Manager: I won't comment on Alvarez; I never ask players to publicly declare their desire to join Arsenal

In the second round of the Premier League, Arsenal will play away against Aston Villa. Before the match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta attended a press conference to answer questions from the media. Below is the first half of the press conference.

Before Monday's match, I think we'll have three more training sessions. So it's difficult to reveal much about the squad, but I understand that Ngoyo is currently at the training ground because he's been training for five or six days. Can he play on Monday?

Yes, he can play. He's trained well and will be available for selection on Monday.

So if he makes his Arsenal debut, we could see him face his former club, Aston Villa. Tell us about this transfer. It seems like a very straightforward and smooth deal.

Well, I'm not involved in the specific transfer business. Our job is to scout players and find talent that we believe can improve the team. But yes, ultimately, the club signs a player and buys a player because everyone is happy with the outcome.

I mean, there shouldn't be any obstacles in the transfer process, and no reason why this player shouldn't be treated kindly when facing Villa fans.

I hope so. I don't know, but I believe Ezri will feel the same way about everything he's done for this club, but obviously, that's not up to us.

Also, Bruno Guimarães hasn't been seen on the training ground yet. Does that mean his injury is more serious than you initially thought?

No, it's not. We're just managing his workload over the last few days. He's had some training sessions on the pitch, but we need to control his load so he can be in the best physical condition for Monday.

Is it possible he plays on Monday?

Yes, it's entirely possible that he plays.

I didn't see Gabriel Jesus on the training ground today. Is that correct?

Yes.

Is this related to his future?

It's related to the number of players we currently have in the squad, and we're managing these players individually due to some personal circumstances.

When you say personal circumstances, do you mean he could leave the club?

Personal circumstances are personal circumstances, whatever they may be, and I think that's clear.

Also, another Gabi—Martinelli was training at the time, but our detective here with glasses saw him leave well before the other players. He started training around 11 o'clock but rushed out at 12:20. Do you know where he went?

Ha, that's another personal situation we're dealing with. I think everyone knows and recognizes how much we love Martinelli. Yes, whatever the final outcome, it will be based on consensus from everyone involved.

You said last week that it's very difficult to have certain conversations with players you like and have worked with. Have you had those conversations with these two players as well?

Yes, of course. We've had those conversations, and they're two-way communication. But I'm very satisfied with how those conversations have progressed, because I know what each of them is thinking, and what's been said in those talks genuinely makes me happy. But at some point, you inevitably need to have specific discussions and say things that sometimes sound harsh.

Have you also spoken with Álvarez?

I won't discuss that topic.

He's obviously a player you know very well. Andrea Berta also signed him when he was at Atlético Madrid. Would he be part of all the transfer rumors?

Yes, but I won't comment on players who aren't part of our squad.

But in general, to change the subject, one last question about transfers. There's only one more press conference before the transfer deadline. In general, when you sign a player, we know you need that player to be fully committed. Whether publicly or privately, they must really want to join Arsenal. Will that always be the case?

Publicly, I never ask them to make a statement. I think it's more important to know their true feelings privately—to confirm they feel a unique sense of belonging, connection, and desire to join us, to confirm they really want to be part of our family.

One last question about transfers—I'm not going to ask you something that would surprise you, but about Ethan Nwaneri. His future should be clear. Is there any update on what's next for him?

No, there's no news on that.

Hello, Mikel, nice to see you. I'd like to follow up on Álvarez given some reports from Spanish media. Do you watch El Chiringuito on Spanish TV channel Seis? Or are you familiar with the program?

I know the program, but I don't watch it, no.

Well, one of their main journalists, Josep Pedrerol, said you called him and he didn't answer. Is there any truth to that?

You know I won't comment on public statements, because if I responded to them every day, I'd probably need another job.

Regarding team injuries before this match, is there any update on Timber or Saliba?

Jurriën is recovering very well. We'll see how he is by the end of this week. This is his third consecutive week of outdoor training, and we've been increasing his training load. So he's on the right path to recovery. If all goes well, I think we can continue to increase his training intensity next week. Saliba is obviously in a more conservative load management phase, so that will take some time.

You're in a very enviable position, with what seems to be two players for each position on the pitch. Can you tell us about your decision-making process when making substitutions in the first match against Coventry? Because we didn't see Gyökeres play at all.

Well, for different reasons. Some are physical reasons, because some players still can't play 90 minutes, and we don't want to overload them. Other reasons are tactical considerations or my immediate instincts during the match—that's all.

Finally, on Monday you'll face Unai Emery, who's had a difficult start to the season. Given that Villa has so many players leaving and facing so much uncertainty, how much do you sympathize with his situation? I know many managers want the transfer window to close as quickly as possible.

Well, he's undoubtedly one of the most experienced and successful managers in the Premier League. Look at what they achieved last season, their final position, and the incredible season they had. So it's just a normal match, that's all. I'm confident he'll definitely be able to turn the situation around.

Traduzido por IA.

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