In the third round of the Premier League, Arsenal will host Chelsea. During the final part of the pre-match press conference, Arteta discussed his friendship with Blues manager Alonso, Saka's motivation, and other topics.

Hello, Mikel, I've been reading about the history of San Sebastian. We are all products of our environment...

Products? What kind of products, edible or...?

No, no. We are all products of the environment we grew up in.

Ah, I understand.

In the history of San Sebastian, there have been many wars, battles, and conflicts. I wonder if this is a significant reason why you, Xabi (Alonso), and Andoni (Iraola) have come so far in life and shaped your attitude towards competition?

You mean having a tougher character? Maybe. Yes, obviously we've been through a lot internally and domestically. But indeed, I think it made us stronger. It makes us different – not better, but more unique in a way. We've made good use of that background and those values, perhaps being better prepared to face difficult moments and challenges when we need to give our all.

You joined Everton six months after he (Alonso) went to Liverpool. How important was that, and I imagine you spoke to him? How important is it for you to live here near him, next door to him?

That was incredible. But something even more amazing happened. Pepe Reina and I used to share bunk beds in Barcelona. Years later, we lived next door to each other in Liverpool – he played for Liverpool, and I played for Everton. This is the magic of this beautiful sport; you never know where you'll end up, and many wonderful moments happen like this.

Many years ago, you said that you and Xabi had to keep your friendship quite low-key because people didn't like to see Liverpool and Everton players being close friends. Was that the case?

I think you have to be rational about this. There's no need to deliberately publicize certain things – just like when Pepe (Reina) was at Liverpool or other players who spent time with us. It's inevitable, but I also think you need to be able to separate your professional and personal relationships.

Finally, Mikel, I have a few questions. Regarding Xabi (Alonso) and Chelsea, do you think they are title contenders this season?

I think they have all the elements to be at the very top of the table; there's no doubt about that. Knowing him, knowing this club's history, the strength of the squad they have, and the fixtures they'll face compared to other teams – yes, it's very, very possible.

I also want to ask about Bukayo (Saka). From the outside, it seems he's returned with real fire in his belly this time, after a difficult World Cup and a tough injury-plagued season. Have you noticed this? What do you think about his start to the season – he's already scored two goals?

I noticed it immediately. He wanted to return to the team early, which in itself is a very good sign. Also, the way he prepared over the summer. But these things always happen in your career – sometimes you need certain motivation or a little external stimulus to take you to another level. Bukayo is now showing very good signs that this will be the case.

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com