The team aren't scoring quite as often as they used to at the minute. Do you feel tired?
First I think we have a young team. We don’t want to be in this moment, but it can happen because we are the youngest team. There’s still a little bit to improve, like I said after the last game, I felt like I’m not doing properly like I started the season. But I think we’re still doing good. Very good. One of the tough leagues, we are doing very good, still in first position and then we are playing good but obviously we want to score more goals to win the games.
Why do you think you're struggling to score at the minute?
I think it’s four games I start and I don’t score. That’s happened before and I’m pretty sure in the future it’s going to happen again. So that’s football. I don’t want it to be like this, of course. I want to improve, I want to work, like always in my life and then the next game, I try again. And I’m 100 per cent sure I will score.
Do you think you're ready to play 70 games a season like Arteta has suggested you might need to?
Of course not. 100 per cent because I’m doing good recovery after the games – eating better, sleeping better, and enjoying the life in the Arsenal t-shirt a lot. So I’m ready to play 50, 60, 70 games per season. I’m ready.
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What are you doing to help your body stay fit across a whole season?
Staying with my daughter, that’s the first thing. It helps me a lot to recover my mind. It’s not all about the body, the mind is more important because in my opinion, it controls the body. So I stay with my family, play with my daughter, that helps me a lot and then, of course, I do stuff in the club, at home, with the coaches – fitness coaches. So that helps a lot.
What do you enjoy doing with your daughter?
She’s still only five months old so we cannot do a lot of things! But every day changes. I know you guys probably have kids so you know what I am talking about. I just enjoy this moment.
What's her name?
Helena.
Are you getting enough sleep?
Yeah, yeah. My wife is helping me a lot as well. But that’s life and you have to enjoy it at home, at work and you feel freer to enjoy it.
Have you changed since the World Cup in 2018?
Now is different. I don’t get a lot of frustration anymore. Honestly, if I come here to talk with you guys I’ll be myself. If I am performing good I am going to tell you good things. When not, why lie? As I say, there are still things to improve. I want to improve, I want to help and I want to learn with the coach, the staff and the players. Every training session I want to improve. Now I am more experienced with that. Before I got frustrated so easily. Now no. I have a strong character now.
How good are Saka and Martinelli?
They are machines. I joke with them. I think I am a player with a lot of energy and I run all the time, I fight all the time. But when I train every day with them I realise I am not even close to them. They just don’t stop. They are machines, quality players as well all, And they’re still young, both 21. I am lucky to play with them.
What was the frustration you had earlier in your career coming from?
Frustration is normal. Everyone feels bad when you don’t have a good day at work. Not only football. When something that you want a lot doesn’t happen you feel frustrated with yourself. Before I think it was too much. Now I realise that and think what can I improve. It’s in the past. I learned from it and I improved. Now I recover quickly from that.
Are Arsenal everything you hoped for?
I said many times that I enjoyed my time at City. On the pitch and outside, I am grateful to Pep who called me to the club. Everyone I think needs a new challenge. That’s what I felt at that time and then I am so happy. I think it was the best decision to feel more confidence. I have a challenge here, that is what I want, to come here with a young team as well. I am still young, but I think in the team I am there as the fourth, and fifth oldest. But I still feel young here and I see in the training session everyone wants to improve, everyone wants to learn, to win. That’s what I am happier about.”
You're already qualified. Is tomorrow a good time to rest?
“We are qualified but we are not first [yet]. We want to win all the games. I know we have a lot of players who can go there and play good and win the game for us. But that’s a question to ask the coach. But I think everyone wants to play.”
Do you need a rest?
No, no, I am fine!
You're one of the captains now. What is your leadership style like?
Good question. I think I am not a leader like a captain. I had a few, like [Vincent] Kompany, like Fernandinho as well, who talk, shout and help the team a lot. I am more relaxed. I don’t talk too much. I talk just sometimes, but I think I show on the pitch and the training sessions [I am a leader]. I run, I help, if I have to run to some players who are tired, I run, I don’t care. And then that’s why I think the coach chose me to be one of the captains. I am happy, I am grateful for that. But we have a lot of people here who can talk and help as well.
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