GOOD NEWS-Mikel Arteta confirms Arsenal star is available to face Sevilla tomorrow

Every word Mikel Arteta said on David Raya’s Arsenal confidence, Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has spoken to the press ahead of his side’s Champions League clash against Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium

Mikel Arteta has spoken to the media ahead of Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League fixture against sevilla
Mikel Arteta has spoken to the media ahead of Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League fixture against sevilla.

Has Raya’s error made you consider rotating your goalkeeper?

We will see tomorrow with the line-up. All the players available have chances to play and I’m sure that I will not take a decision based on an only action [of the game].

Did you sign Kai Havertz with his Champions League record in mind?

Well that’s certainly one of the reasons. His quality and the number of things he’s done already in his career at his age. Then to improve the starting XI as well because he’s a tremendous player who’s going to help us to be better.

Is it realistic to call for a change in goalkeeper every time he makes an error?

It depends where that is coming from. Someone from football, when errors are part of football and mistakes happen, from defenders, from strikers and from goalkeepers for sure. For sure not [realistic to expect a change every time].

Is Raya suffering with the spotlight now?

I haven’t seen that. If I am fair, I haven’t seen that at all.

READ MORE: Aaron Ramsdale trains with Arsenal squad ahead of Sevilla Champions League clash

READ MORE: Arsenal news and transfers LIVE – Dusan Vlahovic offer, Ramsdale prediction, Smith Rowe move

He strikes you as still being as confident as ever even with the extra pressure?

That’s the pressure of playing in big clubs where you have to win and you have to be at your best, and you have someone next to you who is pushing you every single day. If we go player, by player, position by position, you will tell me what’s happening at left-back, what happens with the holding midfielder. You asked Jorginho a question already and Gabriel Jesus is here, there’s another question on that. That’s the debate. That’s the beauty of the game as well. The fact that you have other options as well is going to make those talks more frequent.

Is Saka part of the leadership group?

Yes.

Are you happy with how the new generation are stepping up into the leadership role given the senior players who left in the summer?

Yes, I think it’s really important for them. The role that they have in our way of playing in our team and our club has to be mirrored with the leadership level that they should have around the team to make the team grow. I think it’s the perfect environment. We have a really good mixture of players, teams and experiences. It’s going to be a really valuable time to spend with those guys to understand what happens behind the scenes as well.

Has Ramsdale travelled?

Yes.

So he’s part of the squad?

Yes.

Vinicius Jr. was racially abused here on Saturday. Do you have any concerns for your players and will you prepare them for it?

What I can say is Sevilla reacted in a really strong and quick way. Great. Let’s enjoy a beautiful football atmosphere. It doesn’t get much better than the atmosphere here and I hope that we can just talk about the football and enjoy that atmosphere tomorrow.

It was a lot of players’ first Champions League away game vs Lens. What do you think they’ve learnt from it?

There were a few from that game. Especially that in the Champions League you cannot give anything away. The boxes are tremendously important. When you have control of the game there are going to be moments where that can get away really quickly and you’re going to have to understand why that’s happening, and how the game went away from us. There was a lot in our side to lose that game the way we did, even though looking back on it twice, we didn’t deserve that result.

What are your memories of Jose Antonio Reyes?

Great memories, he was my room-mate. We spent quite a lot of time together, fantastic character, a very special personality and an incredible football talent. At that age I can’t recall a better player. He had absolutely everything; he played for both clubs and is part of our history in a big way because he was part of the Invincibles as well. He is probably up there and feeling proud for both clubs. Tomorrow will be a special night for him.

You’re record away in Europe isn’t the best compared to your league form away. Why is that?

As well because the opponents are really good. To win at home is difficult and to win away from home in Europe you see a shift in all the top teams where they do not have the same results. Some margins become critical. The mindset, the emotional state of the team to go through difficult moments is absolutely key.

Every word Mikel Arteta said on David Raya’s Arsenal confidence, Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has spoken to the press ahead of his side’s Champions League clash against Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium

Mikel Arteta has spoken to the media ahead of Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League fixture against sevilla
Mikel Arteta has spoken to the media ahead of Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League fixture against sevilla.

Has Raya’s error made you consider rotating your goalkeeper?

We will see tomorrow with the line-up. All the players available have chances to play and I’m sure that I will not take a decision based on an only action [of the game].

Did you sign Kai Havertz with his Champions League record in mind?

Well that’s certainly one of the reasons. His quality and the number of things he’s done already in his career at his age. Then to improve the starting XI as well because he’s a tremendous player who’s going to help us to be better.

Is it realistic to call for a change in goalkeeper every time he makes an error?

It depends where that is coming from. Someone from football, when errors are part of football and mistakes happen, from defenders, from strikers and from goalkeepers for sure. For sure not [realistic to expect a change every time].

Is Raya suffering with the spotlight now?

I haven’t seen that. If I am fair, I haven’t seen that at all.

READ MORE: Aaron Ramsdale trains with Arsenal squad ahead of Sevilla Champions League clash

READ MORE: Arsenal news and transfers LIVE – Dusan Vlahovic offer, Ramsdale prediction, Smith Rowe move

He strikes you as still being as confident as ever even with the extra pressure?

That’s the pressure of playing in big clubs where you have to win and you have to be at your best, and you have someone next to you who is pushing you every single day. If we go player, by player, position by position, you will tell me what’s happening at left-back, what happens with the holding midfielder. You asked Jorginho a question already and Gabriel Jesus is here, there’s another question on that. That’s the debate. That’s the beauty of the game as well. The fact that you have other options as well is going to make those talks more frequent.

Is Saka part of the leadership group?

Yes.

Are you happy with how the new generation are stepping up into the leadership role given the senior players who left in the summer?

Yes, I think it’s really important for them. The role that they have in our way of playing in our team and our club has to be mirrored with the leadership level that they should have around the team to make the team grow. I think it’s the perfect environment. We have a really good mixture of players, teams and experiences. It’s going to be a really valuable time to spend with those guys to understand what happens behind the scenes as well.

Has Ramsdale travelled?

Yes.

So he’s part of the squad?

Yes.

Vinicius Jr. was racially abused here on Saturday. Do you have any concerns for your players and will you prepare them for it?

What I can say is Sevilla reacted in a really strong and quick way. Great. Let’s enjoy a beautiful football atmosphere. It doesn’t get much better than the atmosphere here and I hope that we can just talk about the football and enjoy that atmosphere tomorrow.

It was a lot of players’ first Champions League away game vs Lens. What do you think they’ve learnt from it?

There were a few from that game. Especially that in the Champions League you cannot give anything away. The boxes are tremendously important. When you have control of the game there are going to be moments where that can get away really quickly and you’re going to have to understand why that’s happening, and how the game went away from us. There was a lot in our side to lose that game the way we did, even though looking back on it twice, we didn’t deserve that result.

What are your memories of Jose Antonio Reyes?

Great memories, he was my room-mate. We spent quite a lot of time together, fantastic character, a very special personality and an incredible football talent. At that age I can’t recall a better player. He had absolutely everything; he played for both clubs and is part of our history in a big way because he was part of the Invincibles as well. He is probably up there and feeling proud for both clubs. Tomorrow will be a special night for him.

You’re record away in Europe isn’t the best compared to your league form away. Why is that?

As well because the opponents are really good. To win at home is difficult and to win away from home in Europe you see a shift in all the top teams where they do not have the same results. Some margins become critical. The mindset, the emotional state of the team to go through difficult moments is absolutely key.