Every word Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said on Harry Kane threat, Bayern form and Porto lessons

Prior to Arsenal’s matchup with Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg, the manager of the team has addressed the media.

Mikel Arteta has spoken to the press ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

To what extent are you and your players enjoying this phase of the season?

This is where we want to be—enjoying the moment to the fullest. Our current standings in both the Premier League and the Champions League are excellent. We are up against one of the most successful clubs in Europe, so we have our work cut out for us. That represents the obstacle we must get past, and we eagerly anticipate doing so.

The sporting director of Bayern stated that Arsenal is the favorite; how do you evaluate their threat?

Best squad. I have the utmost respect and admiration for Thomas, his teams, their setup and play, and the messages they convey. I’ve discovered a lot about him, and a thorough analysis of Bayern shows why they’re a premier team. We need to take our game where we want it because we’ve prepared extremely well. We can win if we take that action.

How can Harry Kane be stopped?

It’s not just him. They work as a team, the people that they have. All of those players’ unique characteristics are known to us, as is his particular skill set. The best course of action is for us to work together to try and prevent specific things.

Will his past performance matter?

I hope not.

Why does he pose such a threat, in your opinion?

Regularity. His accomplishments over the past ten years are astounding when you consider his numbers. With the players surrounding him and the service he receives, he can score in a variety of ways. We must make an effort to stay away from this.

Can the absence of away fans be a factor?

Lots of passion and emotion, full house. This is a chance we haven’t had in fifteen years. That demonstrates to you how unique this evening will be for us. To make it happen, we will need to give every ball our all.

According to Klopp, Arsenal will prevail if Manchester United performs as they did against them on Sunday. What are your thoughts on that?

No, I’m limited to discussing what we do.

What lessons has your team taken away from Sporting’s loss?

We should be better, hopefully. In the past few months, we have undoubtedly learned a great deal of information. Gamers have changed over time. It’s been an extremely demanding season, and we’ve all tried to get better and surpass where we were a year ago. Being in this competition and, moreover, competing in the Premier League the way we are is a significant step for us. This presents a challenge, but we are also very eager to participate.

Are they discussing the 5-1 losses to Bayern Munich in the locker room?

No. That’s the past. It’s evident when you look at their record in the competition. Their character and ability to play large venues. Without a doubt, we must demonstrate that.

What is the source of the player’s belief?

I hope that’s just how they are. They must possess something to strive for, to extract as much as they can from themselves in order to improve, become more resilient, competitive, and have the will to succeed every day. If you do that collectively, the result is potent.

Is it necessary to be almost flawless with seven league games remaining and possibly even more in the Champions League?

It’s hard to be perfect in football. First, you need to be superior to your opponent. You have to be merciless when the opportunity presents itself. We need to continue doing a lot of the things we are already doing, and we have been trying to outperform our opponents lately.

The group appears to be getting stronger and more vicious now.

Indeed, we are in a fortunate time. Winning and giving our best always helps and adds a great spirit. Just concentrate on the upcoming game. We have a big task tomorrow, but we are eager to get started.

Astonished by Bayern’s performance; will it matter?

I’m not sure. Because football is such a competitive sport and requires so much consistency, anyone can experience this.

33% of the shots Arsenal has faced have been blocked. What does that tell you about the team, and do you work on it?

While we are working on it, hopefully it also reveals something about the character of the players. Players cannot simply be let to attempt shots at your goal. When it reaches that point, it’s our goalkeeper’s final chance to step in and stop it, so we must stop every scenario from happening before then. Thus, make an effort to manage every event that occurs in that sequence.

What took away from your initial knockout matchup with Porto?

Evolution, in my opinion, has nothing to do with me. Not just because of the outcome, but also because it’s a club, and that’s what matters most, I believe it will be in many other areas. It has been 14 years since we were in this situation. It has taken us fifteen years to advance to the next level! For this club, that is a very long time. We are aware of this, which is why we are so driven and determined to see it through.

Have you discussed how to defeat Bayern with Xabi Alonso?

That is a great question, but I will not address it.

It was said of Arsenal as a player that they couldn’t compete, but many now consider them to be favorites. What has altered?

I can appreciate those discussions. For us, it makes no difference; we need to perform well in order to defeat a very good team made up of very good players. In order to win the match, we must earn every right.

Are any of the Bayern-related concerns pertinent to this kind of knockout match?

No, in my opinion. Furthermore, it’s something over which we have no control or say. Although we don’t know, we always assume the best of our opponents. No matter who we play—Brighton last week, Villa the following week, or Bayern this week—you can always count on them to play to the best of their abilities and surpass us.

Do they somehow pose a greater threat to this tie because of their form?

I hope not.

What effect does the first leg’s home field have on the dynamics?

We are certain that every knockout stage operates in the same manner. It’s crucial to remember that the rules are subject to change, and you must be ready to handle any situation that may arise during those 180 minutes.

Right now, you don’t seem to be afraid of anyone. How crucial is it to approach Tuesday with that mindset?

We aim to accomplish that in each and every game. We’re not the same team if we can only accomplish that in one game as opposed to three. We must ensure that certain things are ingrained in the team and must continue in that manner.