Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard met the media as we continued the build-up to our friendly with Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong.
A first north London derby abroad kicks off on Thursday (12.30pm kick off UK) in the third and final game of our Asia Tour, and so our captain and manager held a pre-match press conference after our open training session in the Kai Tak Stadium.
They were asked about how Viktor Gyokeres is settling in, the atmosphere in Hong Kong, and preparations for the new season. Here’s a full transcript:
On a first north London derby abroad:
MA: Well, a great idea. I think to bring football tradition, a rivalry, but at the same time to do it in a completely different country, I think it’s brilliant. I think it’s an opportunity for everybody to feel that and for us as well, because for our preparation, increases the competition level again and it brings a different challenge to the game and then we’re going to be so lucky to play in this incredible stadium with 50,000 people that I’m sure they’re going to be super loud and passionate.
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On Martin’s experience playing at a young age
MO: To be fair, I think the whole squad is really good in this way, to help young players and as you say, with those two [Max Dowman and Marli Salmon] there, they’re so young and so much quality. I think, myself, I just try to share my experience, guide them in the right direction, help them to keep the right mindset, because you can see that the quality is obviously there.
So, it’s just trying to help them to have the right mindset and to help them feel good in the team and to let them shine and do their thing. They’ve been amazing on this tour and you can all see the quality. It’ll be exciting to see them in the future.
On Viktor Gyokeres’ fitness:
MA: Yes, I understand, he’s only done today’s session, yesterday very little. We’re going to assess tonight how he is. If the medical staff are happy as well with his condition to participate in tomorrow’s match, it’s a possibility. We’re going to discuss that tonight.
On the rest of the squad’s availability:
With the rest, everybody’s going to be okay, apart from Big Gabi, who’s still out, and probably Riccy [Riccardo Calafiori], it’s going to be a bit too early for him tomorrow.
On what excites Martin about playing with Gyokeres:
I think you’ve all seen what he’s done in his career so far. Especially the last season at Sporting, the numbers speak for themselves. He’s a very complete player. He’s physical, strong, fast, good finisher, and intelligent as well. I think he’s a very complete striker and you can also see the hunger, the energy he brings. I’m really excited to have him with the team. He’s only trained a few times, but you can already see the quality, the energy, and the willingness. I’m excited to have a pitch with him.
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On the size of the squad:
MA: Well, I said that I was extremely happy with the way that we have approached the window and how aggressive we’ve been. There’s still a long period with the window open. So far, we are very happy with what we have achieved. Make sure that at the end of the window, we continue to be super happy.
On helping Viktor settle in:
MO: Yeah, obviously, with the language and everything, it’s been easier for me to help him. We can speak our own language. Scandinavians, they always bond well together. So, in that way, it’s been really natural. But to be fair, it’s like with any player. Every new player, we try to help them in the best possible way. That’s what I felt when I came here. I felt at home straight away. I felt how good the culture and environment was to get into. Everyone just wants to help you and get the best out of you. Then it’s important also how you do things off the pitch. That’s what we all do. So we’re just here to help. So far, he’s having a good time, I think.
On Viktor wearing number 14:
MA: I think I use the word conviction. That’s the first thing that I noticed when I spoke to him. Someone very determined, someone that was really already attached to the club, the way he was talking about the club, the history, in this case Thierry [Henry], and what the shirt represented. I felt it, so when you feel it, go for it.
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On what a shirt number means:
MO: Well, I think it’s different to every player. I think some players would say it’s really important, and others, they don’t care. But I think some players, they have a special feeling about a certain number, and it might be important, but I don’t think it’s the most important thing. But for some players, it might give them an extra good feeling to play with a certain number. But for me, it doesn’t matter too much.
On visiting Hong Kong in 2012:
MA: Well, there are similarities, obviously. The city has changed a lot. I came here one more time. So very impressive. The most impressive thing, again, is our supporters, how passionate they are, the way they ask things. They are so emotional. They spend so much time outside the hotel. I think the way they received the team was incredible yesterday, and it made us feel that all this trip is worth it because I think people deserve to enjoy the team as well.
On Thomas Frank saying we’re one of the best teams in the world:
MA: Well, that’s great to hear that from someone like Frank, especially, which I respect immensely and what to expect, I think tomorrow, we’re going to start to see the direction that he’s going to take with the team, implementing his vision, his philosophy and we just need to be focused on what we want to do, what we want to achieve, and I’m sure it’s going to be a great game.
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On Viktor handling the pressure:
MA: I think it already has, you know, because when the news broke, and then you realise the magnitude of the club that you’re going to be representing and how viral everything goes so fast in these days, I think his immediate reaction was, wow, and then he sees, you know, the way we were received again yesterday, the training session that we just had with 20,000 people, the stadium that was sold out in two hours, and 50,000 people being in that incredible stadium tomorrow. So,I think you’re going to have a very good first impression, that’s for sure.
On playing a high-profile game in pre-season:
MO: No, I love it, and I think we all do. I think we’re all excited, you know, to play in front of so many supporters, and as Mikel said here, we really felt that love and the connection here. It’s been a while since we’ve played this type of game, so I think that’s what we all want. For me it’s a good thing that we get a proper test and something that means a little bit more, you know, with the derby. So, I think we’re all just really excited and eager to play.
On the atmosphere:
MO: I think the support and the reception we’ve had here has been amazing. Yesterday, we arrived at the hotel and it was people everywhere and shirts everywhere and we really felt that love, you know, when we came. Today, in the stadium, around 20,000 people to come and watch us train and the game tomorrow is sold out. So we really feel that, and it’s really special and it’s amazing to travel so far and still feel that, you know, so it’s something we really appreciate and it means a lot to us, you know, to make people happy and make people enjoy football. So, that’s really good.
On the goals for the season:
MA: Well, do better than the previous one, and we all know what that means. So, again, I think everything starts with the preparation, in terms of how we build the squad, in terms of how ready the team is going to be to start to compete from day one and everything that we’ve seen so far, the feeling that I get straight away is very, very positive.
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