Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta discusses a much needed summer break for him and the team
22/05/2025
Sobha Realty Training Ground, London, UK
22/05/2025
Sobha Realty Training Ground, London, UK
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00:00For your players, especially for the internationals, it's been quite a very busy few years.
00:08Just how valuable could the next six weeks be for them after this weekend?
00:16Does that make you excited for the season?
00:18Yeah, for sure. They're going to need a rest.
00:20The internationals are still going to have a few games to play.
00:23As you said, it's been a big part of that.
00:25We have some big injuries as well while players wear international duties.
00:29It's part of it. It's part of the schedule.
00:32It's part as well of their ambition and what they want to achieve.
00:36It's a good summer because after that they're going to have a good rest period as well
00:40that they're going to recharge themselves and prepare really well for what is coming next season.
00:45You spoke about the David Ryan decision earlier, creating a lot of noise
00:48and having to back yourselves on that decision.
00:51Are you planning anything this summer that you think could make a similar impact
00:55or anything that has to be a bit ruthless?
00:58It's not. We have to feel it. If it's the best decision for the club and for the team
01:05and it's communicated in the right way and it's explained in the right way
01:09with whoever is involved, we have to do it. That's our job.
01:13Yes, especially a few things that we have to evolve as a team to get that randomness out and to understand the
01:20better as well our players and the demands that we are putting on them. That's a big one.
01:27And especially one, which is the size of the squad.
01:34And now we're pretty much at the end of the season.
01:35Aside from the first team, you've obviously got a lot of youngsters coming through the academy.
01:39For the next campaign, who are the one or two that we should be looking out for that you think
01:46that may break through to the first team with the first team with the way that Miles and Ethan can have this campaign?
01:53Well, I think Max probably will be in around the pre-season. He's got a very busy schedule as well in the summer
02:00because the end of the tournament at the moment and he's going to need some rest and we will pick another few from the academy as well.
02:08to be in around the team and hopefully get a nice beautiful surprise again.
02:29On to your squad size, I don't know if you saw Pep's comments this week. He basically threatened to quit City to make the squad bigger.
02:38Obviously, it seems like you have different views on that. Some managers want it very tight and compact.
02:44Different situation because we had four and five kids on the bench. It's not like we had to leave.
02:49I never had to leave two, three, four players out of the squad.
02:53Is that something you want to avoid as you look to build the squad?
02:56I think it's probably about the optimal size of the squad. And then within that squad, everybody has to accept a role.
03:03I mean, to have 22 but which role? I have five full-backs that they all feel like they are Tier 1, you have a big problem.
03:09So it's probably about having the optimal size with the optimal role execution of each member of the team.
03:16That's the dream, I think.
03:18So it's about making sure players know which tier they exist?
03:22First tier, we're positioned, understanding the role, having the right ambition still to achieve it.
03:27I mean, we have had many young players from academy that haven't played in minutes,
03:33four or five of them on the bench. We haven't had a situation where we have to leave four or five in the squad.
03:39Just on how you're going to reflect on this season, how long do you think you will take to take stock of what's going on
03:49and try to implement the plan for next season? Or do you already know?
03:54Well, quite a lot of things, I know, but we'll sit down with all the staff and review a lot of things.
04:01And from there, some others will emerge, you know, and the way we're looking at the squad
04:05or things that we've done, whatever phase of play it is or the way we want to change game
04:09or prepare matches or meetings or our messages, all this has to be, again, evolved.
04:15What we have this season, we'll close it, learn from it and then it will be a new one.
04:19And then there is an element that you have to feel the temperature, what is needed,
04:24what the group needs right now and go from there.
04:27So we will be planning and then, yeah, as well, follow your instinct, your gut
04:31and what the team needs in that moment.
04:34Obviously, this is going to be the fourth time you're going into pre-season as runners-up,
04:39you know, one-step play. Is there anything you might try and do a bit differently this time
04:43just to change things up?
04:45Yeah, for sure. It will be different.
04:47Every season, every pre-season is different, the schedule will be different,
04:51the travelling, the players probably, hopefully, they will be with us much earlier,
04:56which is a very, very positive thing.
04:58It will depend as well on what we do in the market when we do it
05:01and we will adapt from there.
05:03Hi.
05:05My line? No, that's not my line.
05:20No, that's not my line.
05:21No.
05:22You said you have to get it, you have to win.
05:24We have the dream to do that.
05:26In a position to get it here.
05:27Yeah, yeah.
05:28Is it good to say these things in the open?
05:30Other managers will never say something as bold as what Ange said.
05:35Is it good to say these things?
05:38I don't know.
05:39If you are so convinced, he's done it.
05:41So, I mean, applaud him because, as you said, it was bold, it was a big statement
05:47and it's the liberty, so great for him.
05:51You talked about randomness.
05:52How do you get the randomness out?
05:54Again, football is impossible.
05:55Not possible.
05:56No.