Every word Mikel Arteta said on Ben White injury, Guardiola, transfer meeting, Edu replacement

How's Trossard?

Trossard seems to be OK. He trained this morning and he seems to be feeling good. We will assess everything with the doctor right now. But that’s good.

Saka and Rice?

READ MORE: Arsenal press conference: Mikel Arteta on White and Saka injuries, Trossard and Forest

READ MORE: Mikel Arteta makes Arsenal January transfer window admission after Stan Kroenke meeting

Bukayo and Declan as well, they had the first partial session today. So, very good as well.

How's Ben White?

Ben is gonna be out for months, unfortunately.

How long has he been struggling?

It's been different kinds of struggles. It's never been the same thing. We had to make a decision. It's not been improving in the last few weeks unfortunately. We know that Ben is going to push every boundary but it got to a point a where we have to protect the player and we decided to do the surgery. He agreed with that and unfortunately that's going to keep him out for a few months.

How long is a few?

I don't know at the moment. We have to see how he reacts post-surgery. I don't expect him to be half a year, but I cannot tell you exactly.

How's Calafiori?

Riccy trained today. His rehab has gone really well. He was able to do certain things last week with the physios. He trained on the pitch this week, he trained with us today as well. He will be in the squad.

Tierney and Tomi?

Kieran not yet. He had a couple of sessions with the team, but not ready yet. Tomiyasu is going to be out as well for a period.

Anyone else?

You went through a lot players! Not that I can think of.

What have you done to reset during this time off?

Analysing why we haven’t won games. Is that because the opponent is superior to us? The clear answer is no. Should we have won more of those games? The answer is yes. Do I like what the team is doing? The answer is yes, but we have to improve certain things in terms of how we are defending and attacking the box especially.

There are a lot of things but I need to understand how the players are. The only way to do that apart from communicating on the phone is when they come back. The energy of the staff and players yesterday was unbelievable. That's the joy of being with these guys in this journey. They love being here, they love being back with us and that brings the energy back right away. There’s not much that I need to do. But it’s always good to paint the picture and make sure that we’re in the right track.

What's your reaction to Pep’s contract extension?

If it's what he really wants - and I’m sure it is - then congratulate him. I already have. I'm happy for him because I want the best for him.

It's great for the league, but is it great for your title ambitions?

We can only do what is up to us. We have to be at our very best to try and achieve what we want. What the others do, it's not our decision.

It will be your 250th game vs Forest. How much have you enjoyed your experience?

A lot.

How satisfied are you with what you’ve achieved?

Extremely grateful. Very happy. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I enjoyed it because of the people that I work with every single day and because I understand how lucky we are to be sitting where we are. You always want more. I feel a huge pride to see how the people who work in the organisation feel about the club right now.

What we transmit as a football club, as a team and the people that I work with. But it’s about winning at the end. You want to win more, you want to win big trophies and we are on that journey.

Do you have another 250 games in you?

If it's about energy and what I love doing, for sure.

What have you made of Forest this year?

They've been really good, really consistent and top against the best opposition especially. Big credit to Nuno and the coaching staff for what they're doing.

Their intentions are very clear, how they manage to take the games where they want. Really impressed to be fair with what they've done.

You're unbeaten at home this season. Does that make you confident?

We love playing at the Emirates. We know that we have a unique atmosphere with our supporters there. The way I saw the team in the last 48 hours gives me a lot of confidence that tomorrow we're going to be full tilt to try and win the game.

Biggest achievements in 250 games?

Bringing the club together, 100%. Lifting the spirit, giving a very clear DNA to the football club, and pride. To representing this shirt, from the players to everyone involved in the club, in the way that is expected at this level.

All you need to do is win trophies now?

It is not the only thing as you need to maintain a lot of the things you do. Sometimes you achieve them but they can drop very quickly so it is maintain them. That is a word you have to do consistently every single day and now it is about winning, that is the next step for sure.

Ever think Pep wasn't going to stay?

I have no clue to be fair. He has done that every year at Barcelona, it was one year at a time, and in Bayern it was very similar. It is his decision and he seems very happy at the club so congratulations.

How big is tomorrow and the next six weeks?

Yeah, big for sure. There are a lot of games and it is about building momentum and getting results. Getting back to back wins will create the energy and belief that that we need, and a lot of the good things that we are doing

Arsene did 1200...

That is perspective! What is a lot and what is very little. It could have been a lot shorter, to be fair, especially in the world we live now. So I really appreciate it and that is why my first word was gratitude. Not only for the job but where and who I do it with. That is why I love what I do, it is no coincidence.

Last two months of bad luck - what's it been like?

From my side, when I planned the season I have a start and finish. It is journey and we all go traveling on the bus together. There is going to be a bump, bad weather, things are going to happen. My thing is how I am going to navigate and make the others navigate with me throughout that journey, because it is going to happen.

It is guaranteed unless we become invincible and win every game. Then fine, we didn't have to go through it, but in the way I predicted the season it was going to happen. As many things? No, but I love how the club reacts to difficult things.

