Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta spoke to the press ahead of his team’s Champions League clash with Inter Milan. The Spaniard addressed several topics, including recent challenges faced by the club and his thoughts on the upcoming match.
Arteta began by discussing the recent departure of Technical Director Edu Gaspar: “It all happened quickly. We’ve had an incredible journey from day one. I’m really grateful for what he’s done for me and the club. We had special chemistry and enjoyed working together. He had a great opportunity to do something different in another role and context, we must respect that and wish him the best.”
Regarding squad updates, Arteta confirmed Martin Odegaard’s return but revealed Declan Rice’s absence due to injury: “The good news is Martin’s return, he’s doing well and wanted to be with the group. Unfortunately, Declan suffered an injury during the Newcastle game. He wasn’t feeling great, so we decided to wait until the weekend to see if he’ll be fit.”
When asked about the pressure he’s feeling, Arteta responded enthusiastically: “Absolutely, my blood is pumping. We’ve come to Milan to try and win. They played in a Champions League final two years ago – these are the games you want to play.”
Addressing Inter Milan and their manager Simone Inzaghi, Arteta said: “I think Inter has a great identity, and that’s to the credit of their coach. He knows how to get players to occupy spaces in unpredictable ways. It’s a problem we face in the Premier League too, and we’ll see how to deal with it tomorrow.”
On the topic of young star Bukayo Saka often wearing the captain’s armband, Arteta praised: “Think about how people look at him. He has the ability to transmit positivity and has a very special smile, he knows how to transmit energy. He’s come all the way from the youth academy, he’s one of our main talents.”
Arteta concluded by expressing his excitement for the match: “It’s a privilege to be here and to be able to play tomorrow’s game. I love the Italian language and culture.”
