At 23:30 CEST on September 6, Arsenal will host Chelsea in Week 3 of the Premier League. Following the expiration of the media blackout, a portion of Arsenal manager Arteta's pre-match press conference has been released; the remaining final section is scheduled to be released at 05:30 CEST on September 6.

Do you think the team is stronger compared to the end of last season?

Yes, I think so.

Can you explain why you feel that way?

Well, that's my personal feeling. But now we have to prove that on the pitch through our actions. I think we have a better squad now, and I think we have more healthy players who can perform compared to the start of last season. Additionally, I think we've not only improved the overall technical quality of the team but also enhanced the leadership qualities within the squad, which is very important and necessary for a team.

Clearly, everyone is discussing the loss of attacking players—for example, four players have left but only one new one has been brought in—but can you explain to us why, in circumstances that seem unusual to people, your choices have actually become stronger? You're clearly stronger at the back and in midfield, but is that true in attack?

That's true, but it's a global issue. In that specific position, we have to prove through actual performances whether we've improved or not; let's wait and see. We need to test that through real matches, and personally I don't like making any subjective assumptions before things happen. I think scoring goals and attacking aren't just the responsibility of a few strikers; it's actually a collective responsibility of the whole team and the team's tactical dynamism. Moreover, we have different options in that position with players of different technical characteristics and styles.

I really wanted to make this point earlier, but hasn't everyone overlooked your original excellent squad? Former manager Wenger once famously said we live in a society that likes what's new and dislikes what's old, constantly chasing novelty, and people are obsessed with "the next shiny thing," so I want to ask you: are people overlooking the valuable assets you already have?

I think this is human nature. I suppose whenever you talk to people and ask them, the typical answer is: "Well, what's your wish list?" Yes, when discussing the future, people are eager to write out all sorts of wish lists. But sometimes, we often forget what I call the "reverse wish list"—those wonderful, amazing things that already exist and that you already have in your life. But because people are accustomed to focusing so much attention on goals they haven't achieved, everything they have seems never to be enough.

This isn't only true in football but in everyday life. I think it's important to learn to appreciate and value what you have, which is why I value this team and express my love for our players. I truly cherish everything we have and the results we've created together.

Of course, it's wonderful to have ambition and always maintain hunger and desire to improve, especially to cultivate and develop the positive elements currently in the club, which is absolutely necessary. However, never lose perspective and overlook the remarkable players we currently have. We're very fortunate to be able to compete with them.

Hello Mikel, during your time as Arsenal manager, you've only signed three strikers: Gabriel Jesus, Havertz, and Gyökeres, while you've signed over 10 defensive players. What's the reason for this?

Because there's only one striker needed on the pitch, and two to three center-backs, so naturally the demand for defensive players is greater. So what do you think the most reasonable recruitment ratio is?

Actually, I don't know; I'm just offering my opinion...

So what's your core question?

I mean this disparity, the large difference between the number of strikers signed and the number of defensive players signed—what's the reason behind it? Is it due to the transfer market? Or some other reason?

Are you suggesting I should sign more strikers, is that right?

Exactly!

Well, that depends on the specific circumstances. When I first arrived here, we already had two excellent strikers, Aubameyang and Lacazette. We also had Nketiah, who came through the club's youth academy system. Over time, things changed. I'm not sure how to explain that systematically, but the point is you have to trust the players you have to handle those responsibilities.

Currently, we've acted in the transfer market. We made transfers in last summer's window. And currently, Gabi (Jesus) is set to transfer to Barcelona. I also want to take this opportunity to express my sincere and highest gratitude to him, because he contributed significantly to changing the overall momentum and spirit inside and around our club.

I think when Gabi first arrived, he brought a strong belief of "this is mine," that vibrant energy, inner confidence and a unique, powerful aura that really helped and contributed greatly to the achievements we subsequently attained. And now, yes, he has a wonderful new opportunity to enjoy one of the greatest clubs in the world, and Barcelona is also a very appealing and desirable place to be. We're all delighted for him and wish him all the best.

Regarding the transfer window, there are rumors that your assistant coach Gabriel Heinze has contacted some of his Argentine teammates to gauge their interest in joining Arsenal. What exactly is Heinze's role? Does he have specific responsibilities or a say in player recruitment and transfer matters?

I don't know where that rumor comes from, but everyone in our group shares collective responsibility for everything we do, and we genuinely know many people in football. Obviously, when recruiting players, we need to thoroughly research their background. There are certainly some existing relationships within the coaching staff, and these resources should certainly be used wisely, but this is fundamentally no different from work done by any other member of our coaching staff.

Hello Mikel, given that you've won the Premier League and reached the Champions League final, do you feel somewhat frustrated to see that some transfers are still very difficult and obstructed? With a league title and a Champions League final appearance, surely world-class stars should be queuing up to knock on Arsenal's door?

I don't know what to say; I think facilitating a deal in this transfer market is extremely complex and certainly not as easy as it might appear. I don't know how easy it looks from the outside, but in reality, we've expended all possible effort and resources to push through and execute these transfers.

It's pleasing that we've actually secured most of these transfer intentions and demonstrated extremely high operational efficiency. I think Andrea's (Sport Director Berta) strategic plan in the transfer market this year once again demonstrated an remarkable level of competence, and of course, this is also inseparable from the strong backing of the entire club behind the scenes. However, transfer activity is never perfect, and in reality, it doesn't need to be.

Do you feel you still need to actively "market" the club to players now? Does Arsenal still need to prove something to the rest of the world?

No, on this point, I think the club's golden reputation is convincing enough to attract players. In this regard, I think we're very fortunate. Moreover, we live in a very beautiful city (London), which is always a huge plus for players' wives, girlfriends, and families.

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