What’s the team news?
Not a lot of changes. The question mark on Thomas. He hasn’t trained much but looks like he could be available. Let’s see how he goes today.
It would be a huge boost if he’s back because he’s a huge player?
Yeah he is. We’ve missed him in the past few games and hopefully he’ll be back.
How’s Jesus
He’s progressing well. Doing more and more on the field. The knee’s not reacting so it’s really positive. We want him back as quick as possible, but also respecting the timescale that the doctors and the specialists are giving us.
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What can you tell us about Saka’s contract?
No news on that.
What would it say about the progress the club is making if he were to stay?
We want to keep our best players. The players that we are developing. We want to create a long term project here and we need our best players at the club.
Any news on Saliba?
No news.
Do you feel Saka is getting enough protection from the refs?
I’m sure refs want to protect every game and individuals in the best possible way. There is a lot of focus now on Bukayo, and we need to keep that in mind as a team with the plans that we put together, understanding what the opponents are doing but for sure referees have their responsibilities and they have to do their jobs.
Is it a two horse race for the title?
I think there are more teams involved and every day will be a race. A race for how we convince those players to train and play better because we’re going to have to be good to beat them.
How much attention do you play to Leicester’s first half against United?
In the first half they should have been two or 3-0 up very early in the game. That’s the reality. If it’s not for that that would be a very different game. The game they played against Spurs, the games they’ve played recently, I’m really complimentary about them and they are in a good moment.
What did that win against Villa do?
Much better mood. More positive, the confidence much better, environment around training much better. The fact that the team came back from adversity when they were 2-1 down and they played less than 72 hours before and everyone is expecting you to be tired – quality-wise and belief-wise to come back and win the game is a really big boost.
Are they showing you characteristics before that you didn’t know they had?
I said before the game that I have more belief in them than the City game and there is a reason for that. It’s because I see them, how they trained, how they reacted and how much they want it.
How satisfied are you with the Villa reaction?
I was really complimentary to them for the way they reacted. But as well there are things in the first half that we should do better, especially the way we played and controlled the game where we cannot be 2-1 down. We have to learn those lessons quickly Hopefully we can have a more consistent display against Leicester because it’ll be needed to win the game.
What does the resilience you showed do for you?
That you are able to win games in different contexts and that you can’t give up in sport especially when there’s so many games to be played and so many minutes in that game. At the moment we did certain things and increase individual levels we were better and deserved to win the game.
Jorginho settle so quickly?
I did as he has the experience, the qualities that we need in the team and obviously he knows the league so well that there are not a lot of things that are new to him or caught him by surprise.
What type of Leicester do you expect?
They have been really consistent the last few weeks. It is true Brendan has proposed very different games in many different moments throughout the season and they have this capacity to adapt, different formations and playing different approaches. We have to prepared for both because it is possible and let’s see what they do tomorrow.
Saka. Shows that arsenal building their ambitions. They are creating something for years to come?
That is what we have to do that is our responsibility to keep our best players and people and the people who has the same aims and purposes with the club and stick them together for a while and give them some stability and from there keep evolving and from there become a better club.
You said Trust the process. Is this part of the process to bring young players through and make sure you have the benefit?
It is part of developing a team and developing a squad and taking the club where we want. It is maximising the resources we will have and we have huge resources as we have a lot of talent and we have to keep that talent and making it better.
How big a game is Leicester, them Everton home. Win both and the gap is big?
Too many ifs and we have to go there and play well tomorrow and compete even better and we have to win the game first which will be difficult.
Easier to play first tomorrow as you won last week? Where last week had gone in having lost?
Many for the players but for the manager it is always it is really about trying to get prepared mentally and tactically to try to understand what can happen in the game and have all the solutions available. The focus is about earning the right to win the game and how we can prepare the best for that. You have to influence sometimes the psychology part of the players or team and sometimes more about the mood. Sometimes the more the physical condition of the team. Sometimes the tactical part of the gameplan. It is a challenge evert week in this league.
What's your reaction to Mohamed Elneny's contract?
Totally deserved and a joy to have him at the club. What the club has done is absolutely brilliant and it is just not with words to say ‘okay that we value the people we have and we are going to stick with people in difficult moments’. Mo has had a difficult moment when he had a pretty bad and serious injury a few weeks ago and the club committed with him for what he gives to the team and what he has done for the club. It is a really strong message by everyone at the club try to keep our bets players and people in challenging moments.
Saka – strength of character and bravery going out and knowing he is going to get a kick in?
Yes but if you ask him how it used to be when he was 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 – it isn't very different. Wingers and talented players get kicked and fouled and get the demand to win games and that is the chance he has, that is his role in the team.
Lack of protection worry you that an injury is coming?
Hopefully not but we have to train that and he needs to learn when to take certain balls, what to do with that ball, how to use his body, when to jump. There are a lot of things we can train but obviously it is very difficult to understand what the opponent is going to do.
Saka need to get used to being kicked as get becomes big player?
Obviously he attracts a lot of attention. It is like Gabi Martinelli or Gabi [Jesus] when he plays, or Eddie [Nketiah] or Martin [Odegaard]. It is normal creative players want to be stopped and they (the opposition) want to restrict the ball getting into them, occupying and exploring certain spaces. What we have to try to do is completely the opposite.
How much a boost if tie down Saka when fighting for title?
I don’t know. When it’s done, I can tell you more. But obviously we have the intention to extend the contract of our players and, when it’s done, it’s great news for the club.
Xhaka talks?
Not yet.
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