We’ve had friendlies but there’s nothing like the Premier League is there?
It’s been an unusual period with the World Cup, but a period that we have used well to train things we needed to train, to spend some time and focus on players that haven’t been in the national team. Now everybody is back apart from Saliba who will be back hopefully tomorrow. Let’s crack on for the second part of the season which will be interesting and intense. I’m really looking forward to it.
How do you recreate the momentum with a six-week break?
We need to do that on the pitch. We have talked a lot about it. We know the importance of starting strong. We play at home. It’s very special day in Premier League history, it’s a very special family day to play football, it’s an incredible atmosphere that day and we want to make the most out of it.
Where are you with the World Cup players?
They are in a really good play. Obviously a huge blow with Gabriel Jesus and his injury and we’ll miss him for a period of time. The season has challenges, that’s a challenge we have to overcome, but if you’re going to be at the top there’s going to be those challenges.
READ MORE: Arsenal injury setback confirmed ahead of West Ham as Mikel Arteta makes Gabriel Jesus point
Will they be available for Boxing Day?
Yeah they were all fine. Some came earlier than expected and they were buzzing to be back and part of it. I feel a really good energy around the place. They have got straight away into the rhythm and what we want.
So you’ve got all your World Cup players?
Yes. Everyone is here.
Can you give us a timeframe on Jesus’ injury and how are Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe?
With Gabi it’s difficult to put a time frame because it was a significant injury. Knowing him, I prefer not to give any dates. With Reiss, unfortunately he picked an injury against Juventus and he’s going to be out for a while I think. Emile is close. He had a setback but he’s there and he’s in a good place.
How long for Nelson?
I’m talking weeks not days. He will be out for a few weeks. Let’s see how he reacts in the next few days. He felt something straight away and with sprinters that’s not a good sign.
How does Jesus being out for a while affect your transfer plans?
I never gave a date. I said that we don’t know. It’s gooing to take some time for sure. He’s gone through surgery and that tells you the extent of the injury. We’re will be in the market always active and we will assess the biggest opportunities that we have.
Has his injury prompted you to be more active?
We are going to be active and active means we are looking to strengthen the team. This squad still doesn’t have the luxury of not maximising every single window. We have to do that because it’s really important. But then we have to get the right profile, it has to be the right player to take us to the next level.
What’s the latest on Martinelli’s contract?
No news. Extremely happy with him. He had a great experience with the Brazil team. You can keep asking me in the coming weeks.
David Moyes – his impact?
Huge impact, so grateful first of all for the trust he showed in me and how much I learned from him on the field, off the field about building a team, about getting the right characters in the team to build what you want. He was extremely supportive all the time with everything we did together. I had incredible memories with him because we had a very successful time.
What are your thoughts on West Ham?
Very dangerous because I know for sure he has been working the team really, really hard. Since he took over he absolutely maximised the potential of that team and took the team to a different level. I am sure they have been working really hard, like we have all been, in this period and I am sure it will be a very difficult contest.
What impressed you most about first half?
Probably the level that we showed and the consistency we showed within that level, which with the group and the age we have is not easy. We showed real maturity in certain moments, especially against big opponents and the focus is to play better every single day. To keep growing individually and collectively and to keep deserving to win matches. That is all we can hope because football is a very tricky game.
Will you adapt your management due to the World Cup?
Well, obviously we have done a lot of work on that. The second half of season there is going to be very different periods. There are going to be periods where you have time to train and other periods where matches are going to come fast and you have big congested periods. It will be very important how healthy the team is, how fit it is and how much rotation can help us to sustain the level we want.
Will the January window be affected by the World Cup?
Probably but we don't know exactly. You know there are a lot of teams with new coaches and new owners that are going to probably get again this window into a position that is never seen or experienced before but we know that and we have to be active on it.
What have you done with Smith Rowe to keep him feeling part of the team?
Yeah we've done a lot of things with Emile. Sometimes he has been close, sometimes he has been in different places to see a different environment. His attitude has been great and this is part of any career, any development to have periods where you are out and have long-term injuries. He needs to react to that but for sure he has got all of our support and he is a huge talent that we need for the second part of the season at his best because his contribution will be key to the team.
What environments have you exposed him to?
Different kinds of environments, different sports, to places and people that can inspire, that can give him certain perspective about his situation and I think he has taken a lot from it.
You went to America to see the Kroenkes. How was that?
We are always connected. I think that relationship is getting stronger and stronger. They’ve been over a few times and we’ve been there a few times. It’s a very special relationship right now to understand the way they think about sports, what they’ve done in other sports and with other franchises. The ambition is there and the alignment is certainly there as well. It’s certainly positive to spend some time together.
Was it useful to meet before the January window
Well, it was the time that we had some spare time as well. It was very useful for everybody to do it in that period.
Fulham have been interested in Cedric. Have you made a decision on him and can you afford to let anyone leave?
We know where we are in terms of the squad and numbers that we have. We’ll be extremely cautious about what we want to do in the window.
Is it realistic to expect Saliba to be involved on Monday?
Let’s see depending on how he comes back as well. We have the data on what he’s done in training in terms of minutes he didn’t participate much but it was a huge experience for him. Let’s see. When he gets back we’ll see.
So you haven’t had any contact?
We have of course a lot of contact but it’s one thing on the phone and another in person when you can actually talk to him directly, see how he is in training and see how he gets the rhythm.
What are your views on the new Club World Cup?
At the moment no opinion. I think it’s very raw. We are focused on what we have to do today. I don’t think our opinion is going to count much anyway.
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