Morning all.
Here are a few snippets of Mikel Arteta’s post Bournemouth press conference where he talks about his group of players and transfers. The full interview is available on Arsenal.com.
On the mood in the camp this pre-season:
It’s been very positive since day one. We started at Marbella for two weeks and then we had a week off. When the players arrived back at the Sobha Realty Training Centre they were at it straight away. It’s not a surprise because they’re a joy of a team to work with – even today, straight away with jet lag and high temperatures, they train at the same intensity.
On how we integrate international players back into the squad:
There is a very well-thought-out plan of integration, but we cannot expect them to go from sunbeds to training at 100 miles per hour. They need to be able to get up to speed. When they come back we will be working closely with them to follow the rhythm of the rest of the boys.
On if those players involved deep into Euro 2024 will miss the start of the season:
I do not think so. Let’s see what condition they come back in. All of the messages I have got from them, they are really excited to come back and have a great season again. I do not expect anything else.
On not being able to do much more to win the league the past two seasons:
We have to! Perfection in this league requires different standards to relate that world to winning the Premier League. That’s what we need to do, we need to upgrade everything we’re doing and improve in every area. That’s what we’re trying to do.
On not being able to rest on our laurels:
We are so close. There are moments where we had really fine margins. We have earned to be there, and obviously we want much more and we are going to try to get it.
On whether not winning the title this season would be a disappointment:
When you are so close, you really want to grab it. But I think you have to analyse the whole thing. In the end, the outcome of this football club has to be to win major trophies, and we are in the process to achieve that – we are very close. The level that we are showing is extremely high, but it’s not been enough to win it. That’s the target.
On how close we are to achieving his initial goals:
We’re certainly heading in the right direction and we are travelling at a really high speed with the things that we have transformed not only in the football side, but I think as a club as well. Now what is missing is to bring the big titles back home.
On Takehiro Tomiyasu’s injury:
It is unbelievable, because the kid works so hard. He had an incident in training this week and we don’t know yet the extent of that [knee] injury but as a precaution we kept him [in England]. We’ll see what happens.
On if there are any transfer updates:
No unfortunately not, but we know there are certain positions that we want to improve and give the squad better resources, especially in terms of numbers where we are very short. We will try our best but the main thing is to focus on falling in love with the players we have and make them better
On whether he’s keen to get transfer business done early:
Yeah from day one, I’d have everyone. That would be my choice!
On whether a new player could join the camp before the end of the tour:
I don’t know. There’s still a lot to go in the window. Edu, the board and everyone at the club are working hard.
His ‘sunbeds to training at 100mph’ comment made me chuckle. I guess the one thing many Arsenal fans are mostly interested in this time of year though is transfers. We couldn’t beat Man City to the title with the squad we had last season so unless we add some talent to the squad, it’s unlikely we will fair much better next time around. Chelsea, Aston Villa and Manchester United have all strengthened their squads this summer so in all likelihood, they’re going to be tougher to beat.
Last season Mikel Arteta didn’t have to deal with too many injuries, certainly not in central defence and White, Rice and Saka were ever present too barring minutes here and there. Partey, Zinchenko, Jesus and Tomiyasu suffered their usual breakdowns at different stages of the season and barring a miracle, they’ll likely do the same this season too.
Arteta made it quite clear that any players he hopes to sign this summer would have been through the door by now but that’s not been the case. At least he’s offered hope that signings are coming as long as Edu and his team can get the deals done.
Fingers crossed.
Good morning Rico, what an asset Arteta is to the Arsenal….P R team. Not a negative thought in his mind, optimism from first to last. The only solid news was that of Tomiyasu’s knee injury. It was in training it’s a knee injury and it hasn’t been fully assessed.
Good day everyone
A positive post Rico. Straight out of the Arteta manual. Like Cicero said….Arteta is an assett. That’s psychology of positivity for you….he thinks positive, transmits that to players and fans and also future players.
Seems that Nketiah is gone. Agreement with player reached now they have to trash things out between the two clubs. A loan plus obligation to buy or a straight sale. I hope its the latter as money is needed right now.
Lucky Eddie. I wish I was in his boots.
Just read that Arsenal have made a 300k bid for Bentley of Wolves. But the latter want 1M.
Morning Cicero, I’m just as cynical. There’s nothing in his interview which is different to this time last season really…
Not sure if it’s positive or just positive spin Devil. 😜
in your case its positive. with regards MA08 I dont know if its positivity or just positive spin, but from observing him as a player and now as a manager I would lean towards the former. He is a positive person and I presume that even if he is not in a good place he will still make all the effort say it positively. Remember, he does not accept negative influence around the team or club….those who express it in any way are ruthlessly chucked out.
I just read this on one of the Facebook pages……….There are players that Mikel Arteta & Arsenal would prefer to sell ahead of Emile Smith Rowe. Arteta remains a huge fan of the player & the club have not been particularly enamoured with the midfielders available on the market this summer.
The wishes of the player may be the determining factor. If Smith Rowe expresses a firm desire to leave & Arsenal receive a suitable offer, the club are unlikely to stand in his way.
Our favourite righteous reporter at it again……
FabrizioRomano: “The interest from Arsenal in Mikel Merino remains absolutely strong. Arsenal made several calls on the player’s side to confirm their interest. Merino is one of the candidates for the midfield, not the only one, but the interest is genuine.
I would love him to come to us. He reminds me of Xavi/Cazorla but with height which is needed in the EPL. Imagine him sitting behind Rice and Odegaard. makes your legs go jelly
The one thing Arteta can’t be criticised for imo is his positivity. Everything he says is full of belief and optimism.
He’s kind of deflected any transfer business away from himself which I think is the right thing to do. There’s a dedicated team for getting transfers done.
Afternoon Rico and all.
It sounded to me, nothing more than a normal Arteta statement, he say’s a lot but at the same time says nothing. The only good news out of what he said was about Tommy, hopefully it’s not a bad as we may had feared.
Nothing about Eddie from Ornstein though…
Aussie Geoff…..pray that when Arteta stops managing Arsenal he will go in politics and be UK Prime Minister. He is a good politician, a good statesman and will soon show the dissenters a path to another country. He will make England good again. hehe
Afternoon Geoff. I don’t think Tierney will be out for long either. Hopefully he’ll be fit enough to sell as his days at Arsenal are surely done.
Tierney will not fetch much dough Rico. his injury record speaks for itself. I think he will go back to Celtic. We will be lucky to get 10 million for him
Devil, maybe thats why we are in America, Kroenke is going to push Arteta for president and Edu as his side kick.
Looks as if Marseilles are working on a loan deal for Eddie Nketiah, with an obligation to complete his signing in 12 month’s time. I do hope he gets his move to Ligue 1 because I reckon he’ll do really well in France.
£10 million would be decent though Devil.
I would push for 10 million plus 1 million for every 10 games played till he reaches 50 games
10 million for Tierney is wishful thinking.
From the bbc
The top European leagues, including the Premier League, and global players’ union Fifpro will launch legal action against world governing body Fifa over its “abuse of dominance” in the game.
The European Leagues, which represents 39 leagues and 1,130 clubs in 33 countries, says it is filing a complaint to the European Commission to protect the welfare of players.
It comes following growing pressure from leagues and player unions, including the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), over the number of games added to the calendar and the impact on players.
A Fifpro statement said the international calendar is “now beyond saturation”, “unsustainable for national leagues” and a “risk for the health of players”.
It added: “Fifa’s decisions over the last years have repeatedly favoured its own competitions and commercial interests, neglected its responsibilities as a governing body, and harmed the economic interests of national leagues and the welfare of players.
“Legal action is now the only responsible step for European leagues and player unions to protect football, its ecosystem and its workforce.”
The statement said Fifa has “consistently refused to include national leagues and player unions in its decision-making process”, having been urged to develop a clear and transparent process regarding the international match calendar.
The European Leagues includes the English Football League, Scottish Professional Football League, Serie A and the Bundesliga. La Liga is not a member but is joining the action.
In May Fifa rejected a claim that Fifpro and the World Leagues Association were not consulted over plans to host a 32-team Club World Cup.
Manchester City and Chelsea are among the 12 European representatives at the expanded Club World Cup, to be held in the USA between 15 June and 13 July 2025.
‘Leagues are acting with hypocrisy’
Fifa has responded strongly to the action, accusing some leagues of “hypocrisy” by sending their players on global pre-season tours.
A Fifa spokesperson said: “The current calendar was unanimously approved by the Fifa Council, which is composed of representatives from all continents, including Europe, following a comprehensive and inclusive consultation, which included Fifpro and league bodies.
“Fifa’s calendar is the only instrument ensuring that international football can continue to survive, co-exist, and prosper alongside domestic and continental club football.
“Some leagues in Europe – themselves competition organisers and regulators – are acting with commercial self-interest, hypocrisy, and without consideration to everyone else in the world.
“Those leagues apparently prefer a calendar filled with friendlies and summer tours, often involving extensive global travel.
