Arsenal went down 1-2 to Liverpool in a friendly this morning, and after the match manager Mikel Arteta attended a press conference to give an insight into the game and the future of his team.
First of all, when asked what he has learned from the previous seasons, Arteta said that the team has to keep developing and improving, the level has to be higher and higher, and this is what they have to aim for. He emphasized that as a coach, he is also constantly learning, improving his coaching ability through self-criticism and analysis, and seeking help from the best people around him.
Arteta is positive about Liverpool's future performance under Sloter. He believes that Liverpool are currently in good shape and Slot is working hard to achieve his goals, which will make Liverpool a strong opponent for them next season. He also noted that today's game was a tough test for them, but the team gained a lot from it.
Talking about the US tour and the team's current form, Arteta said the team was in good shape and played some very competitive games. In particular, he mentioned that the team played well in the opening stages, but then lost control, especially in the transition between offense and defense, leaving too much space for the opponents. However, he also pointed out that the team improved a lot in the second half and emphasized that the conditions were tough, but the crowd was great and provided a good atmosphere for the players to play in.
Arteta expressed great satisfaction with the young players who played during the tour. He regretted that due to time constraints it was not possible to give all the young players a chance to play, but those who were given the opportunity showed good form and response. He believes that this is an important lesson that the team has learned from the tourney, namely that the team has a lot of promising talents who need to work hard for the opportunity to play with the first team.
Responding to the team's problem of missing chances to take the lead in the game, Arteta said that this is something they need to improve on. He emphasized that the team must be able to punish their opponents after creating chances, especially when playing aggressively and frequently grabbing the ball in dangerous areas. He believes the team needs to make adjustments and improvements in this area to improve their winning percentage.
In addition, Arteta spoke about the growth of soccer in the United States. He praised the beauty of the playing field and the enthusiasm of the crowd and said he hoped the crowd was happy with the game. He also highlighted the experience of playing in Philadelphia and said it was great.
Speaking about the difference between Liverpool under Sloter and Klopp's time in charge, Arteta said that every coach has his own style and characteristics and these leave a mark on the team. He believes Sloter is molding a new style of play and player DNA for Liverpool.
Finally, when asked if he will be able to see Calafiori in the coming weeks, Arteta said that the team will manage his form carefully and develop him slowly. He emphasized that Carafioli will need to adapt to his new environment and teammates after joining the team and hoped that he will be able to contribute to the team in the coming matches. He also praised Havertz's performance in the midfield and said that the team will learn from it.
