- Title: New Arsenal boss Arteta demands accountability from players
- Date: 23rd December 2019
- Summary: LONDON COLNEY, NEAR LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (DECEMBER 23, 2019) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW ARSENAL MANAGER MIKEL ARTETA SAYING: "I think that we have a really good team and there are a lot of things to improve but at least the two things that I demanded from them, they were done so they committed to something and they did it so it was a good starting point." (REPORTER ASKS QUESTION: "You've had a couple of training sessions with them now, what have you been working on, what is your priority?") ARTETA REPLIES: "Well, yesterday's session it was for the players who were not involved in the game so we couldn't do much with them but we used the time to start implementing some ideas that I want to bring to the team straightaway and some behaviours that they are going to be important to help us achieve what we want to do. And today was more about the principles, the style and the way I want the team to play so overall they have a little bit the picture that I'm expecting them to have in different situations of the game and it was useful." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW ARSENAL MANAGER MIKEL ARTETA SAYING: "I think we are much more committed, I think we had a different kind of aggression everytime we lose the ball. I think the body language was much, much better than in the past few games and I think they played with more passion in this game. You know obviously they were things to improve but at least those have to be non-negotiable. Those have to be on the table for every game, for every training session and the way we are going to live together." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW ARSENAL MANAGER MIKEL ARTETA SAYING: "I'm not expecting, you're not going to be judged on things that you've done in the past whether they are negative or positive. You know this is evolving everyday and I'm expecting you to perform and be in the right mindset every single day for me. And if you do that, you will have a chance to play. If you don't, you won't." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW ARSENAL MANAGER MIKEL ARTETA SPEAKING ABOUT PLAYING BOURNEMOUTH, SAYING: "Yes, we will try to put the most competitive team against that team. We know how trickly that stadium is and how complicated they are going to make it for us but we have to be ready. We analyse opponents and we have to try to nullify them as much as much as possible and make it, as I said before, as predictable as possible for us so when the players jump in that pitch they know exactly what they are facing." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW ARSENAL MANAGER MIKEL ARTETA, SPEAKING ABOUT RACISM IN SOCCER AFTER THE INCIDENT AT SUNDAY'S TOTTENHAM V CHELSEA MATCH, SAYING: "I think if that continues obviously at some stage another type of reaction will be needed you know. We have some protocols at the moment of how we have to behave towards it but the message to drive that out and to be as strong with it you know it has to be even stronger after what happened yesterday."
- Embargoed: 6th January 2020 16:27
- Keywords: Arsenal Bournemouth Mesut Ozil Mikel Arteta Premier League
- Location: LONDON COLNEY, NEAR LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- City: LONDON COLNEY, NEAR LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001BB759VJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Arsenal have a really good squad that can be improved but the players must take up responsibility and be accountable for their actions on the pitch if they are to be a part of the club's future plans, new manager Mikel Arteta said on Monday (December 23).
In his first news conference last week, Arteta had demanded "passion and energy" from the players and the Spaniard said he was satisfied with what he saw during Saturday's 0-0 draw at Everton.
Arteta, 37, will make his managerial debut when 11th-placed Arsenal travel to Bournemouth on Thursday (December 26). Speaking at a news conference on Monday (December 23), Arteta said that he will put the most competitive team out and believes his side will be well prepared.
Arteta said that players are not going to be judged on things they have done in the past whether they are negative or positive but he expects them to be in the right mindset every day.
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