In the upcoming Premier League second round match away to Villa at 0:30am BST on Sunday, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta spoke at the pre-match press conference about his team's transfer work, players' form and match outlook.
Responding to a question about Merino's blocked transfer, Arteta said he didn't want to talk too much about players who are not in the squad and emphasized that there is still time left in the transfer window and there are opportunities for both sides. He also pointed out that the team's full attention is currently focused on the players themselves and the match against Villa.
For his part, Arteta was more cautious about Nketiah's future, stating that he hoped Nketiah would be able to train with the team and be ready for the game, and emphasizing that everything goes with the flow.
Talking about the team's form, Arteta was confident that he always believes in his players and trusts them to play at their best. He also pointed out that Villa are a very good team and beat Arsenal twice last season, but Arsenal will have to do better to cope with this tough battle.
Arteta also highlighted the phenomenon of the concentration of Basque coaches in the Premier League, suggesting that it could be linked to the passion and education in the Basque Country, as well as the opportunities for young coaches to learn and grow.
In terms of players, Arteta spoke highly of the performances of Timberlake and Zinchenko, saying that they have excellent adaptability and judgment on the field. Regarding Rice's positional problems, Arteta expressed his hope that he would be able to show his ability in multiple positions, which would be a valuable asset to the team.
Talking about the team's away performance, Arteta said that Arsenal has achieved excellent results away from home in the past two seasons, which has brought confidence to the team. He emphasized that the team will have to show what they are capable of again to win the match against Villa.
On Saka's upcoming milestone of his 100th Premier League win, Arteta said it was the result of Saka's own efforts and congratulated him on his achievement.
In terms of the transfer market, Arteta said that the team is ready and will pay close attention to the market dynamics and make reinforcements as needed. At the same time, he also revealed his intention to renew his contract with the club, saying that he will deal with the issue in due course.
Finally, Arteta looked ahead to the future of the team, stating that he is excited and looking forward to his years at Arsenal. He emphasized the urgency of having to face reality as a coach, but also the importance of planning and enjoying the time. He hopes that he can coach a team for a long time like Guardiola and Klopp, but it is more important to focus on the current game and the development of the team.
