It will be a really difficult game: Mikel Arteta on Brighton clash

Arsenal appeared to have turned their fortunes around following a poor start to the new Premier League season. The Gunners lost their opening three matches in the league, without scoring a single goal. The disappointing start added immense pressure on manager Mikel Arteta’s shoulders. However, Arsenal have bounced back from the early setback to win the last four games, including three in the league. Next up is a trip to Brighton & Hove Albion. Speaking to the media ahead of the Brighton clash, Arteta was quoted as saying by the club’s website, “It will be a really difficult game. They’ve been on a really good run. They are playing well and getting the results that they deserve. It’s a really competitive match that we are looking ahead to and we know the importance of it.”

When asked about doing the double over Brighton last season, Mikel Arteta replied, “That’s a different season with different momentum and we should not focus on that. We should just focus on how we’re going to get prepared to have the best possible performance and after that try to win the game.”

Mikel Arteta on Granit Xhaka

Apprising everyone about Granit Xhaka’s fitness situation, Arteta said, “Obviously, it’s really bad news personally for Granit. He’s had a couple of incidents already this season with Covid, with suspension and now with long-term injury. He’s a strong man and he will use this time to focus on other things and I’m sure he will be back in the right place when he’s back. Obviously, he’s a big player for us, someone who is really important, and he will be missed. Other players have to step in.”

“First of all, it’s obviously a significant injury but he probably escaped an even worse injury than he could have had from the action because that action for the cruciate ligament is a tricky one. It’s what it is. His mentality is top. He knows what he needs to do now. Hopefully, he can escape surgency as well. That is something that is really, really important and after that start preparing himself in the best possible way because time flies.”

‘What is going to allow us to do that is just the present’

Speaking about Brighton’s strong start to the season, Arteta said, “They deserve it. [Graham Potter] changed a little bit their way of playing and they’ve been getting good results and they’ve been very consistent in the way that they play. Credit to them and they’re doing a good job.”

Mikel Arteta also spoke about the long-term plan, saying, “The plan is in place but the things that really matter for the plan to evolve and develop is the present and we have to focus on what we’re meant to do in the present because the rest has already been designed, planned and thought about. What is going to allow us to do that is just the present, so we have to focus on that.”