In the upcoming Champions League first round match at 3:00 a.m. on September 20, Beijing time, Arsenal will challenge Atlanta on the road. Before the match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta attended the press conference and answered reporters' questions on the team's preparation, injury situation and match strategy.
On the unusual aspect of playing a Champions League game on a Thursday, Arteta said, "It's really different, but we are very happy about it and the whole team is full of motivation and enthusiasm. Although the first game is always tough, especially against a team like Atalanta who have achieved amazing things here, we believe that this is the start of a new season and we want to move on in the right way."
On whether the back-to-back games are bad for the upcoming match against Manchester City, Arteta is optimistic: "I hope not. The North London Derby on Sunday gave us a lot of energy and it was a great game. At the same time, we've got some players coming back from injury, which is very important for us. Playing in a tournament like the Champions League, we absolutely love it and see the positives."
Speaking about the injury to the heart of the team, Ödgöl, Arteta revealed, "Recent scans have shown that he has damage to his ankle, especially one of the ligaments, which is serious. We're going to miss him a lot, I don't want to say the exact timeframe because I'm not a doctor, but for sure we're going to lose him for a while."
However, Arteta also brought good news: "Riccardo (Carafiore) was at training today and he will be among the squad. That's good news for us because we've been a bit short-handed the last few weeks."
On whether he will rest his players due to the back-to-back games, Arteta said, "It's only just September and we have to have our best players for tomorrow's game, that's the most important thing." He also emphasized his team's consistency in away games, "If we want to reach the level we want, we have to perform well both away and at home. In Europe, small differences can determine the outcome and we have to show excellence."
Speaking about his coping strategy after losing Ödgö, Arteta said, "Ödgö is our captain and one of our most important players. But in his absence we have to show a different look and other players can still play a huge role."
Finally, Arteta summarized what his team learned from last season's Champions League campaign: "It was a great campaign and we learned a lot. Now we have to prove that we have the ability and strength to go further. Hopefully the team is ready for a tough game tomorrow."
