Ahead of Arsenal's upcoming friendly against Liverpool on Thursday morning BST, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta attended the pre-match press conference and gave his thoughts on the latest developments in the team and the upcoming match.
On the signing of Calafiore, Arteta couldn't hide his joy: "We are very happy that Calafiore has officially joined us. He's a player we've been watching for about a year and we had high hopes for him last season due to the shortage of numbers in the back line. Carafioli is a top player with the skills and qualities to make us better. He still has a lot of potential to develop and I believe his arrival will bring new qualities to the team and improve our overall strength."
On Carafiore's position in the team, Arteta said, "It depends largely on our mode of play and tactical needs. He can play in both left back and center back positions and in our mode of play he is a player that fits perfectly in our team."
Speaking about the impact of Smith Rowe's departure and Carafiore's signing on the team's reinforcement efforts, Arteta said, "I'm very happy that we were able to complete the transfer of Carafiore. Strengthening the back line was one of our key objectives, especially since we had a lot of problems at the back last season. The addition of Calafiore increases the competitiveness of the team and improves our strength. As for Smith Rowe's transfer, I can't talk about deals that haven't been completed yet."
On the upcoming match against Liverpool, Arteta said it is a major test: "Liverpool is a team with a new coach and a unique style of soccer, and it will be a very tough game. We will have to adapt to a different city, time difference, stadium and weather conditions. However, we are ready and looking forward to showing our strengths in the game."
Arteta also spoke about his thoughts on Liverpool's new manager Sloter: "I don't really know him, but I've watched matches of the teams he coached before. I admire him as a person and the impression he gives, and it's impressive that his teams show a lot of strength. I'm sure it will be a very good game."
Speaking about the team's next reinforcement plan, Arteta said, "We will continue to observe the market dynamics and make additions according to the team's needs. So far, I'm very happy with our current situation, but we will continue to work on improving the team."
Finally, Arteta also spoke about his obsessive quest to improve the defense: "At this level, you can't just guess to keep the season going. We're lucky to have great defenders like Saliba and Gabriel, but it's unknown whether their form can be maintained in the long run. Therefore, we have to strengthen our defense and build a solid foundation for the future of the team." Meanwhile, he also said that attracting willing and enthusiastic players like Calafiore to Arsenal is a source of pride for the club.
