Arsenal will host Shakhtar Donetsk Miners in the upcoming 3rd round of the Champions League on October 23rd at 3:00 am Beijing time. Before the match, Arsenal manager Arteta attended the press conference and answered reporters' questions on the team's recent situation, injuries, discipline and the opponent's situation.
Speaking about the unbeaten start to the new season that was ended by Bournemouth, Arteta said that the loss has to be taken in the right perspective, emphasizing that the team still deserves credit for losing only one game in six months, but that it has to win again next. On the third red card his team has received, he admitted that there were problems with discipline, saying that he could no longer play with 10 men and emphasizing that the situation must change.
Regarding injuries, Arteta revealed that Martin Ödekel and Bucayo Saca are recovering well, but their availability is still to be seen on a case-by-case basis. Meanwhile, he also spoke about his opinion on the appeal of William Saliba's red card, saying that he will leave the decision to the club.
Speaking about their opponents, the Shakhtar Donetsk Miners, Arteta expressed his sympathy for the situation they were in and praised their efforts to stay in the game. He believes that even though soccer seems less important compared to the situation the miners are facing, it is remarkable that they decided to use it to bring something positive.
On the upcoming match, Arteta said that the team is hungry for victory and wants to meet the challenge with the best performance. At the same time, he also spoke about the team's approach to the game and believes that there is a need to avoid unnecessary fouls while remaining competitive. Talking about injured player Jurijn Timbel, he said that Timbel is close to making a comeback but it will depend on the training.
In addition, Arteta answered questions about Nwaneri's overexposure, midfield lineup adjustments, Zinchenko's changing role, and Jack Wilshere's addition to the first-team coaching staff. He said that the team is gradually adjusting its form and wants to look its best for the upcoming matches.
