How is Ben White and how happy was he?
I think he was very happy. The rest of the staff and players were so happy for him. He fully deserves it and you could see that it was a big moment for him.
Are you proud of him?
All the credit is down to him and what he’s done. If you look at his career and how far he’s come in a very short period of time it shows everything about the person, the player, his ambition and everything he’s done in the last two years.
Has he thanked you for moving him to full-back?
We discussed that. Every player needs some time and to understand the reasons why. I think he’s really enjoying it. It brings him other opportunities and being a versatile player is something rare in this world and I think he has the possibilities to fulfil that.
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How has Gabriel dealt with left out?
I think all the boys have been really good with each other. We knew how much it meant to big Gabi to be selected and be part of the national team but unfortunately they didn’t have space this time. The good news is that he’s really young and he’ll have other opportunities. You have to respect those decisions and carry on with your career.
If you end this first part of the season top at Christmas how much of a boost will it give you?
It will be great but our focus is to play better every day. Try to play better tomorrow than we did against Chelsea. If we do that tomorrow our chances of winning will be greater and that’s where the focus is.
Sir Alex Ferguson said you should buy when your strong. After the strong start and saying your squad is short, will you be?
I said that from day one after the transfer window obviously the demands of the competitions we’re going to be in are huge and obviously the experience of the players are not the biggest. But we have competed in a really impressive way with the numbers that we have, but of course if we can improve the team we are always going to be looking to do that as a club.
Do you expect to be busy in January?
I don’t know, it’s so unpredictable this window particularly with a World Cup in middle. We will have a look, we will try to get the squad stronger and as well be active because you don’t know what’s gonna happen in that World Cup. Touch wood everyone will be ok.
Who do you think will win the World Cup
One of my players, I hope. Touch wood
Is there any new injuries?
No there’s nothing yet.
Are the guys who have been picked to go to the World Cup nervous at all and has there been a conversation about that?
No. We discussed the topic before and I always say to them if you’re thinking about an injury then probably it’s going to happen. I don’t know if it will happen today, the next day or the first day of preparation for the World Cup. So get it out of your mind, you are professional athletes, this risk is always there for you so commit yourself to your job and every action and the risk will be less. That’s it.
What kind of game are you expecting with it being Steve Davis’ last one in charge?
Yeah special. They are in a moment with very special circumstances. I think Steve has done a really good job, especially with the games they’ve had, the midweek game they had and the game before they lost not really deserving to lose. In that stadium on Saturday night we know what it’s going to be like.
If you’re top going into the Christmas period is that above what you were expecting?
What we try to achieve is to play better every day. We’re making some consistency strides towards that and playing much better. Whether we can sustain that level or not is dictated game by game.
People are saying it’s a two-team title race between you and City now?
I’m not here to give opinions on that. What I want to do is finish as high as possible.
How strange is it to play now when people are thinking more about the World Cup than the Premier League?
Obviously it’s been a strange week with a lot of rumours and a lot of news but we know what’s coming. For some it’s going to be extraordinary and special and others an opportunity to reset and repair.
You spent a lot of money on Ramsdale and White when people questioned it. Are you vindicated now?
We pick the players that we believe have the qualities and personality to be helpful and successful in our club. Then obviously if they’re valuable to the national team then much better.
What’s your favourite World Cup memory?
When Spain won it. One of my biggest mates Pepe Reina was on that stage making the speech and everybody happy.
Which team do you want to win apart from Spain?
I don’t know. Let’s see. Everything is going to happen naturally.
There was a Brazilian journalist who said the Martinelli call up was strange. What do you make of that?
I’m not here to comment on others' opinions.
How did your son enjoy the away end and was he singing all the chants when he got home?
He’s learning too much and too fast! He had a really good time and I’m glad he enjoyed it.
Where do you feel the squad is short?
No. This is a comment that I made the first day after the transfer window. It doesn’t mean it’s not good enough. It is short and we have used players like, for example Marquinhos, who we had other plans but he has been an important player and a player who has the capacity. We have had injuries as well. Mo has been out for three months, Thomas was out for a period and we had Alex out for a long time too. We have had to adapt and we are willing to do that. The demands are going to be really big for everybody and we have to be ready for that.
Would you rather have a bigger squad or a smaller one?
I want to have the best possible squad in the world.
What do you make of Lopetegui getting the Wolves job?
He’s a great coach. His career talks for itself. What he did in Seville, what he did in Portugal, what he did with the national team. He’s not far from where I live and I know him really well. Hopefully after tomorrow he can have lots of success.
How much has Saka changed from the one that came back from the Euros?
I don’t know. Experiences make you tougher and better if they don’t get you down too much. I think he reacted in a great way. I think the support and the recognition that he got from world football was great and it helped him to develop into a better player.
Do you think it strengthened his bond with the club but more so you?
I think the club in general. First of all Gareth and all the coaching staff were very supportive and good with him. That was really important because it was the first period after it. He’s been in every stadium in this country and the way they treat him and the way they show appreciation about him is great. He needed that. He’s embraced it and now he’s a better player because of it.
What do you think Arsenal’s best game has been this season?
We had periods. In big games we have performed really well especially against the top opponents. What we did last weekend showed a lot of maturity and another side of a team that when they really needed to show it they did it. But it’s a work in progress all the time. What you are able to do today maybe you aren’t able to do it tomorrow. You have to be on your toes to get the team on the right energy level and the focus is to play every day better.
How have they been able to show such consistency being such a young team?
It’s not easy at that age what some of the boys have done at 20, 21-years-old is rare. I’m not sure if I’ve seen it in this league. Credit to them. They have first of all the courage, the mentality and the maturity to take the moments the way they do and obviously they have the quality to do it.
Where do you need to get better?
We will analyse the areas that we want to improve and the areas that we’re doing well and just focus on the priorities and the things that we have to work. That preseason for us is going to have different phases. We have to maximise that period when we get them back. We have to assess when they come back, assess that and be smart with those decisions.
How much can you plan for when the players come back?
We can guess, but in football, guesses very rarely give you the correct answer. But we’ll try to prepare. The way we’re going to communicate with our players is going to be very important. Understanding how they’re feeling, what we’re doing and trying to support them and help the boys if they want anything and be there.
Psychologically how important is it to be top at Christmas ?
We’re gonna have to earn the right to do that tomorrow and that’s what we want.
Are you planning to go to Qatar?
I would like to but I don’t know if we’re going to be able to do that. I’d like to watch a few games and watch our players live but I don’t know if we’re going to be able to do that.
Klopp was saying how he felt people should have done more to raise the issues around the tournament. What do you make of the morality of this tournament?
I think the way the decision making is set up it’s extremely difficult for us now to have opinions that will change the course of that decision. Probably we need to change that pyramid and that will take a lot of time and big fights.
Do you think it was a mistake to host it there?
I don’t know, it’s what it is. You need to understand everything before that decision is made and I don’t have all the information to answer that question.
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