Mikel Arteta Arsenal
You started January with 26 senior players. You now have 20. Are you worried the squad is too thin?
We are short of options but I think we have a much better balance than sometimes when we’ve had many more options, but it’s been unbalanced. My focus is more there. And as well to have reliable players play with the right ability that we need to use, what they are able to do mind-wise as well as physically as well. That’s what we are trying to do. Again approaching towards the end of the summer we have four or five players that are finishing their contract. So we’re going to have to try to do many things again and this is not stopping. It takes a while to rebuild a squad like that, this is not happening in one or two windows, unfortunately. But we are on the right path I really believe so.
But that’s part of the strategy. As well we are going to have some contracts ending and we are going to have to make some decisions as well depending on where we are and whether we have the option to do that. We have players on loan as well, we have to understand where they are and where they can be and how much of a contribution they can have in the summer. Obviously, we’ll have to sign players in the summer, that’s without a question of a doubt.
Was that what was discussed when you went to America to meet the owner?
That’s something that’s discussed here internally with Edu all the time and with the team. Obviously, you have to raise those ideas and the vision that you have with the owners which are completely aligned and they’ve been completely supportive with us.
People will say you’ve taken a gamble by allowing the squad to be so small. Are you ready for a backlash if things don’t work out?
Yes but sometimes it’s not what we want to do, it’s what we can do. We have to be realistic on that I’m not talking only about the financial position of the club and the investment that we have to do and how we’ve been able to sell and loan players, but as well that when you identify the talent that you have, whether it’s available as well to do it. The last thing we want to do is bring players here that are not going to take us to the next level, because now we want to go to the next level. To do that we need lots of certainties, we’ve done a lot of work to create that discipline internally as well, to do that. That’s the only objective and reason behind it. But again, then it will be about winning or not. When we won six games in a row I didn’t have one question about ‘do you have enough goals in the team?’, now I do. It’s what happens, it’s normal. But my decision, and our decision as a club, cannot be based on that because then I know where we’re going to go, 100%, and it’s not to the place where we want to take the club.
Absolutely. We have the tradition, what the club inspires, what we are as a club, it’s enormous. Everybody wants to play for Arsenal. I haven’t had one time on the phone a player or a member of staff, when it comes to recruitment, that doesn’t want to come to join Arsenal. That’s for sure. Then if they go for financial reasons, that’s something else. But the willingness to come and be part of this, I haven’t experienced something different I’m sorry.
How much will the financial power you have in the summer be affected by whether you’re in the top four?
Everything helps. The financial position is going to determine how good we are with the team performances, where we finish and then that will help our sponsorship, our marketing, our ticketing sales, it’s just a ball that roles constantly. Where this starts is with how good we do on that pitch. And how to good on that pitch where do we start? With the right ideas, the right environment, the right players to perform. So it’s something that we have to fit all the time.
Some people have said if players are scoring 25-30 goals like Aubameyang, then being late doesn’t matter so much. Why is it that everybody has to stick to those rules regardless of their status?
I don’t think I am too hard on that to be fair. I don’t know the perceptions externally, but there are some minimums, and there is a line that you cannot cross. If somebody’s going to cross it because he’s scored 25 or 30 goals that dressing room has to accept it. First of all, you have to score 25 or 30 goals, or 40, or 50 and maybe they say, ‘listen guys, don’t train,’ or ‘you train once a week and you play’. They will decide. If they’re happy with that, with me there is no problem. If they’re happy with that and they can live with that it’s OK. You have to do it though.
Is that the impression you got from the squad? That they weren’t willing to accept that from other players?
I don’t work with impressions, I work with facts, and I want to see where this is going, and if possible, anticipate issues.
How do you think Auba should be remembered?
From my side, and I think from everyone here, I think you’ve seen with some messages towards him, it’s gratitude, wish him the best and move on because I prefer to look at all the beautiful things and good times that we had. As well it’s important to learn from those ones where they have not been so good and what we could have done better, especially from my side when I look at that.
How do you feel the reaction has been in the dressing room to him leaving?
I think very understandable. They knew what was happening and I think it’s a good solution for everybody.
Have you seen a change in Laca since he took the armband?
Laca is who he is. He doesn’t change. A person doesn’t change because of something. He knows the importance he has in the team and he knows how much he’s played, especially since I’ve been here. That’s him and he needs to be him. He doesn’t need to pretend to be something he’s not, the best thing is to be yourself.
