All posts tagged: Arteta

Feisty MIkel Arteta Urges Arsenal Fans To ‘Bring Boots’ To PSG Champions League Clash

Feisty MIkel Arteta Urges Arsenal Fans To ‘Bring Boots’ To PSG Champions League Clash

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Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal fans to “bring your boots” and kick every ball as the Gunners prepare to take on Paris Saint-Germain with a place in the Champions League final at stake. The Gunners, who have never been crowned European champions, demolished holders Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in the last eight to reach their first semi-final for 16 years. Arsenal manager Arteta was in a bullish mood on the eve of the first leg against the French champions at the Emirates. “I’m not exaggerating when I said, ‘Guys, bring your boots, bring your shorts, bring your T-shirts and let’s play every ball together,” said the Spaniard. “We want to do something special, that place has to be something special, something that we haven’t seen.  “And I really hope that everybody that comes tomorrow to the Emirates and everybody that is watching and following us, brings that energy with them.” Arteta urged his men to “make the next step”. “Go there with that conviction and feel the conviction around it, I think …

Mikel Arteta laments Arsenal slip as Liverpool close in on title

Mikel Arteta laments Arsenal slip as Liverpool close in on title

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta didn’t mince words after his side’s title hopes took a heavy blow in a dramatic 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace on Wednesday, admitting his team “dropped our standards” in a result that could all but hand Liverpool the Premier League crown. The draw means that Liverpool only need a draw against arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday and the title could be decided before the Gunners next kick a ball in the league. Jakub Kiwior gave Arsenal a dream start with a thumping third-minute header, but the early dominance didn’t last long. Eberechi Eze pulled Palace level with a sublime volley in the 27th minute, connecting sweetly with Adam Wharton’s whipped corner. Story continues below this ad Leandro Trossard briefly restored the home crowd’s optimism just before halftime, finishing coolly after a slick passing move. But it was Crystal Palace who had the final say, as substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta punished a rare William Saliba error in the 83rd minute, latching onto the loose ball and lofting it past David Raya from 30 …

Mikel Arteta plays down Bukayo Saka injury concerns, says winger could play against Crystal Palace

Mikel Arteta plays down Bukayo Saka injury concerns, says winger could play against Crystal Palace

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed his star player Bukayo Saka has a good chance to take the field against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night. Saka, who scored in Arsenal’s win over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu last week, was injured in the Premier League weekend fixture against Ipswich Town. Saka, who was fouled by Leif Davis — which led to the defender earning a red card — limped off in the second half of the match on Sunday, which Arsenal won 4-0. He was seen getting attention to his right foot with the winger applying an ice pack immediately after being substituted, raising concerns over his availability for Arsenal’s Champions League match against PSG. Story continues below this ad Though there have been calls for Saka to be rested for the match against Palace, Arteta said there are no fitness concerns with the winger. “We have to wait and see how he reacts after (the training) session, but it’s nothing too serious,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “If we want to, I think he …

Without him, I wouldn’t be here: Mikel Arteta thanks former mentor Pep Guardiola after Arsenal thrash Real Madrid to enter UCL semis | Football News

Without him, I wouldn’t be here: Mikel Arteta thanks former mentor Pep Guardiola after Arsenal thrash Real Madrid to enter UCL semis | Football News

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta revealed that he had a chat with former mentor and current Premier league rival Pep Guardiola before the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal’s second leg against Real Madrid. For the uninitiated, Arsenal shocked the world for the second time in two weeks, defeating Real 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night and 5-1 in aggregate after last week’s 3-0 drubbing at the Emirates Stadium, thus securing their place in the last 4 of this year’s edition alongside Paris Saint Germain, Inter Milan and Barcelona. “I called him because if I am here, it is thanks to him to a great extent. He has been a big inspiration to me. I lived four amazing years with him and I will always be grateful to him. Without him, I wouldn’t be here,” Arteta, who worked as an assistant to Guardiola at Manchester City in 2016-19, told reporters after Wednesday’s game. “Our team is very hungry and we want to keep on doing great things … we want to keep playing at semi-finals. We …

‘Bukayo Saka is ready to go’: Arsenal attacker expected to return vs Fulham, says Mikel Arteta | Football News

‘Bukayo Saka is ready to go’: Arsenal attacker expected to return vs Fulham, says Mikel Arteta | Football News

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In a big boost for Arsenal ahead of a last two months of the English Premier League season where they are 12 points behind Liverpool, Bukayo Saka is expected to make his long awaited return to the team in the match against Fulham on Tuesday. Saka, who was out with a hamstring injury since last December, is ‘ready to go’, as per manager Mikel Arteta. “Saka is ready to go. All the careful things are already done. Now it’s about putting him in the grass at the right moment. But he’s pushing because he really wants to. Bukayo is a massive weapon that we have. We know the impact he has in the team and how important his role and contribution is to our success. It’s great to have him back again,” Arteta said. The England international who has scored 9 times and provided 14 assists, couldn’t have made his return at a better time with the Gunners hosting Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final next week. Story continues below …

