Mikel Arteta faced the cameras and microphones today in London as his squad is set to travel to Manchester City to take on the defending Premier League champions on Wednesday night.
This will be a homecoming of sorts for Arteta, as he heads north to face his former mentor, City’s Pep Guardiola.
This will be an interesting match as well since neither club has experienced the pressure of a “real” match since early March. A lot will depend on tactics, fitness and the mentality the players bring to this game. It will be 102 days between league matches for the Gunners.
Arteta is anxious to get his team back on the pitch. He told the media today in his press conference, “It’s been a challenge for all of us. It’s been a challenge since I joined, because of the situation that we were in, but I think we made a lot of steps forward. We tried to change the energy that we had around the place, even our stadium with the players and with the staff as well and I was very positive in the way that we were developing things.”
“Obviously, we had a big turning point with the coronavirus and being away from each other for three months, but we’ve been trying to keep going in our direction, being close in contact and communication with our players and our staff and I think we are in a really good position to move forward.”
“We have some uncertainties that we cannot control and we do not know how the players are going to respond now, playing every three days after three months, but most of the clubs are in the same position.
We will try to adapt and to make the most out of it. We don’t try to find any excuses. We’ll go for it and enjoy it because I think we’re all missing football so much that we’re all desperate to get back playing.”
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for some Arsenal football. It’s been a long and arduous wait, but patience is a virtue they say, so let’s hope it all pays off with an Arsenal win at the Etihad on Wednesday!
Cheers, stay healthy and safe, and COYG!
Gunner1953
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