“By contrast, Fifa must protect the overall interests of world football, including the protection of players, everywhere and at all levels of the game.”
A recent study by the CIES Football Observatory, external – a research group at the International Centre for Sports Studies – on schedules and player workload suggested that clubs are not playing more matches per season.
Its report found that between 2012 and 2024, the average number of fixtures per club and season sat at just over 40, with about 5% of clubs playing 60 or more games per season.
No significant change was observed in the proportion of clubs playing 60 or more matches.
The European Leagues’ legal action is the second in two months against Fifa.
The PFA is a co-claimant with the French and Italian players’ unions in a claim filed at the Brussels court of commerce, with the support of the European office of Fifpro.
That case focuses on employment law issues, the way Fifa manages the calendar, the introduction of new competitions and how they clash with employment rights for players.
“Fifa holds a dual role as both the global regulator of football and a competition organiser,” Fifpro said. “This creates a conflict of interest.”
What does the PFA say?
Maheta Molango, chief executive of the PFA and FifPro board member, said in May that players were at breaking point and could strike if they continue to be overworked.
Because of the expanded Club World Cup, next year’s African Cup of Nations has been moved from the summer to December 2025 and January 2026, which is also likely to impact that season’s Champions League knockout stages.
“Legal action is the unfortunate but inevitable consequence of major stakeholders within the game – the leagues and the players – being ignored,” said Molango.
“It’s just not tenable to continue to argue that this approach to the fixture calendar is working.
“As always, it’s the players who are expected to bend. As we have seen, eventually they will break. It has to stop.”
Analysis – A united front between leagues and unions
Nick Mashiter, BBC Sport football news reporter
This is the nuclear option. It is the red button the unions and leagues hoped not to press but they feel they have been left with no alternative.
Unions, by reputation, do not need to be asked twice to fight for the rights of their members but that fact the leagues – including the Premier League – are backing this action makes it significant.
The threat of legal action has been spoken about in football circles for over a year and there is now a united front, one the Professional Footballers’ Association wanted to ensure before progressing.
Fifa’s response and argument against accuses some clubs of hypocrisy – taking their players around the globe on summer tours – while also saying Fifpro is consulted over the calendar so expect a strong defence from the world governing body.
Yet there is a determination from all the complainants to follow both cases through if a resolution outside the courts is not found. Unions and leagues want to see a change from Fifa and, if not, this will go the distance.
I said many years ago that the greed in the major organisations would eventually lead to Football eating itself. FiFA and Uefa have always been at loggerheads having their own power struggle but now it seems it’s coming to a head .
We have just witnessed what was probably the most boring Euro championship and it isn’t too much of a stretch to argue that most of the players that were expected to shine looked dead on their feet and most games were played at 3/4 pace.
Fifa’s power base is Africa and they will do all that they can to build their support there and if everyone else suffers so be it . They are also eying Asian expansion which will further complicate matters as the gulf states take over and rule that roost , perhaps why Infantino has moved his offices to Qatar.
It will be interesting to see how the South American countries react as so many of their players are in European leagues and again in their recent competition reports suggest that it was not exactly inspiring.
It could of course be solved by limiting the number of out of continent players allowed in club football but that’s an argument that goes back to Noah and Moses.
Waiting for a solution though will be time consuming and probably employ a whole raft of lawyers who will make sure that any conclusion will take as long as City115’s to come to bear.
Well well, it was only a matter of time.
Totally agree re the euros and players being dead on their feet. It’s ridiculous and bad for players mental and physical health. Not that the media realised how draining a long season can be because they were only too keen to slate underperforming England players at any given opportunity.
I enjoyed the Euros,although the big names were clearly exhausted,as Wenger called it in the danger zone.
It will be interesting to see who plays against Bournemouth,although the game doesn’t matter at all,other than as a training exercise. I hope to see lots of youngsters,even if they never play for Arsenal it would only help their development. No injuries is the main thing so fingers crossed.
The best performances imo came from the likes of Turkey, Denmark etc, underdogs but exciting.
Agree, lots of time for the younger guys so we can at least see what they’re made of…
It’s about time that all leagues start considering how many matches are played each season and that doesn’t even include the olypics, I just hope it can be settled for once and all and hope we don’t have any break away leagues like the super league tried to do.
Players health has to come first.
What a rip off, according to a story on internet, there are still 20,000 tickets available to see Arsenal vs Man united in a friendly with some tickets costing over 500.00 pounds each. no practice matches are worth that amount.
New post up.