Mikel Arteta Outlines Arsenal's FA Cup Strategy and Squad Updates Ahead of Southampton Clash Mikel Arteta addressed media ahead of Arsenal’s Emirates FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton, offering insights into the team’s preparations, player availability, and broader context for the match. The press conference, held at the Sobha Realty Training Centre, focused on several key topics, including the club’s recent success, international duty impacts, injury updates, and the significance of the upcoming fixture. Arteta reflected on Arsenal’s Manager of the Month award, emphasizing the team’s strong performances during a critical phase of the season. “Winning Manager of the Month means we won a lot of games in a really important and crucial part of the season,” he said, highlighting the collective effort behind the achievement. He noted that the recognition was a natural reflection of the team’s form, underscoring the importance of consistent results. The manager also discussed the impact of players withdrawing for international duty, stressing the club’s collaboration with national teams. “We have very good relationships with most national teams, especially with Thomas Tuchel,” Arteta explained. He reiterated that medical decisions ultimately determine player availability, adding that Arsenal remains fully supportive of players’ commitments to their countries. Injuries and squad management were central to the discussion. Arteta addressed Noni Madueke’s recovery, clarifying that the midfielder’s injury was not as severe as initially feared. “It looked really bad, but it’s nowhere near that injury,” he said, noting Madueke would be out for only a few days.#arsenal #mikel_arteta #emirates_fa_cup #southampton #sobha_realty_training_centre