Wanted all the players to come back fit - how do you plan for White now?

It is a challenge as it is something that we did not expect at all. If we talk about consistency and availability, Ben has been probably been the best with Gabi [Magalhaes] and Willy [Saliba] so we miss him but we are going to have to find alternatives. That is it.

It is a lot of positives as well. Declan is back, Bukayo is back, Jurrien is in a good place as he could not play the last game either. Leo came back in a good place, Riccy is back after missing the last five or six weeks so that is great news.

Saka/Rice better for not playing?

I prefer when players are in a routine and rhythm to play. They couldn't do it because they were injured so we tried to facilitate everything that we could to be in the best condition for tomorrow.

What do you want now, no more injuries for the next few weeks?

Don't even talk about it! Getting some normality, things that happen normally, not everything that happened lately. It is like everything, there is a lot to learn from those periods. From yourself and how you can start to look constantly, get frustrated and find excuses. The team hasn't reacted that way.

I really love the experience of going through something difficult with them because some individuals were tough emotionally to go through with them.

Not been able to go to Dubai...

You don't know if I've been in Dubai...

The players haven't been able to...

You don't know that either...

See any similarities to January last season? Can go on a run now?

Yeah, but not because of Dubai. It would be too simple. It is because I see and looking back at all the games, I look at a lot of the opposition in the Premier League, what they are doing, just to understand the context and how good we are in relation to the opposition.

And I am very confident that this team, when we find a bit of consistency, and a bit of normality, it is going to kick on.

What is the key?

Availability, that’s it. I am not asking for anything else.

Is there any margin for error given how far behind you are in the title race?

Well it is much smaller when you see the consistency in terms of results that Liverpool are having. They are making exceptional improvements and results, but we are there. We have played against them and we have seen live where we are in relation to them, so that gives me a lot of confidence.

What did Nadal mean for you?

Just proud, for how he has represented the country, the sport. I think as an athlete, for everybody, it doesn't matter if you are a tennis fan or not, the way he acts, the way he behaves, the way he wins and especially the way he has lost, the way he has dealt with difficulties in life, he is just an inspiration.

For me, he is a very special role model because as well I know him and the people around him, how he had to adjust his career, adapt to it. What he has achieved, I think is phenomenal. He is like Roger, I think he will be there as one of the best forever in the sport.

Went to USA in break to speak to owners, how big a topic was January window? Been assured can move as quickly without Edu?

Yeah, well, it is always really positive to spend time together. Obviously we had time to talk about the windows, but as well about the club. How they are feeling about what we are doing, how we are feeling about where we want to take the club, the next direction, obviously Edu.

It is a lot of topics, there, but again it is a joy to spend time with them because it’s a lot to learn. They have so much experience in sport. You feel the ambition, especially when you go out there and even that they are very far, how close they live every day with us, and they want to achieve together. It feels great.

How highly do you rate Ayto?

Very good, Jason and all the team. Edu and I probably got a lot of the praise, but the work behind it is done by this guy and Jason has been phenomenal. It is not easy to wake up one day and having to move to a different office and do a different job, like it was for the team.

But again, the spirit, how people react, how they are willing to [say]: ‘Okay, that’s it, that’s the situation, let’s move forward’, with that ambition, and as well with that determination and that enthusiasm, that’s something great. Jason has been great on that.

Any timeframe on Tomiyasu?

No. He is going to be away now for a few weeks to continue with his treatment and as well change a little bit the environment, because psychologically it has been really, really tough for him - as you can imagine. He is a guy that the only thing he wants to do is work 24 hours to get better and he feels terrible when he is not fit.

It's a real shame, so we are going to give him the best opportunity to try out that kind of thing. If it can trigger something, unlock something and try to help him, to have him as quick as possible back - but I think we need to be patient.

Is it knee issue from summer?

Yeah.

Motivated to win PL when Pep is here?

Well we certainly have a lot of the best managers in the world in this league and that's enough, that's the challenge, that's the level. It is not about saying it on paper, it's what you live, especially because you know the level and how opponents prepare, the things that they do to try to beat you. So, it’s great to be in this environment and trying to prove yourself and win.

How is Odegaard?

He played really well, obviously that has its consequences because after such a long time not playing he needed time to recover. The ankle reacted and other areas of the body after putting so much load into it. It wasn’t ideal, but he’s been okay. The last day and a half he trained with the team and he is feeling good. So pretty positive.

What did you miss when he wasn't available?

Well he couldn't [play], but we did other things and in some games it worked really well. But Martin brings everybody together, he has this capacity with and without the ball. He has this charisma, leadership and that's why he is the captain. He has the intelligence to make everybody better and make everybody click. That's a unique quality that he has. Obviously that has been missed.

Been in dressing room before games?

He has been really on it in that sense, but at the end it is when you step in there. You have to go through certain moments on the field having him, it makes life easier. But that doesn't mean other players can't do it or in a difficult way as well.