In this video
- The reporter said Saliba had trained that day, then asked if Odegaard was available. Arteta said no, he is still out unfortunately, along with other players.
- Asked why teams use more set pieces, long throws and direct play, Arteta said it is the evolution of the game. It is faster, spaces are smaller, and you have to dominate everything to give yourself the best chance.
- Asked if the old rivalry still means something to him, Arteta said yes, of course, and all his family is from San Sebastian, an hour's drive away. He had never been in this stadium before.
- Asked for an update on an injured player, Arteta said there are still quite a lot of things to go through. It is very early to know which week he will be available, but he will be pushing to be back.
- Asked what he took from last season's run, Arteta said they are good enough to compete against any opposition on the day. But things must go your way, like having a full squad at the critical moments.
- Asked how much the semi-final drives him, Arteta said you get deflated and take a lot of learnings. It is painful, he thinks, because of the expectation and the real conviction in the club that they could go all the way.
- Asked about the pressure on Arsenal as, in the reporter's words, probably the biggest club never to win it, Arteta said that tells you how difficult it is. That is the opportunity, and how he sees it.
“…you fail much more than you succeed.”
Mikel Arteta Press Conference: Saliba In, Odegaard Out | Arsenal vs Athletic Bilbao
Arsenal Coach Mikel Arteta Press Conference ahead of Arsenal’s return to the UEFA Champions League, opening up about squad injuries, last season’s painful semi-final exit, and his hopes for going one step further this year.
He confirmed several injuries: Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus, Ben White, and Kai Havertz are all ruled out, while Bukayo Saka return timeline remains uncertain. Despite the setback, Arteta believes the squad has enough depth and flexibility to adapt, mentioning Leo and Mik as alternative options to lead the line in Victor’s place if needed.
Reflecting on last season’s Champions League semi-final loss to PSG, Arteta admitted it’s still hard both for the team and the fans. But the summer reinforcements and lessons learned have only sharpened Arsenal’s hunger to compete with Europe’s elite.
Watch the full press conference for updates on injuries, reflections on Arsenal’s progress, and Mikel Arteta’s mindset heading into another massive European campaign.
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