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  • February 18, 2025
Mikel Arteta press conference: Arsenal vs Monaco preview

Mikel Arteta press conference: Arsenal vs Monaco preview

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has addressed the media ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League match against Monaco (kick-off 8pm).

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

  • Arteta confirmed that they will have to decide late on the availability of players because “some of them will not be fit and available”.

  • He said the injury situation “is what it is” and added: “We have to accept the reality and move on.”

  • On why these injury problems keep happening: “It’s a domino effect. We have a lot of joint injuries that are very difficult to predict yourself. We have some tackles that are difficult to avoid. And others due to overuse and domino attacks. It The effect of one or two players not being available means you put more pressure and minutes on someone else.”

  • The Arsenal boss said he is “very happy” with the way they are playing.

  • On what they have learned from their Champions League experiences this season and last season: “We have to do a lot of things that we do in the Premier League. The tendency is to look at the Champions League as if it is something else. We are becoming facing incredibly difficult opposition every week is the great thing. When we come against a team like Monaco, who have done incredibly well, we are so used to it because we play against these types of opponents every three days.”

  • Arteta confirmed that left-back Kiernan Tierney is “ready” to come into the team: “He is training very well. He will definitely get opportunities given the way the team looks. He is going to do that for a reason.” Well, because he has earned it, the way he has behaved with us, he is willing to do it.”

  • He said Gabriel Jesus’ attitude is ‘really good – it always is’, despite the striker scoring just once in 31 games. When asked about reports that the Brazil international could leave in January, Arteta replied: “No, nonsense”.

  • On whether he’s worried they’re not creating enough outside of set pieces: “We always want to create more from every angle. Set pieces are a consequence of what we do. That phase (open play) is part of that. Open play and Set pieces are all together.”

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