Mikel Arteta knows all about the passion our Singapore Gooners have for the club, having captained the team during our pre-season tour here back in 2015.
Coming back as manager this summer, his side have received another wonderful reception from the supporters – at the first game against AC Milan, various events around the city all week and again at the open training session in the National Stadium on Friday evening.
The players were serenaded and cheered throughout training, before stopping to sign 100s of autographs and meeting children from local soccer schools.
We caught up with the boss after he had taken selfies with the kids on the pitch directly after the training session. Here’s what he said…
On meeting the kids from the soccer schools…
Yeah, we always talk about connection and we’ve all been there, I’ve been there, I was a kid a few years ago and I know what it means for them. So it’s just beautiful that the players, the staff, all together, we’re just having that moment with them.
On the support in the stadium…
Yeah, it is, and we really appreciate the support at the training session, that many people turning up to enjoy it. It’s always like this here to be fair, so we are very grateful.
On how important soccer schools are…
Well, it’s just a tool to fulfil a dream and to see a pathway within that journey, one day have the possibility to be one of those players, so I think what the club does to connect all around the world with so many soccer academies is just incredible.
His message to the 10,000 supporters in the Singapore National Stadium…
Again, hopefully that we make them proud, that we’re going to give our very best every single day to achieve what we want to achieve and these kinds of things are really appreciated by all of us.
On the excellent facilities…
Yes, very good. We are fortunate that we can train here very close to the pitch, we can come to the stadium, the club as well can facilitate so many people coming here, so it’s been a great day.
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On heading to Hong Kong…
Yeah, it’s been a while since we’ve been there, so looking forward to it.
On facing Newcastle at the weekend…
Yeah, great. Again, it’s going to be a very different opponent, very difficult context again to play with, and very good for our preparation to start making the right steps again.
On the new players…
Very excited. I think the new players, they’ve brought another enthusiasm again, it’s just shaken things up. They welcomed them in a way that I expected, no surprises there. And they had a great debut the other day and the new arrivals, again, they will add quality and depth to the squad, which is what we’re going to need.
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