How’s Gabriel?
We will have to see tomorrow how he is, but yeah he could not finish the game so that was a big sign for us. We’ll have to see how he is tomorrow.
Any update or progress on Saliba?
Not a lot of progress. He’s feeling better every day but he’s not been able still to have any activity around the first team so we don’t expect him to be with us.
Does there come a point where you have to rule Saliba out for the season?
We are not there yet today, because we're always hopeful and players are pushing to play. If that's the case at some stage we'll announce it. But hopefully that’s not the case.
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta gives Arsenal Gabriel Magalhaes injury update for Newcastle
Is it a case of just needing more rest?
It’s about the healing process. Pain-wise and the things he can do now off the pitch he's in a good place. But we have to build that capacity to have the right impact, the right load and to be in good condition to play for the team.
Anyone else a doubt?
No. Hopefully not.
How important was it to go out and deliver vs Chelsea?
We showed a great response in the week, but the most important thing was to put it on the pitch. We showed good determination and desire to win the game. It was a big game for us, a London derby and we did that and we earned the right to win the game.
You spoke about needing to find the ruthless streak. How do you go about doing that?
Finding crucial moments in games to kill them. Finding ways to finalise games. We had a few in some of the games we have drawn.
Do you think your injuries could have been caused by the World Cup?
The ones that we had – probably except for Saliba who had a really nasty impact – they have been traumatic more than anything else. I wouldn't put that down to the World Cup or the amount of stress or games that they have to play. I wouldn’t say it’s that.
How important is it to forget what happened against Newcastle last year?
It's a very different game. Different players, different game. We're gonna have to play better than last year that's for sure because we know at home they've been really good.
Was the game vs Newcastle at the Emirates your toughest home game other than City?
We had a few. Certainly that was a game I think we deserved to win. We didn’t at the end. They are a really good side, they are well coached, they have good players, they have a good environment around the place so they are in a good place.
What can you learn from older managers like 'Big' Sam Allardyce, Roy Hodgson and Neil Warnock coming back?
I don't know. I have learnt from a lot of coaches. I learnt things from Sam because I played against him especially when I was a player. He has a very unique way of playing and gaining results with his teams. For foreign, young coaches, when you come into a league. I think they have kept the essence of English football. I think Sam has played a big part in that.
How different is your team from the January game?
We tried to play the game that we wanted and they wanted a very different game for sure. When we played at the Emirates I think we deserved to win that game. There are things that will be different playing back [at St. James Park] and we'll have to be better to win it.
Do you think your team is better prepared to beat Newcastle than it was back then?
We'll have to show that on the pitch.
How hard is it to deal with the defensive changes?
We can't control certain things and we have to accept that. That's why we have other players who can fulfil those roles, try to help them and support them as much as possible and don't look for too many excuses and find the right solutions to win matches.
How are you coping with the powerlessness over City's results?
We have enough just looking after what we have to do and playing well to win the games.
After City you said the difference was they could go to a level you can't. Is this game against Newcastle important to a make a statement that you can go to a level which Newcastle can't get to?
We don't have to make statements to anybody. We have to play the best game as possible to earn the right to win the game.
Are you expecting Newcastle to come out of the blocks tomorrow?
I don't know what they have prepared.
Do you think Newcastle could make it a top seven rather than a big six?
They're already third in the league right now. They earned that position with some very intelligent decisions that they made so they deserve to be where they are.
Odegaard scored very similar late arriving goals against Chelsea. Have you worked on that with him?
That's something our attacking midfielders have to have the ability to do. We play in a certain way to exploit those spaces. Martin has the capacity to do that. He's been finding himself in those positions and he's been very effective at finalising those actions. He's been very important for us.
How have you helped him to do that better?
It's about what we want in that position, what we think he's capable of doing. We have to adapt to the qualities of our players all the time but we're trying to inspire them to go a bit further than what they've been doing and explore other things that can be incredibly important for the team to do other things and he's always been open to trying to achieve that all the time.
It's possible that City's player can feel the pressure?
I don't know what's gonna happen. They have won a lot of games in the last few months. If they don't they will deserve to win the league. If they don't we have to be ready to be there.
Can you think of any examples where City felt the pressure while you were there?
This is more down to the players. I don't know how they're thinking. We try to win every game and do the same and see what happens.
Is last year's defeat possible to use as motivation against Newcastle?
I don't think so. I don't think there's too much to motivate from there. There's a lot of things that we have to do better than that day. The group of players and the way they're playing there is different.
READ NEXT:
Martin Zubimendi to Arsenal transfer: Deal 'very close', £53m price tag, Barcelona battle
Graeme Souness aims brutal dig at Gary Neville following Sky Sports pundit role exit
Why Arsenal are targeting Premier League players, Emile Smith Rowe future, Marc Guehi latest
William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes: Arsenal injury news and return dates ahead of Newcastle clash
Transfer news LIVE: All the latest news and rumours from Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham
