Every word Mikel Arteta said on David Raya injury, Man City criticism and Arsenal youngsters

How’s Raya?

We have to wait another 24 hours.

Is it looking good?

We have to wait 24 hours to see if it’s looking good or not that good.

Will you risk him with an eye to PSG?

It’s not about a risk, it’s about a player being fit and available or not. When we have that clarity for Leicester, which is the main thing we’re thinking about at the moment, we will make that decision tomorrow.

What about White and Timber

Jurrien was able to take part in training today, that’s good news, so he’ll be available in the squad. Hopefully Ben too.

How’s Mikel Merino progressing?

Tomorrow is too soon. Next week we’ll see. He had partial training today. He’s been working so hard. It’s looking good. It’s about the healing of the bone and how mature that is to expose him to contact basically.

READ MORE: Mikel Arteta press conference highlights - Arsenal boss on Leicester, Nwaneri and Raya injury latest

READ MORE: Mikel Arteta provides triple Arsenal injury boost amid huge David Raya update for Leicester

Pep said there was no damage your relationship after the City match. How can you keep that relationship going?

First of all, because I love him, I respect him, I admire him and I admire his team and everything that he does. This is sport. One thing is our profession another is our personal relationship. If our relationship was damaged because one draws and the other one wins or the amount of times that they’ve beaten us, I would not talk to him anymore. So that’s not our relationship, especially the relationship that I consider both of us have. In sport it will never get in my way a personal relationship. That’s for sure.

Is it hard to do it with accusations flying around?

It depends. If those accusations affect you it’s because maybe they’re true. If they don’t and you know and you do what you believe is right and you show your integrity it doesn’t have to be. There are opinions and if you don’t like opinions then you shouldn’t be sitting in the position that I am. It’s quite simple. Don’t take it personal. It’s part of our job. The things that you really care about make sure you handle them in the right way. That relationship I really care about. The same with a lot of people in that staff and players that I spent really important years of my life with.

Does it make it harder that you were there before and now you’re here?

No I think it makes it easier because it helps you to know people in different situations. When you get to know those people in the good and the bad, when things go your way, and they don’t go your way, then you understand them much better. For me it’s not a surprise and I’m very comfortable with that.

How happy are you with how the players have stepped up without Odegaard?

Well, if you put me in this scenario before the season with the fixtures that we had, the three away games that we had and the amount of injuries that we had I would be very pleased with how we got out of that. It’s not just with Martin – he’s obviously one of our best players and one of the players who has the biggest impact on the team in many ways - but there are many others as well. The team has coped exceptionally well. We have an exceptional group. A lot of players are taking a role in their leadership of the team. They embraced the challenge and I’m really happy for that.

Do you think these upcoming fixtures are a chance to build momentum, play a bit more with the ball again?

We play with the ball no? Every game. We will do the same. Hopefully we will get a lot of momentum.

What you made of people talking about his defensive tactics at City?

I did what I believed was the right thing to be as competitive as possible to win the game.

Keane and Souness comments, respond?

No.

David Raya, fair to say a doubt?

Yes. Sure.

Neto… what convinced you?

We had to react very quickly with the departure of Aaron. We had him on our list for a few years. He has played in various countries, at the highest level in different roles. I believed he was the right player, he was in the Premier League, he has experience and he is someone we can throw in at any moment.

Arsenal’s strong defence, what has been the key?

It is the players’ mentality and how willing you are to do certain things when you're out of possession. If it is a sacrifice for the team, we are using the wrong words, but if it is adding something special to the team, contributing to that, and loving it while you're doing it, it is something else. The outcome is very different. A lot of work from the coaches, the players has gone into that, developing those relationships and building trust within the team, the squad, in many different phases, and during games that we are comfortable to do that.

Gabriel and Saliba - best pair ever?

In terms of chemistry, that existed from day one. You can force it if you want, but it was so organic and natural and that was the best part of that. They have qualities that complement each other and we have to use them in the right way. Everyone is very clear about their role, its perception and when they are happy and recognise that, things are easier.

How wary of the underdogs tomorrow?

