Arteta: How do you stop Chelsea's 'JP Morgan'? It is clearly a responsibility for the whole team

At 23:30 Beijing time on September 6, Arsenal will host Chelsea in the third round of the Premier League. Before the match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta attended a press conference. This article is the first part of the press conference.

Hello, Mikel. As usual, we have to ask you about the unavoidable team news and the latest injury updates. Can you give us the details?

Yes, of course.

When we were allowed to film training yesterday, Bruno (Guimaraes) was already on the training pitch. Was everything fine?

Yes, he is completely fine. He took a knock in the previous match against Aston Villa, and we assessed his condition afterwards, but he should be able to take part in full team training tomorrow.

What about Mosquera? He was obviously not on the training pitch yesterday. How is he?

His absence from training yesterday was more of a precautionary measure rather than because of any serious injury issue. So we need to observe his feelings and physical response in tomorrow's training session.

Is Ezri Konsa capable of playing in this match, or ready to start?

Well, he is definitely in the squad and available for selection. Therefore, we have to make the specific starting lineup decision based on the overall tactical plan.

Could we see Jurrien (Timber) feature in this match? I would love to see Jurrien back on the pitch completing those brilliant changes of direction and turns...

Yes, he is currently in very good physical condition. As I said before, he has been back on the training pitch for several weeks and has been fully training with our first team, so his situation is very positive.

Do you think he could be included in the final squad and play on Sunday?

After tomorrow's training session, we will make another decision based on his latest condition.

As for William Saliba, his recovery seems to require more time, but he has been included in the Champions League squad. That must be very encouraging news, right?

Yes. In fact, we cannot know exactly how many more weeks he will be out because every individual's physical recovery and healing process is different. We know we have to respect certain scientific recovery timelines. Although his recovery has progressed very positively in recent weeks, we still need to be patient and observe how his bones respond as they gradually take on training loads. Based on what we know now, including him in the Champions League squad was a very easy decision. Yes, that is exactly the case, and we also happened to have enough spare places to do it.

The transfer window has finally closed. Are you happy or relieved about that?

That is how it is. When the transfer window closes is not something we decide. I think everyone knows that once a decision has to be made about when it closes, that matter is settled. Now the situation is extremely clear. Every club's squad is finalized, and we can finally put all our focus back on the pitch.

Especially on deadline day, some clubs seemed to experience a sense of panic and may have overpaid for players who perhaps were not worth those fees. Arsenal did not get involved in that panic. Has Arsenal reached a level where you only choose targets from the very top pool of elite talent, and if there is no genuinely suitable deal, you do not need to force a signing?

I don't know. I think every moment, every transfer situation and every club's circumstances are different. Sometimes you do need to react quickly because unexpected things can happen and you have to be prepared. So I think every individual transfer case is completely different.

There are reports that Ethan (Nwaneri) has a clause in his contract allowing him to be recalled in January. Is that a realistic possibility or future option?

Let's wait and see. For Ethan now, the key thing is to go there, to a club with an incredible atmosphere, an excellent development environment and Champions League football ahead of him. He needs to give all his talent to Borussia Dortmund, and then we will see what happens next.

Of course, that also means he could face Arsenal in the Champions League in the future?

Yes, that has become a possibility now. He has a bigger space to develop and will face a tactical role completely different from the Premier League, so yes, that is true.

Okay, let's talk about Chelsea. Chelsea's attacking trio is now being nicknamed 'JP Morgan'...

JP Morgan? OK.

Yes, meaning Palmer, Joao (Pedro) and Morgan (Rogers)...

Yes, I understand. I got the joke very quickly. Thank you for explaining it to me (the room bursts into laughter)!

Against an attacking line like that, is your defensive strategy 'banking on keeping them out' (still a banking pun here)?

No, there is no 'bank' here (laughs). Yes, defending Chelsea's forwards is clearly a responsibility for the whole team, not just the few players in the back line.

I think I could also give your attacking trio a finance-style name. Those three players who played until the final whistle against Aston Villa... What surprised me is that Saka, Eze and Kai (Havertz) spell 'SEEK'. Is it because of this high quality in attack that you no longer need to seek new attacking reinforcements in the transfer market?

(Arteta held back laughter for a long time but could not contain it) I have not thought that deeply, to the point of doing that kind of word analysis of names and reaching that conclusion. But I must emphasize that I love the players we currently have, without a doubt.

Obviously, you have 'Goldenman Saka' (a pun on Saka's name and investment bank Goldman Sachs). He has been very reliable in the first two weeks, which is another finance-related pun...

(Arteta started holding back laughter again, and this time succeeded) Yes, he has been very reliable in the first two weeks. I don't know how many weeks this season still has to go, but his performances have been excellent.