9 notes from 5 press conferences
We needed a different kind of profile in that left-hand side, and I'm here to make decisions.
Eberechi Eze, who scored against Lille three days earlier, was hooked at half-time of Arsenal's win at Forest on 18 October. Mikel Arteta said the game needed something different: "We needed a different kind of profile in that left-hand side, and I'm here to make decisions."
They need to train more then. What I don't want is an excuse.
William Saliba's injury is "the second one in a really similar area. So we didn't know exactly the time frames of that," Mikel Arteta said, on why Arsenal signed Ezri Konsa. Asked if Saliba walks back in over Konsa once fit, he wouldn't commit: "great problem to have."
Noni Madueke "will have more minutes in the next few games," Mikel Arteta said before Arsenal's league game at Forest on 18 October. Using him on the left is down to necessity more than tactics, but he can play either wing and "he's enjoying playing there."
"They need to train more then. What I don't want is an excuse." Mikel Arteta rejected the idea that Arsenal's rotated players lack rhythm, ahead of the league game at Forest on 18 October, and said everyone in the squad will keep getting minutes.
somebody has come in, whether it's Ebs or Noni in this case, and they still perform and do really well.
Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke have both stepped in on Arsenal's left and kept the level up, Mikel Arteta said ahead of the league game at Forest on 18 October: "somebody has come in, whether it's Ebs or Noni in this case, and they still perform and do really well."
When a player is in such a good moment playing a certain position, to change him is not ideal.
Arsenal's William Saliba (back) has another scan to come; Mikel Arteta said "every sign so far has been very, very positive". Christos Tzolis hoped back "in a few weeks", Piero Hincapié needs "another week or 2". Martín Zubimendi faces a late test for the league game at Forest.
Myles Lewis-Skelly has been moved out of midfield to cover at left-back, with Piero Hincapié injured and the fixtures piling up. Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal are lighter there: "When a player is in such a good moment playing a certain position, to change him is not ideal."
On Viktor Gyökeres losing his place, Arsenal's Mikel Arteta pointed to service: "He's 3 or 4 times in front of goal with no keeper, and the ball should arrive to him and it doesn't... It's very small margins." Is his confidence low? "That's a very personal question."
Piero Hincapié's injury is worse than first thought, Arsenal's Mikel Arteta said: out "a matter of weeks", exact number unknown, though he is improving. Bukayo Saka started on the bench after an illness. Martín Zubimendi is "much, much better", no return date given.