In the preview of the trip to Brentford's ground, Mikel Arteta provided an update on Arsenal's squad, discussed the title race, and commented on Thomas Frank's departure from Tottenham, calling it 'very sad news.' The Spanish coach also analyzed Viktor Gyokeres' good form, who, since joining in 2026, has been delivering more goals and assists, explaining what has changed since the beginning of the season. 'Not much. I mean, his work ethic remains the same. I think probably the energy, the confidence, when you start scoring and assisting, you probably believe it will happen more often, and the likelihood of it happening increases. That's the only thing as well. I think physically, after the injury, because when he got injured, he probably had his best game, or two or three best games before that period. When he recovered and became available, and trained and had a run of good games, I think everything improved, and now it's working,' Arteta said at a press conference. The Arsenal manager began by updating the status of some players, confirming that Max Dowman remains unavailable, but his recovery is going well. 'He is progressing very well; I think he will be with us in about a week, more or less, and then he can regain his rhythm and be available for us,' he explained. Regarding Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, Arteta deferred a decision until closer to the game: 'The others, we will see.' As for Mikel Merino, the situation is more complex. The player underwent surgery and faces a long recovery process. 'I think the doctors were very pleased with how [the surgery] went. Now it's the beginning of a long process; we are talking about bone healing. So, we will respect the timelines,' he stated, adding that the downtime will be 'months – whether it will be three, four, or five, we don't know.' When asked about the result of the game between Liverpool and Manchester City, which favored the rival in the title race, Arteta preferred to keep the focus on his team. 'I understand [the frustration over City's victory], but these are things we cannot control. We have to focus on ourselves, on the present, and what comes every three days, and just enjoy it,' he emphasized. The Spanish coach also commented on Thomas Frank's recent departure from Tottenham's managerial position, lamenting the situation. 'It is obviously very sad news when a colleague stops doing his job because Thomas is an excellent coach and also an extraordinary man, and he has proven that in the league. I wish him the best in whatever he decides to do next,' he declared. Reflecting on his own longevity in the role, Arteta considered the necessary factors for a project's success. 'It depends on many factors, and the first is having the players support you, enjoying what they do, and believing in what you do. And then, you have to win a lot of games because, in the end, if you don't, you won't stay in the job,' he analyzed. Finally, he anticipated a tough challenge against Brentford, praising the opponent. 'It's another difficult game. We know Brentford at home, the last results they had, the coaching staff has been fantastic. So, credit to them because they are a top team,' he concluded.
In the Mikel Arteta remains central to this story.
In the Mikel Arteta remains central to this story.
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