Every word from Arteta's pre-Man City presser

Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the press at the Sobha Realty Centre ahead of our contest against Manchester City at Emirates Stadium this Sunday.

The boss answered questions on the fitness of our players, our opponents and much more.

Read the full transcript below, with a full video of the press conference to come shortly.

on if we’re in a good place:

Yes, we’ve had two very important wins, very good feeling about the games as well and we’re preparing for a big match for Sunday.

on if there’s a chance White, Saka and Odegaard may be fit:

If there is a chance, it will be after tomorrow's session because they haven't done anything yet, so we'll have more information tomorrow.

on if Merino and Gyokeres are OK after head injuries in midweek:

Yes, they'll be fine.

on if William Saliba will come back into the starting line-up:

Let's see, obviously he's been carrying an injury, he's done really well to be available for the last match and he’s really pushing it, so we will decide tomorrow who is the best to start.

on whether our boardroom changes will impact him:

No, well there have been quite a lot of changes since I arrived at the club. First of all, obviously Tim [Lewis] is leaving and I would like to say a few words because he's been someone that I've really enjoyed working with. I think he has made a tremendous contribution for everything that we’ve done over the last few years. Then on Rich [Garlick], congratulations, it's a massive role to be the CEO of this football club. And then, welcome to the new members of the board. Hopefully they're going to make us better and help us with ideas and support for this club. It's ultimately Stan and Josh’s decision, they've been incredibly supportive, so we move on again.

on how significant this match is in terms of the title race:

It's about winning again and creating another good moment for us. The consistency, competing against one of the best teams in the world and a good test for us to see our level.

on Pep Guardiola:

The demands that he puts first on himself, the standards that he requires from everybody around him, his will to win, to evolve, to improve. You look around him always, he wants to learn about the best people. For me, he’s the best coach in the world, I’ve said it. I had the pleasure to work with him and win a lot with him, next to him. It's always great to see him back.

on Noni Madueke:

I was sure that he was a player with a talent and quality that we didn't have in the squad. A player with a level of threat and great ability that was going to make us better. The moment I picked up the phone, I spoke to him, his dad and his agent, and the three of them gave me the impression that they were really willing to come, and they saw something special here that they wanted to be part of. Then you have to come here, and slowly they start to get to know him, and he starts to get to understand the team. I think so far the impact he’s had on the team is very, very positive.

on how Martin Zubimendi has settled in:

It’s another one. Coming from abroad is always very tricky, especially with the demands in this league and in that particular position, because you have so much responsibility in that role, and you have to be aware of everything that we do. He's such an intelligent boy. He has a lot of presence, a lot of quality, and a lot of courage to play football.

on why Cristhian Mosquera has been so solid:

First of all, he's very good. I think credit to the scouting department and Andrea [Berta] that they presented the opportunity to have him. Again, as a boy, he’s extremely focused, very determined, very clear that he wanted to come here and he wanted to come here to play and earn his place. I think what he's doing in that position, so early, is very impressive.

on White, Saka and Odegaard’s fitness:

Everything has been modified so far for them. There are still a few things to clear and tomorrow we'll have more information on whether they are part of the squad or if they have a chance to be part of the squad.

on what type of game he is expecting on Sunday:

There will be moments. It has been in the past as well, in the last few years. They have changed quite a bit, especially in the backline and they recruited Erling [Haaland] as well. We’ve modified a few things because of the quality of the midfield, which is normal, and there is a tendency in football, especially because of the way teams are defending. But it has certain implications for how teams react to them.

on the impact of subs:

You look historically at the top team, the team that has won a lot, the impact that the finishers had has always been really, really high. You need that quality nowadays to unlock games and to be consistent every three days is even harder and that’s what we need. We are very lucky because we have players who make an impact, they certainly did that the other day, and now we need consistency.

on whether he talks to the subs before the game:

We already had that discussion in pre-season about the goals and responsibilities, and about the implications of each goal in relation to the game, the scenario, the schedule, a lot of factors. But the quality and the delivery and the intensity and the will that you have to put into every minute for this football club, that's unquestionable whether you’re starting or not.

on whether Pep is rebuilding Man City:

I don't know. That's a question for him. But obviously, what he’s already done in this league is unprecedented, the level that he’s put into the standard of this league is, in my opinion, unprecedented, and maintaining those levels for 10 years is already something incredible, and the demands are there for him and he wants to carry on because he believes that he can do it again.

on trying to go five games unbeaten against Pep:

The preparation for the game will be to win, that's for sure.

on mental health in football:

Well, first of all, very proud that the club, again, takes initiative and takes a problem, a serious problem that is out there in our society, and gets practical solutions and to create a safe space as well for our supporters to be able to raise their hands and say I need help and this is the space to do it, I think this is incredible and hopefully more people can do the same, because there's a big need for that.

on how aware he was that Tim Lewis would be leaving

I was aware in certain moments. I had various discussions with Josh [Kroenke] especially, and with the team. It's not the first time that it's happened since I've been here. Again, incredible gratitude towards Tim, what he's done for the club, what he's done for the team, for myself personally as well. Everybody's in different phases of their lives and requires different things.

on what it means for the future:

Wonderful future. That's the only thing that I can say. I'm so positive about it and every time I speak to Stan and Josh and how willing they are, the projection they have, the vision they have for the football club, the people that we have around it, there's no question that, big things ahead.

on the changes at executive level since he’s been manager:

Well, it’s my first managerial job so I don't know if that's a lot or very little! This experience that I’ve had, what I can say is I've been very lucky to work with some wonderful people that I have learned so much from. It's sad because we spend so much time together. Very important people that will be part of the football club, of my life as well, personally, because you get really attached to them emotionally as well, and their families. You have to move on, maintain that personal relationship for sure. People have gone on to do various jobs, some of them have been very successful in other places, and wish them all the best.

on whether he wants to harness the positive feeling from Martinelli and Trossard:

Yes, it certainly does. Because when players are in that state, I think they have to be used and they have to be recognised. There’s a lot of players in a really good moment, performing really well, and that's what we want. Whenever we need them, I'm sure they'll be at their best.

on facing Haaland:

There are a lot of things that you have to get right. He’s a player who doesn't need much space, much time or situations to generate big chances, especially in and around the around the box. Sometimes preventing the source is the best thing to do, and we have to do it again.

on if the current defensive quality is the benchmark:

It's certainly what we're doing today, and what we have to do on Sunday and the following games. There's still a lot of things we can improve, and we’re very aware, but it's a very big foundation to achieve what we want.

on whether he wants Eze to be a touchline winger:

It depends on the positioning, in one space or another, it’s never the same. The space and the difficulty of the opponent will be different in what we want and what we want to accomplish with that.

on whether it depends on who the full back is:

Yeah, depending where that man is defending, especially if it's our left or right side, maybe the opposite side, if they're attacking between their lines, especially if it's higher or deeper, there’s quite a lot of things to consider before we make that decision.

on Myles Lewis-Skelly’s celebration last season:

Well that was done, that's it, that's part of it. There have been a lot of celebrations or non-celebrations in the past from a lot of teams. The experience is to learn and grow as well and we certainly learnt from that.

on whether City are contenders this season:

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