VIDEO SHOWS: PRESS CONFERENCE COMMENTS FROM ARSENAL MANAGER MIKEL ARTETA SHOWS: LONDON COLNEY, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (DECEMBER 2, 2024) (NICHE MEDIA – See restrictions) 1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MANAGER, MIKEL ARTETA, SAYING: "That's an opportunity tomorrow at 7:30PM [GMT], everybody, 7:30PM kick off, to be at the Emirates [Stadium], bouncing and putting energy to win the game, that's the opportunity we have tomorrow, 7:30PM. Like animals, everybody at the Emirates to go again and beat Brentford, that's the opportunity, vital… massive… yes." 2. WHITE FLASH 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MANAGER, MIKEL ARTETA, SAYING: "Our motivation comes from preparation and how we prepare for every game to try and be better than the opposition, and where we are in the League and where we are doing, I mean I don't think we need any more motivation than that." 4. WHITE FLASH 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MANAGER, MIKEL ARTETA, ON BRENTFORD, SAYING: "That physicality comes from different areas in relation to the pitch, but I think every game that we play, when you look at intensity in the Premier League, against any opponent, what is needed is it is incredible and Brentford brings different threats, different challenges, as we know and you need to dominate that if you want to win the game." 6. WHITE FLASH 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MANAGER, MIKEL ARTETA, ON DECLAN RICE WINNING FSA MEN'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD AND EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS, SAYING: "I think he's very close to what we believed that he could bring to the club, to the team and the way he could grow personally as well, and I think he fully deserves it. I think he's been incredibly consistent throughout the last two years, last season again, again in big matches and big moments he's stepping up which is a massive thing, you want to fulfil that role at a big club and I'm delighted that he got it." 8. WHITE FLASH 9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MANAGER, MIKEL ARTETA, ON LAST YEAR PREPARING TEAM FOR INJURIES THEY'VE SUFFERED THIS YEAR, SAYING: "Yes, because this season has been the worst in some areas, especially in the front line and now what is happening with the back line, but we learn and we were able to put that together, a squad that was much more reliable and have more options. We learn from the past as well, that we have to use players in different positions and they have to be able to fulfil different roles if we want to compete at this level, and the example of Mikel [Merino] we were discussing before is just the best one probably." STORY: Two draws in three Premier League games have stalled Arsenal's progress and although they still have a five-point lead at the top, Mikel Arteta has called on his team and their fans to bring energy "like animals" when they play Brentford on Wednesday (December, 3). Arsenal, who finished second in the last three seasons, are bidding for their first league title since 2004. "It's an opportunity tomorrow at 7.30pm – everybody, 7.30pm – to be at the Emirates, bouncing and putting energy to win the game," Arteta told reporters on Tuesday (December, 2). "7.30pm. Like animals, everybody at the Emirates, to go again and beat Brentford. That's the opportunity. Vital. Massive." "Our motivation comes from preparation, try to be better from the opposition. And in the league with what we're doing, we don't need any more motivation than that," Arteta said. Arsenal centre back William Saliba is doubtful along with winger Leandro Trossard after they both missed Sunday's 1-1 draw at 10-man Chelsea due to injuries. Defender Gabriel and forward Kai Havertz are still weeks away from returning. "Players not training in certain positions having to play there… this season has been the worst in some areas, especially in the frontline and now what's happening with the backline," Arteta said. "We learn and we were able to put together a squad (that) is much more reliable and have more options. We learned from the past as well that we have to use players in different positions if we want to compete at this well." (Production: Lucy Thomson, Chiranjit Ojha)
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