For sure. And they have a lot of ability. I know Steve very well, and what he has done and is trying to do. I have watched three or four of their games from this season and they have a threat. He has the formula because he beat us when he was at Forest and it is a game we will take very seriously because they are tough opponents.

How happy are you with your depth?

Well in terms of how we have reacted, especially to difficulty very early in the season, yes. We have to prove that obviously at the end of the season, so to answer that question with more certainty we have to wait until the end of the season — but good signs so far.

How do you manage Ethan and other youngsters?

For sure, we treat them like first team players because they deserve to be in the position that they are. We have to be conscious that obviously we are managing the development, that that step has been really far, but as well we have to be fair as well with them, and if they give us the right signs and reasons to play them more, we have to do so.

Mikel Merino? Having to hold him back?

Yes we are trying to keep him in the cage, because he’s been pushing everyone — the physios, the doctors, everybody — and he’s ready to go, and he really wants it. I think we are comfortable now to start exposing him with contact, and he looked really good in training.

What does he bring?

He’s going to bring first an unbelievable football brain. He’s so intelligent, the way he decides, he occupies spaces, he makes decisions. It’s very rare to see that. And he’s a very talented player, in every phase — defending, attacking. He can do things that complement really well the quality we have in midfield. Physicality, for sure, and then he’s a big threat. The moment that he’s in the opponent’s box, you’ll see that he’s a big, big threat.

Is it going to be a test breaking teams down without Odegaard?

We have to adapt to that. Obviously the influence that Martin had in our attacking phase is enormous, and we cannot question that. When you look at every metric, the way we plan the games, the types of things that we have to try to do to get him in the spaces where he can be very dangerous for the opponent, it’s key — it’s always in relation to him, basically. We don’t have him, so we babe to adapt. We have to adapt our way of playing and we have to find other ways to do it that are very efficient. It will be different — it won’t be the same — it will be different but hopefully very efficient as well.

How do you keep your team focused on this game vs big games?

I asked them the question yesterday, to write it: ‘What are the difficulties and the challenges here?’ And they were very clear about it, so they know what is coming, and they know this league so far so good, and they know that we’re going to require to be at the top level tomorrow to beat them.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently in 2016 to stop Leicester winning the league?

I have enough of my tactical issues to go through there! It was a beautiful story, they fully deserved it, what they did is amazing and it’s part of Premier League history, and it’s great.

You said you wanted questions about tactics…

My tactics!

Are you amazed your team are being criticised given results?

I don’t know but honestly it’s part of what we do, because I don’t want to be on YouTube because we’ve been so silly. I want to be on YouTube because we’ve done the right thing in May, and for the right reasons and lifting what we want to lift and achieve, so in order to do that we have to be very efficient in what we do. So I didn’t predict to play 66 minutes with 10 men, and we had to do that, and we have to accept that. And sometimes the opponent is better at doing something in the game — that doesn’t mean they are playing better, they are being better at doing a specific thing inside the game. We are interested in doing all the things that can help us to win the game.

How is Tomi?

He had a partial training today and he looked good. Again, he’s probably a little bit behind Mikel but we don’t know with Tomi because he’s another one that pushes every day, but he’s in a good place now I think.

How is Calafiori settling?

Really good. As you said obviously he came back, he had a little glimpse then he went on international duty and got injured, so we had to manage him again and then we throw him in against Man City away for his first Premier League start, and I thought he was superb. He’s really good, he’s adapted really well to the group, his understanding is exceptional, and you see he’s a player with an enormous courage and personality to play, so he’s going to give us a lot.

Amazing to give him his debut at Etihad…

With another player, probably I wouldn’t do it. But because I know how he copes, and when you speak to him he really wants it, I decided to do it and he showed that he’s prepared to do it.

How’s Myles…

He’s fine, he was cramping but he has no issues.

Is there an agenda against the club? Lots of criticism?

But I heard a lot of positive things, so this is criticism… is it negative or positive criticism?

Negative …

Great. So we get negative criticism — where we are, after what we’ve been through in the last three games… That tells you the expectations. So we have to raise the level, that’s it.

Would you like to silence the critics against Leicester?

No. I want it because I want to play well and deserve the three points, not to silence anybody. And to make our people proud. That’s it.