Mikel Arteta has warned his Arsenal stars they will need to be ready for a battle with England new boy Ivan Toney today.
The Brentford striker’s physicality played a big part in his side’s victory over the Gunners at the start of last season.
His boss Thomas Frank knew that if his men could get at Arsenal they would beat them.
And after the Bees’ 2-0 home victory Toney put out a tweet which read ‘Nice kick about with the boys’, mocking the ease with which they’d won what was their first Premier League game.
Arteta was already well aware then that his side didn’t have the physicality to compete with some of the stronger sides and it’s something he has addressed in the transfer market in the last 15 or so months.
Asked if his team was better equipped now to cope with a more physical challenge from opponents, the Gunners boss said: “I will tell you after the game.
“I have seen a lot of their games, Toney stretches out his arms against any defender and he can hold the ball and make you feel like it’s a physical challenge.
“I will prepare my players and they have to be ready for the battles, they have to win the duels.
“Physically powerful is the right word for a lot of the signings we have made.
“You have to be equipped physically in this league.
“That does not mean only the physical contact.
“You have to be equipped in your head as well, because if you don’t read the situation you are always late.
“It is a balance you need.”
One of the big boys Arteta has brought in is goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who has again been called up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the Nations League fixtures against Italy and Germany.
And while Southgate has made it clear that Jordan Pickford remains his No.1 in recent months, with the Everton star missing this international get-together through injury there is a chance for Ramsdale to stake his claim as No.1.
The Spaniard added: “I hope he is the No.1, it will be great for us and it will be great for Aaron.
“He has shown in the last year or so what he is capable of doing.
“We will be watching and waiting for that decision.”
Asked how it would boost Ramsdale’s confidence, Arteta laughed and said: “Aaron is pretty confident.
“It would be a good reward for him and what he has done.”
With the release of former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein’s new book, former Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been back in the news and so, too, has his 2018 exit from the club.
The Frenchman still hasn’t been back despite being in charge there for 22 years and Arteta, who played under him, wishes that wasn’t the case.
He said: “I would have loved to have had him closer to have the opportunity to open up and in certain periods just listen and learn from him and everything he has been through.
“But he did it in a way to make sure that whoever comes after him had the respect and space he believed was important and he honoured that.”
