Mikel Arteta provided updates on three members of his left-sided attacking unit ahead of Arsenal’s next Premier League fixture.
First of all, he talked at length about the return of Eberechi Eze. The attacker has found his feet after his move to Crystal Palace in the summer, showing more sustained threat against Everton and Bayer Leverkusen weeks after his brace against Tottenham in the 4-1 triumph in the North London derby.
A calf injury sustained against Bayer Leverkusen ruled him out of the Carabao Cup final and international duty with England, but he has returned sooner than expected. The same, unfortunately, cannot be said for midfielder Mikel Merino.
Finally, the manager praised the man who assisted the match-winner against Sporting in midweek.
‘It surprised me in a powerful way’
“[Eberechi Eze] is available. He has [been ahead of schedule], my first conversation with him after he felt a niggle, he wanted to be available the next week, we knew that that was impossible.
“But the recovery, the will that he’s shown from day one to get back as quickly as possible, how he’s pushed the medical staff and himself to be there tomorrow, it’s just great to watch.
“I didn’t know that he was so determined, so obsessed and so willing to push his body. I didn’t know that part of him and it really surprised me in a really powerful way, how much he loves the game. When you take somebody’s opportunity to play, you really see their reaction.
“I didn’t know he was so determined, so obsessed and so willing to push his body.”
“How involved he was in and around the team, the energy that he brings every day in the building, and then we use that time as well, obviously, to identify areas where he can impact the game, get his opinion wide and open about where he sees himself, where he’s more comfortable, what he sees about the team. And I think we use that time in a really good way.”
“There are other areas as well, that obviously he didn’t feel they were that important or things that we discussed that probably in other teams he hasn’t discussed as that vital and important to change games or to win football matches that he recognises now, he’s such an intelligent person and it’s so easy to talk to him.
Merino recovery and Martinelli’s winning mentality
“[Mikel Merino] is another one that is going to push every boundary. He’s out of his boot now. He’s doing quite a lot of exercises already. He’s reacted really well to the surgery. He’s got no pain.
“It’s more for the medical staff to go a bit further on that. But I’m sure there is a chance to make that period shorter. If there is a person who can do it, I’m sure that’s going to be Mikel again.
“[Gabriel Martinelli is effective as a ‘finisher because of his] mentality and Gabi is a winner. Gabi is someone that it doesn’t matter what you’re doing out there, he wants to be the best. When he starts, great. When he doesn’t, he’s still the same specimen and wants to win and he will do anything to win.”