You know things are going well for Arsenal when a pre-match press conference drifts into unexpected territory.
Ahead of today’s trip to Burnley, Mikel Arteta fielded questions on everything from his matchday diet and superstitions to the great towel-throw-in debate – with a bit of squad rotation and defensive solidity chat thrown in for good measure.
On whether his side are using Chelsea’s goals-against record from 2004/05 as motivation…
No. I think we focus on how we can prevent the strength of the opponent, how we can cut those sources as early as possible in that sequence of play and that’s it. If we do that very, very well we’re going to decrease the probability of them scoring or having shots on target against us and that’s it. That’s going to lead to the next game. We have to go on the day, on the individual and then, of course, given the importance that it has and the specific roles that they have within the organisation to try to achieve that.
On the importance of having a solid defence…
Well obviously, if we maintain that record it’s going to give us a platform to win matches – it’s formidable because we have so much talent as well, and our attacking threat from different ways is pretty good, so if we maintain that the chances will increase.
On whether he needs to ‘gamble’ with rotation to keep the squad fresh…
Yeah, it’s probably not the right words. It’s probably do what I feel and trust that, and do what I think is best for the team because with any player we are not gambling. We can gamble with certain players when I think it’s a risk if they continue to play but, hopefully nothing has to happen if they don’t get injured. But [I have] full trust the players, make sure that everybody feels part of it really fast, probably with minutes, and from there they have to compete and have the right to play.
On the difficulty of rotating 10 players in and out of the team…
Very hard because there is no chemistry, there are no relationships there, and you see it probably with focus more on things related to the ball. But there are many other aspects of the game that are prior to that when you see we are three seconds late [doing that], we are three seconds late [doing that]. And then as the game went on [against Brighton], I was hoping that we were going to improve that. We had certain individual actions for sure that went in our favour as well to maintain that result [a host of missed chances by the visitors]. And then as the game went on, we improved it and we got better. But hopefully the next time, from the beginning it will be better because they already have that experience.
On not being allowed to use a towel to dry the ball at Newcastle…
Because it wasn’t ours I think.
On knowing teams have to agree to share towels before the game…
That you cannot use somebody else’s towel? No, I didn’t know. It’s like with somebody else’s drink, I’ve done it as a player – you see a drink from the other doctor, nick it and have a drink and carry on. I don’t know. I think we need clarity on that, what we can do, what we cannot do and the time we can consume [doing that] as well.
On whether Arsenal need to bring their own towel…
The thing is depending where you leave it maybe it goes away. So you turn and the towel is not anymore. So maybe we have to carry on or design something that we can do that with the ball.
On not eating much on matchdays…
I eat but not much. I think it’s the appetite. Before training in the morning as well I have a really light breakfast and then once that’s gone it’s better and I can enjoy it. I don’t have that much time as well to exercise so I need to look after myself.
On being too stressed by a game to eat…
No, it’s not that but I don’t like it as well…look, I’m Spanish, and after a heavy food, a nice paella, I need a nap. So I can do that on the training ground, and I enjoy it when I’m able to do it and it’s one of the best moments of the day. But during the match we play at three o’clock. If I have a lunch at 12-1, my body is very smart. It goes nappy time and now I need action time. So it’s not the right moment to do it.
On waiting to win before eating…
Exactly. Then I can have a good dinner if we win.
On having a mini-slump this time last year and how to avoid that…
Efficiency is one of them. We went to [Inter] Milan and in my opinion we deserved to win the game. We lost it and they got a penalty that in my opinion wasn’t a penalty. It can go like this, or sometimes the opponent is better. We went to Newcastle and we struggled for big parts. So we went this year and we played much better and I think we deserve to win again. Hopefully, when you cannot win, make sure you learn from those moments and try to be better next time.
On whether debutant Andre Harriman-Annous could get more chances this season…
First of all it’s his performances. I think it’s going to be driven by how well he’s doing and the way he trains with us, how he plays with under-23s or if he’s in our squad – if he’s got that, whatever the team needs it, whatever the conditions or the context is, he will have a chance.
On whether Arsenal could tell Palace their fixture congestion is their problem…
I don’t think that’s fair because obviously we have other competitions as well. So I think we have to try to accommodate. We knew at the start of the season the competition that the club is playing and I don’t think that would be fair on Palace. We have to try to accommodate it [the game] in the best possible way for everybody.
On just before Christmas being the only available slot…
No, there are others. Believe me, there are other options much better than this one.
On when he wants the game to be played…
We already suggested that, I keep that with the club.
On being superstitious about what he wears…
Not with clothes, with a lot of things. I bring this bottle of water always with me and he [Dan Tolhurst, comms manager] gives it to him. We can have a big list, I don’t know why I do it. Probably it’s more a routine than anything else. Not very useful I would say. Nobody should learn those things.
On doing it more during a winning run…
I think it’s a protocol. I do it, brought the bottle, and we lost many games as well and drew some but it doesn’t matter. It keeps me in my routine and focus on what I have to do.
On whether he’ll travel to the US to meet the owners during the next international break…
I don’t know what will happen in the break. The ownership was here, we spent some very good time with Josh [Kroenke] and the board talking about different things. They have a great feeling as well, because it was the NFL weekend as well with the [LA] Rams [beating the Jaguars] and we discussed a lot of things. Whatever they feel is necessary.
On how the club keeps fans engaged when the team isn’t winning…
That’s when you need the most, innit? When things don’t go your way or when you need a push or when you’re having a result in that moment. That’s the moment to do it. That’s the moment to change the energy and to give support. I’m sure when we need that they’re going to be there because on Wednesday when we needed them they were really there and it was very encouraging to see the amount of people turn up for the Carabao Cup and in the manner especially that they did.
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