Ethan as well, as young men coming into this environment?
Well, they have almost the age of my oldest son, so yeah, just for that factor, I can see a lot of similarities. Both of them, they have great family, their environment and they are in charge of that part of the education. Obviously, we have a big responsibility and a lot of things that are related to that as well, but they are in good hands. We are here just to support and guide them in many other aspects and if they need something then they know that they can open the door and have that conversation.
And when we were in Spain, the Girona game, obviously there was big news when Myles’ red card got rescinded and he was asleep at the time, so you didn't have a chance to speak to him. I was wondering have you had a chance to speak to him today about the call-up?
Yeah, I had and we all had. We were all really, really happy because it's a really nice story and a story that gives a lot of hope to a lot of young players and that in six or seven months your career can change dramatically, drastically for the good. It's something for people to be inspired. I think it hasn't happened because he was lucky. I think he pushed for every chance to happen and the way he's done it. So, yeah, good example.
This morning you called for Myles to be on the national team. Did you speak to him this morning and how do you feel about being called up? [Translated from Spanish]
I'm very happy and proud of him because for any player to represent his country, especially if he's so young, it's an incredible thing. We've congratulated him among all of us. Enjoy it, have fun. Keep your feet on the ground and compete tomorrow.