‘I will not have the time that Arteta had’: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim | Football News

‘I will not have the time that Arteta had’: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim | Football News

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Ahead of his team’s match against Arsenal, Manchester United manager Ruben said that he would not have as much time to change the club’s fortunes like which was afforded to Mikel Arteta after the Spaniard joined the London club in 2019. Arteta, who has transformed the Gunners into a squad which is capable of a title challenge, just has a FA Cup in his trophy cabinet. “I will not have the time that Arteta had. I feel that [Arsenal] is a different club,” Amorim said. “It is a different club, in that aspect, the way how Arteta dealt with that [the issues] is an inspiration for everybody,” he added. Arsenal are currently placed second in the Premier League table with a gap of 13 points with leaders Liverpool. The Gunner, however have a game in hand. United, meanwhile, are 14th. Story continues below this ad In Arsenal’s last match which was in the Champions League, they took a massive step toward a quarterfinal spot with a 7-1 win at PSV Eindhoven. It was the biggest …

‘It’s a big blow’: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on Kai Havertz injury | Football News

‘It’s a big blow’: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on Kai Havertz injury | Football News

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Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta on Friday admitted that losing Kai Havertz was a big blow to the club but added that it was an opportunity for them to show their mettle. Havertz recently joined the long list of injuries to the Arsenal frontline players and is set to undergo undergo surgery on a hamstring injury. “We were having a great camp in Dubai, recharging and training… Then the injury happened in an unexpected way, it’s a big blow because of injuries we have. But fortunately, we’ve been through a lot this season,” Arteta told reporters. “We have played without (William) Saliba, without Ben White, (Takehiro) Tomiyasu all season, (Riccardo) Calafiori for two months, Mikel Merino for two months, Martin Odegaard for two months, Saka for three months, Gabriel Jesus… all of them. Let’s see what the team is made of… Any team in this league loses four players in the frontline like that and I know what the answer will be,” he added. Story continues below this ad Arsenal are already without Gabriel Jesus (anterior …

‘Very Difficult’ To Improve Arsenal In January Window, Says Mikel Arteta

‘Very Difficult’ To Improve Arsenal In January Window, Says Mikel Arteta

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File photo of Mikel Arteta© AFP Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said it will be difficult to find January signings that will be capable of immediately improving his side as they aim to end a five-year trophy drought. A lack of firepower was exposed in the past week as Arteta’s men lost 2-0 to Newcastle in the League Cup semi-final first leg and drew 1-1 at Brighton in a blow to their Premier League title hopes. Adding to Arteta’s attacking problems, Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is set to be sidelined until at least March after surgery on a hamstring injury. The Gunners lie six points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand, although they are well-placed to progress to the Champions League knockout stages. On Friday, Arteta shot down suggestions he has to add more forward options to his squad over the next month. “Bringing in bodies doesn’t help us all,” said Arteta ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup third round tie against Manchester United. “It’s just about somebody who …

Mikel Arteta laments Arsenal slip as Liverpool close in on title

Mikel Arteta trolled by Carabao Cup handle after blaming match ball for Arsenal loss

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pinned some of the blame for his team’s defeat to Newcastle United in the first-leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on the ball being used for the match. Arsenal were wasteful in the first leg at home in the Emirates Stadium. Newcastle United, meanwhile, take home a 2-0 advantage thanks to goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon. While talking at the press conference, Mikel Arteta was asked what his players could do to improve their finishing. Arteta said: “Nothing, just try and show them and give them tips of what we can do better. I think we kicked a lot of the balls over the bar and it’s tricky that this ball flies a lot. We discussed that as well, so there are details that we can do better.” Watch: Mikel Arteta blames match ball for woeful finishing “It’s just different, very different to the Premier League ball” ⚽ Mikel Arteta suggested the Carabao Cup ball was a contributing factor in their loss to Newcastle, and rued Arsenal’s wastefulness in …

Mikel Arteta Grapples With Arsenal’s Defensive Injury Crisis Ahead Of Monaco Game

Mikel Arteta Grapples With Arsenal’s Defensive Injury Crisis Ahead Of Monaco Game

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta© AFP Mikel Arteta praised his Arsenal team for how they have coped with a punishing defensive injury crisis as he prepares his men to face Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday. The Gunners are seventh in the new-look Champions League format after three wins in five matches — one place above the Ligue 1 team. But Arteta, whose men are also third in the Premier League, is juggling a lengthy injury list. Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori, who both missed Sunday’s draw at Fulham, were absent from Tuesday’s training session, along with Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey. Right-backs Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are still absent with knee injuries. “We have to manage a lot of the players, so they’re probably not going to be fit for tomorrow and are a doubt,” Arteta said at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday. “I still have 24 hours to make those decisions and hopefully the right ones…. In the ideal scenario, we have to be in charge to make …