How special was the moment on the pitch at the end of the Manchester United game?
It was a positive one, very relieved to get the first win. We wanted to start the year
in a different mood. I was very pleased with the win and the performance.
You won the FA Cup with Arsenal as a player - presumably it's got a special place in your heart?
Absolutely. That final day of the season at Wembley and the memories that are brought
back with this football club. We have to be challenging for the cups and we will try to
do that again this season.
Has three matches in seven days taken a lot out of your squad?
At the moment we're managing a lot of injuries, we haven't been able to rotate the team a
lot. We survived. Yesterday I was a little bit scared, we could expose a few players
and get some injuries.
We went through the game and we suffered but I think all the teams in the Premier League
at the moment are in the same position. We went through it, we suffered together and
now we have a few days to recover.
Has the first half set a standard for everything?
I hope so, that this is the least we have to expect from the team. There are many areas
that I would like to improve for sure. In the short time we have been together to see
such a change is encouraging for me.
I'm pleased with that.
What has changed with Granit Xhaka?
I had a conversation with him and I wanted to understand his feelings first, the reason
why he was thinking here probably wasn't the right place to continue his career. I gave
him my opinion, my perspective, and I told him that I was ready to support him from the
club perspective.
I wanted his team-mates to get his back and help him to change his mind because we need
him. I believe that if we were able to do that the fans would respond in a positive way.
I've seen him act every day, how he trains, how he lives his profession and the quality
of the player. He could be a really important player for the club.
Hertha Berlin still believe they can get a deal done
From my perspective I don't want him to leave.
Could it still happen?
I hope [not]. I don't want him [to leave]. I said to the club no and I said to him no.
After in life I cannot control what happens.
What can Arsenal fans expect from the January window?
That we're going to try to be in the market to see options that can strengthen the team.
That's for sure. That's our obligation. We're going to be working on that.
My obligation is to give my opinion on the things I think we can improve.
Obviously we have some bad injury with Calum [Chambers] a few days ago that is going to
change our plans at the back. But the reality at the moment is we're not going to be able
to do much.
I'm more concerned at the moment to get people back from injuries than signings and try to
improve the players we have here, get everybody on board with what we're trying to do. If
something extra comes up and we think it's the right opportunity let's do it.
Do you have an update on Calum Chambers?
He's in London. He's having surgery. We will know more about that this afternoon when
he comes back from the theatre.
Whats' your gut feeling? Will he be out for the rest of the season?
I don't know but obviously it will be a significant injury and we will see once
they've gone in there what the doctors say but it's not looking good
Why has Eddie Nketiah come back?
We have to sit down with the loan department and we'll do that this afternoon, to discuss
the best possible way for him to keep developing. I think the environment that he's been living
in has improved him as a player, 100 per cent.
He played some minutes, not as much as we wanted, but he's a kid with incredible potential
and we have to make a decision for the club, not for the next four months but for his career.
What's the best thing to do? We have to sit down with him, hear from him - that's very
important because we need to know what he needs as well - and make the right decision
for the next five months.
Will Nketiah go out on loan again?
Again, I have to speak with him. I think the first idea was that he was going to be on
loan for the rest of the season. We have to assess the situation again now. At the moment
[I don't know] but I will have some answers very soon.
Do you expect Leeds to be in the Premier League next season?
I do, yes. The way they play, the manner they behave, I follow their coach for a long time
and I know how tough it will be to play against them.
What is different about Marcelo Bielsa?
Just what he gets out of his team, how he makes them fight and challenge and run and
compete, and never give up in any game or any circumstances. He generates that belief
in the players, those demands and that is why, in my opinion, he is one of the most
successful managers.
Every manager wants to do that
Yes, but to do that consistently every three days, at that level, is very different. And
for me the best thing is that when you talk to players that had him as a coach, the words
that they have for him are always positive. They were better players after [playing for
him], better people, they understood the profession better.
Should Arsenal take the FA Cup seriously?
Absolutely. I would like to have more fit players so I can rotate more, but we will
see what we have after tomorrow.
But obviously it is a competition that is very attached to this football club in recent
years and we have to take to very seriously and we have to try to go to the next round.
How important is winning at home for confidence levels?
It was a long time not winning at home, to create that connection with the fans, that
belief that what we are trying to do has a very clear direction, supported with a win,
is much better.
For the players as well, they were suffering with the results and the inconsistency, so
that [win] will generate more belief.
Is the job bigger than you first thought?
I knew about then job, how big it was going to be. The challenge? Yes, maybe a little
bit bigger than expected!
Could Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leave?
I don’t even think about that possibility [of him leaving] with Auba. I want him here.
Is it true that Mesut Ozil ran 11.5km yesterday?
I haven't checked the physical stats yet, I was checking on other things that are, in
my opinion, more relevant. But just by looking at him and what he did on that pitch, I would
say so yes.
Have you been speaking to Ozil about needing to work harder?
Yes, but not just individually to him. To all the players individually and collectively,
with what I expect from them and what they have to expect from each other when they are
in that football pitch.
He is no different. He's got the same capacity to run like any other player. It's about will
and about wanting to do it.
David Luiz said you'd put the fun back into Arsenal. How did you do that?
I don't know, I try to bring good energy, good spirit and trying to be positive with
them that there's still a long way to play in this league. Trying to give them clarity
and direction and to play football and enjoy this profession.
That's the reason why they are here. They are such privileged boys to be playing for
this football club and they have to realise it every day. We have to help them to realise
that they are here to have fun as well, not just to have pressure and to live with fear
about playing in that stadium.
When you get the crowd going, they are so privileged to be on that pitch.
Do you want players like Aubameyang to feel that Arsenal is a fun place and somewhere they want to stay?
Absolutely, yes.
Are there any new injury concerns?
At the moment, no. At the moment, we are okay.