Before Arsenal's home match against Southampton in the 7th round of the English Premier League, Arsenal manager Arteta attended the pre-match press conference and elaborated on topics such as team injuries, tactical adjustments and player status.
On the injury front, Arteta said that Timberlake, Ben White and Kenyo Tomoyasu are all actively recovering and that they are very close to making a comeback. Regarding the return of Zinchenko and Odeko, Arteta said that Zinchenko will probably be able to come back after the international day, while Odeko's recovery has been more difficult, but it is difficult to give an exact time for his return as he is actively progressing.
Speaking about the match against Southampton, Arteta emphasized the importance and difficulty of the game and said that Southampton is a well-drilled team with a very clear soccer philosophy. On Russell Martin's adherence to his style of play, Arteta expressed his appreciation that this attitude will ultimately make the team more successful.
On the player front, Arteta singled out Ramsdale's return to the Emirates Stadium, stating that he is a very popular player at the club, highly personal, and that the club will be happy to see him. On Havertz's scoring streak, Arteta believes it is because he is very good, hungry for goals and surrounded by a lot of good players.
In terms of tactics, Arteta said that the team is adapting to different ways of playing and opponents, showing great consistency and adaptability. He emphasized that the team's consistency in winning games is due to the fact that the 11 players on the pitch are very committed at every stage of the game, eager and with a strong desire to fight for every possession.
Additionally, Arteta talked about how the team has evolved without Ödgö, saying that the team has had to make adjustments, try to do things differently, and find the right combinations by tweaking some of the tactics. He also spoke highly of Tomas Partey's performance, saying that he's had a great start to the season, is in great physical shape, and is doing everything he can to achieve consistency.
Regarding the injuries and the state of the players during international days, Arteta said he would rather not watch the games and pray that everyone stays safe. He believes that international matches are a player's duty, the same for all European teams and South American teams, but the team must adapt and hope that everyone stays healthy.
Finally, Arteta said that the team's goal is to find the best formation, become the most competitive team and try to win every game. He believes that the team is capable of overcoming any challenge and looks forward to continuing to do well in the upcoming matches.
