How special will it be to be back at Manchester City?
I'm very excited to get back there. I have some
fantastic memories, a lot of friends, a lot of people I like. Obviously now I'm in another
position, another bench. I will defend my club as well as I can.
How does your knowledge of City help?
It gives me a very clear idea what they're trying to do, what they'll be looking to do,
something different to be able to stop that and create the issues I think we can create
for them. That has to happen on the day when they are at their best. I know what they are
capable of doing, the variation they have. At the end of the day it is about the performance
of the players on the pitch.
What has changed since the last Arsenal-City game?
I don't know. I wasn't here. I can't judge what was going on behind the scenes. I know
the team that I took, where we are right now. We've come along and made progress in a lot
of areas. We still have to improve a lot of things.
Are the messages with Pep drying up ahead of Wednesday?
Not yet. I'm sure he will be focused. They had a game yesterday as well. We are all focused
on our own job, it's enough.
Is Torreira's ankle definitely a season-ending injury?
I wouldn't like to rule him. Lucas is really keen and wanting to play again this
season, whether that's realistic or not we'll know in the next two or three weeks, depending
on how the bone is healing and how he's doing his rehab. At the moment we don't know anything
for sure.
Are Cedric Soares and Shkodran Mustafi in the frame?
I think they will be available to play. Hopefully everyone will be able to train tomorrow and
we'll pick the best players we can.
Can you replicate Manchester United's performance against City?
Every team is completely different, every game is different. We play away from home.
United were playing at home. It was a very competitive game, a very good game as well
to watch on the tactical side. At the end the boxes decided the game.
Premier League games going ahead despite coronavirus is it inevitable they'll go behind closed doors?
It looks like it's affecting more and more countries each time. Hopefully it won't affect
us but I don't know how realistic that is either. We're just following what the government
has said and what the club are saying. We just have to adapt to the situation.
How is it affecting you and the players?
It's just a few routines we have to change, minimal contact and things like that. For
the rest we are acting normally.
Can you beat City?
We're going to go there trying to beat them, put all the things we can on the pitch to
make it difficult for them, to create the scenarios we want to do during the game. Let's
see if we turn up on the day at our best, we can perform and win the game.
What about the Champions League picture?
I don't know. It's still a long way to go. We want to go game by game. Three weeks ago
it was impossible, now it looks a little more possible. It's still in the results and our performances.
Why have City lost so many games this season?
Sometimes small details make the difference. They've been very unlucky in some of the games,
that's my opinion. I was there when we lost a few and we completely dominated the game
and lost it in one or two details. This is football. It can happen.
Do Arsenal have to be at their best to beat City?
I think we have to be at our best, that's for sure. You have any chance to win a game
at the Etihad against those players, we have to be at our best. I think we are in two different
processes and levels, at the moment we have to try manage those individually and collectively.
We have to be at our best.
Is Alexandre Lacazette ready to start?
It's not because of the fact he scored, it's because of the way he trains every day. The
way he's trying, the way he played even when he wasn't scoring. He's always at his best,
training, his attitude is top. The same with the others so they all have a chance.
What is the latest on Bukayo Saka's future?
The club is doing what it has to do and is having conversations, hopefully we'll get it resolved.